Afghanistan: Afghanistan – WaSH Coordinator - Kabul

Posted on: 31/03/2016
Desired start date: 15/05/2016
Duration of the mission: 9 months, (possible extension subject to funding)
Location: Based in Kabul with regular field visits

“Almost every successful person begins with two beliefs: the future can be better than the present, and I have the power to make it so.” – David Brooks

About the mission

SI has been working in Afghanistan for 35 years. It is currently implementing Food Security (1 Linking Relief Rehabilitation and Development project, 1 Natural Resources Management project, 1 Rural Development project) and Emergency (1 Food Distribution, 1 Cash For Work) programs. The mission is also managing several WASH projects in Bamyan and Khost provinces. The opening of new areas is forecasted in the 2016 mission strategy, especially for emergency projects: Nangarhar, Kunar, Paktya.

Organization of the mission

SI intervention areas are in three provinces Bamyan, Wardak and Khost with five operational bases and one coordination base in Kabul. At the time of writing, the mission has 7 international staff and 153 national staff. The coordination team in Kabul is currently composed of 3 expatriates (CD, Admin Co and Program Co) and 23 national staff. The Program Co will become WASH Co as soon as the new FSL Coordinator (in the coming weeks) is arrived. In Bamyan province, there are three operational bases (Yakawlang, Saighan and Kahmard) and one “transit” base in Bamyan city. The team is composed of two expatriates (Field Coordinator and Deputy Field Coordinator in charge of programs) and 80 national staff. In Khost province, there is one base in the capital of the province. The team is composed of two expatriates (Field Coordinator and Program Manager) and 36 national colleagues plus the Pakistani camp staff. In Wardak province, there is one base in Maydan Shar city without expatriates and 14 national staff.
About the job

The WASH Coordinator, as technical advisor on the mission, contributes to the development of Solidarités International’s strategy by developing and proposing sector-based strategies in the field of water supply, hygiene and sanitation.

He/she specifically guarantees the quality and suitability of proposed technical approaches and ensures the appropriateness of WASH activities and general SI objectives to the needs of the local populations.

He/she coordinates the project cycle and more particularly the operational monitoring of WASH programs implemented in Afghanistan.

He/she contributes to the process of capitalization and the improvement of Solidarités International’s WASH methodology and technical skills.

Specific context of the post

The WASH Coordinator will have to ensure, with the FSL Coordinator, the follow up of ongoing programs (mainly WASH, technical FSL, Cash Based Initiatives) and the opening of new programs / area of intervention more emergency oriented. This will include strong participation to external coordination forums, organisation and participation to assessment, proposal design, writing and launching of new programs.

The three axes of the 2016 strategic priorities are as follows:

· Prevention of slow-onset crises in rural areas;
· Ensure access to basic wash services, for Pakistanis population affected by the conflict in Pakistan;
· Ensure access to basic wash services, food security and shelter for the vulnerable Afghan local population, IDPs, returnees affected by man-made or natural disasters.
Beside the functional management of the Program Managers, the WASH Coordinator will manage at coordination level the MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) Manager. This position will be fulfilled beginning of May 2016, and the holder of the position will ensure that the MEAL strategy of the mission is disseminated, understood and implemented by the mission staffs.

Your profile
Education:

Bac + 5 (master’s degree) degree in Water Sanitation and Hygiene related sector, Engineering, Environment and/or Geology, and/or professional technical humanitarian-oriented training (Bioforce WASH)

Experience:

· Previous experience in coordination position.
· Three years’ experience in relevant Water, Sanitation and Hygiene project management and/or coordination in NGO / humanitarian fields.
· Previous experience in an unstable environment significant previous experiences in emergency contexts and protracted crises (conflict / post conflict country), is an asset.
· Experience in cash-based project is an asset.
· Experience in team management.
· Experience in delivering training and capacity building of staff.
· Significant experience in an English-speaking environment.

Technical skills and knowledge:

· Knowledge of project cycle management, project design and proposal writing.
· Technical knowledge on hydrogeology basics, boreholes drilling and O&M, wells construction, stream catchment and gravity flow network design and management.
· Knowledge of community mobilization, water and sanitation social management, hygiene promotion methodologies and public health basics.
· Knowledge in cash based initiatives is an asset.
· Knowledge of SI rules and procedures is an advantage.
· Knowledge of disaster risk reduction approaches would be an advantage.

Transferable skills:

· Excellent analytical skills.
· Capacity to work under pressure to tight deadlines.
· Good organization skills.
· Good writing/editing skills.

Languages:

· Fluent in English (spoken and written).
· French would be highly appreciated (some donors reporting in French).
· Knowledge of Dari or Pachto is an advantage.

Other desirable qualities:

· Knowledge of working in an Islamic country.
· Ability to live in security-tensed contexts with restrictive security rules and limited leisure and entertainment possibilities.
· Patience, persistence, pedagogic talent.
· Autonomy, rigor and the ability to adapt are indispensable skills.
· Knowledge of the Afghan context would be highly appreciated.
· Good computer skills (Microsoft office package, Google earth pro, any GIS software like ARCGIS and/or CAD software like AutoCAD).

Security Management

The Afghanistan Mission has set up and regularly updates full-packages of security management tools (rules for international staff, rules for national staff, rules for evacuation and hibernation) for every single bases of operations. A mission guideline for Safety, Security and Behaviour is in force and regularly updated.

Beside this core corpus of documentation, specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are in force in areas that require a special attention, such as in Khost or in Wardak Provinces.

The mission uses a network of SI-salaried Security Focal Persons (Afghan nationals) that meshes all areas of implementation and is centralized at Kabul level.

A strong culture of security management has been developed over the years on the Afghanistan mission together with afghan national colleagues, mixing passive protection, acceptance and deterrence strategies. Regular exchanges are held between the Country Director, SI HQ and other INGOs/IOs Country Directors to always consolidate our understanding of the context.

Additionally, a Briefing Document is available to be consulted at any time before or after engaging to apply for a position in SI Afghanistan mission. This document aims at sensitizing about the risk analysis made and the mitigation measures put in place by the mission. It is available upon request at HR Recruitment, Desk Manager or Country Director levels, together with oral explanations by the Desk Manager or the Country Director if required.

We offer

SI will offer you:
A salaried post: according to experience from 2000 euros gross per month, plus 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly, and a monthly Per Diem of 500 USD.
Social and medical cover: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.
Vacation: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of one break every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7-day break during the 3rd and the 9th month (with 500 euros allocated by Solidarités). He or she will also be entitled to go back to his or her home country for a 14-day period after six months spent on the mission (Solidarités will cover travel costs).
For further information about SI, please consult our website: http://www.solidarites.org/en/

Contact : Pauline CARTERY, Recruitment & Follow Up Officer