Afghanistan: Afghanistan - Food Security Program Manager – Saighan

Posted on: 12/02/2016
Desired start date: 01/03/ 2016
Duration of the mission: 9 months
Location: Saighan with regular visits to Khamard depending in the security situation

“We need your passions and your talents.”

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 Food Security program manager Saighan is in charge of implementing and achieving the objectives defined in the proposals. He/she is in charge of supervising the operational teams allocated to his/her program. He/she guarantees the proper execution and the quality of the implemented program and, if applicable, suggests adjustments or developments to ensure its relevance with the support of the Deputy Field Coordinator for Program in Bamyan (based in Yakawlang) and FSL Coordinator (based in Kabul, to be recruited in March).

The FS PM Saighan is responsible for the qualitative implementation of SI programs in Saighan and Khamard district, under the line management of the Deputy Field Coordinator in charge of Programs and functional management of the FSL Coordinator.

Today, two programs are being implemented in Bamyan Province by SI:

P-ARBP2 (Pan-Amuj River Basin Project) – Focusing on Natural Resource Management in Kahmard and Saighan *(**July 2015 to June 2016)*

The challenges related to the program are as follow:

• EuropeAid has subcontracted a private structure (Landel-Mills) to monitor the project on its behalf, implying new ways of reporting and new financial accountability process SI is adapting to.;


• Si has to work closely with Basin and Sub-basin agencies representatives (depending on the Ministry of Energy and Water) that have different agendas and way of functioning. SI have to adapt as those agencies will progressively take over NGOs;


• Some infrastructures build in the frame of former parts of PARBP project. SI is still supporting while applying an exit strategy based on involvement of the association and users groups now in charge

CHP – Central Highlands Rural Development Programme *(**March 2013 to February 2017)*

The challenges related to the program are as follow:

• New and complicated methodologies are being implemented (especially Farmer Field School) and the team needs a strong methodological support;


• The team also needs to by guide in the activities’ implementation to be sure it sticks to the Donors guidelines;

The FSL PM Saighan will manage a team of 11 persons, including 2 activity managers (1 in charge of agro and community-based pasture management activities and 1 in charge of community mobilization).

Your profile
Education:

• Master degree in humanitarian project management;


• A Bac + 2/5 (professional ‘’Licence’’, master’s degree) in Agronomy or related field (rural development, economic sciences related to livelihoods, natural resources management) is an asset

Experience:

• At least one previous experience in project management, including 6 months experience in Food Security and Livelihood project management in NGO / humanitarian fields.


• Previous experience in an unstable environment (conflict / post conflict country) is an asset.


• Experience in team management.


• Experience in remote and isolated contexts.

Technical skills and knowledge:

• Knowledge of project cycle management, project design and proposal writing.


• Knowledge of livelihoods, agrarian systems and natural resources management.


• Knowledge of SI rules and procedures.


• Knowledge of disaster risk reduction approaches is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluent English (written, spoken and read), essential for writing proposals and reports and for external coordination and representation meetings with other NGOs, UN agencies, donors and governmental bodies.


• Knowledge of French or Dari are an asset.

Other desirable qualities:

• Knowledge of working in an Islamic country.


• 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).


• Knowledge of SPHINX software is an asset.

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