Afghanistan: Afghanistan - Field Coordinator – Khost

Posted on: 15/03/2016
Desired start date: ASAP
Duration of the mission: until 30/04/2017
Location: Based in Khost with regular visits in Kabul

“Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.”

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 position of FS Co is fulfilled.
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 Field Coordinator has the role of delegated Head of Mission for a region of a country in which Solidarités International intervenes.
He proposes a regional strategy according to the geopolitical and humanitarian context, and ensures its implementation once validated.
He checks and ensures that projects are carried out in accordance with the Solidarités International charter, respecting all internal and contractual procedures.
He mobilizes the material and financial resources necessary for programs to run smoothly, and supervises resource management.
He coordinates the teams in place and is responsible for their security in his/her assigned zone.
He is the Head of Mission’s direct contact and representative.

Specific context of the post:

SI implements a classical WASH response in a refugee camp: Water supply, Sanitation (implementation of family latrines, bathrooms and solid waste management). The expected foreseen operational challenges in implementing the activities are the accurate camp population data due to the movement of refugees, accurate activity monitoring including verification of over 3,000 holes backfilling, 4,120 household’s sustainable latrines and gaining more participation of refugee community in project activities as the context has shifted from emergency to protracted situation.

Security management is also a significant challenge in a volatile context, even though to date the situation in Khost city and Gulan refugee camp is stable, no incident targeting NGO being reported. Expatriates can move by helicopter from Kabul to Khost. Presence of expatriate in the camp is limited to 3 visits per week following a specific movement protocol. The position is based in Khost city.

As the Khost province and its neighbouring provinces host vulnerable populations, the Field Coordinator will be involved in the development of new programs, identifying needs and organizing assessments.

Your profile

Education: – Background in studies of humanitarian action can be a plus

Experience:

• 3 years’ experience as Field Coordinator position or related position.


• Previous experience in implementing project in a refugee camp context


• Experience of security management in tense security context


• Experience in remote project management would be an asset


• Experience in team management


• Experience in delivering training and capacity building of staff


• Experience in Donors and authorities’ report writing.


• Experience in coordination with local authorities, other humanitarian actors.


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  Technical skills and knowledge:*

  
  


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  Knowledge of project cycle management, and project reporting.

  
  


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  Knowledge of delivering WASH services in emergency context.

  
  


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  Knowledge of SI rules and procedures.

  
  


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  Transferable skills:*

  
  


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  Excellent analytical skills.

  
  


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  Capacity to work under pressure

  
  


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  Good organization skills.

  
  


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  Good English writing/editing skills.

  
  


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  Languages:*

  
  


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  Fluent in English (spoken and written)

  
  


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  Knowledge of Pashtun is an advantage.

  
  


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  Other desirable qualities:*

  
  


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  Good knowledge of working in an Islamic country.

  
  


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  Patience, persistence, pedagogic talent.

  
  


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  Autonomy, rigor and the ability to adapt are indispensable skills.

  
  


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  Knowledge of the Afghan context would be highly appreciated.

  
  


• Good computer skills (Microsoft office package, Google earth pro).

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