Action Against Hunger is well known for its expertise in Nutrition and Health. It started working in Afghanistan in 1995..I ts very first mission, has seen a strong focus on emergency responses, targeting primarily refugees, Internally Displaced Persons, and flood/drought affected populations. Integrated projects in Nutrition and Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Food Security and Livelihoods, and in Mental Health and Care Practices are implemented . Our work with local partners is essential to gain access to more geographical areas.

In 2023, two-thirds of Afghanistan’s population will need urgent humanitarian assistance to survive as the countryenters its third consecutive year of drought-like conditions and the second year of crippling economic decline while still reeling from the effects of 40 years of conflict and recurrent natural disasters. The mission employs 697  staff in five operational bases :  Kabul, Helmand, Ghor, Daikundi, and Badakhshan. ACF teams address the underlying conditions leading to deadly malnutrition and food insecurity and provide access to basic health services.

Afghanistan is a beautiful country and Afghans are very warm towards visitors. ACF has a comfortable guest-house in Kabul where are leaving all expats in Kabul (about 10 expats). The environment is tense, and there are restrictions in place due to insecurity and constraints imposed by the Taleban authorities, especially towards women, the culture is extremely traditionalist.

The main objective of your role as Country Director will be to lead the quality and timely implementation of the country strategy of Action contre la Faim in Afghanistan and oversee the overall management of the country team in line with ACF values, quality standards and processes in a context of critical humanitarian needs and very challenging and constrained operating environment.

Your responsibilities will be to :

• Provide the overall leadership and strategic guidance of the Country Office, which operates in 5 provinces (Ghor, Dai Kundi, Badakhshan, Hellmand and Kabul)

• Oversee the development, funding and implementation of the country strategy. ACF program portfolio in Afghanistan includes health and nutrition, Mental health and Psycho Social practices, WASH, Food security and livelihoods

• Ensure that systems / procedures are in place and being properly implemented, and that they ensure the proper management, well being and safety of ACF staff, and the proper use of ACF resources

• Build on best practices previously developed by the country team

• Create a shared vision among all staff, promoting ACF Charter and ensuring an organizational culture where ACF core values are embedded, team work is encouraged and all staff feels valued

• Establish and maintain good working relationships with host government officials, donors and other partners
   

The key challenges that the country office is currently facing are:

• A very complex humanitarian space with extremely huge humanitarian needs, where women’s right are extremely restricted,  which directly impact NGOs with the Female staff ban (with exemption on the health / nutrition  and education sector).
• The ability to operate is evolving and regularly challenged by the Taleban de-facto authorities.
• Afghanistan is a volatile environment where there is insecurity, in Kabul, and to a lower extend in its areas of operation. 
• ACF Afghanistan is implementing an ambitious country programme with large scale activities in the field of health nutrition, a country programme which has grown quickly in the past years since the Taleban took over the country and is in process of stabilizing.

You hold a Master degree with 10 years relevant professional experience (13 years for a Bachelor degree).

You have minimum 8 years of humanitarian experience, and at least 6 years of senior management or leadership experience, including team leadership and at least 3 years of previous experience as Country Director or equivalent role.

You have excellent management, organizational and interpersonal skills, with an experience of managing directly senior leaders (3 Deputy Country Directors as direct supervisory).

You have excellent adaptation and culturally sensitivity skills, and excellent understanding of gender challenge and are extremely sensitive to gender issues.

You have a very strong understanding of financial and logistics management.

You are skilled and experienced in Program Management, and you are able to demonstrate knowledge of best practices (including fraud and PSEA prevention and management) in country team and performance management.

You have a significant experience of managing security in a volatile environment.

You have a demonstrated successful experience with external representation and promotion of programs with stakeholders and potential donors, and you are able to demonstrate leadership in representation with other humanitarian and development actors.

With a significant experience of resource mobilization and managing strategic partnership, you are able to generate goodwill towards the program with the intention of raising funds and the country grant portfolio.

You are particularly skilled at negotiation and advocacy, you are politically astute, and you are an excellent decision maker.

You know and understand very well the Central Asian context. Ideally, you have already worked in Afghanistan. You also have an excellent knowledge and understanding of working in a complex, very constrained and sensitive environment.

You speak and write fluent English.

These are assets if :

You have already worked with ACF.

You have a solid sense of humour.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

• Fixed term contract under French legislation: 18 months

• Monthly gross salary from 4 108 to 5 326 € upon experience

• Reimbursement of the pension insurance for non-French citizens: 16% of the gross monthly salary

• Annual salary increase: 6% increase after and each 12 months of continuous contract

• Monthly per diem and living allowance: 645€ net, field paid

• Monthly country allowance: 450€  

• Child allowance: 1500€ per year per child present in the country of origin (maximum 6000€/year)

• Transportation and accommodation: Coverage of transportation costs and guest house

• Medical coverage: ACF covers 100% of the social security, health insurance, and repatriation insurance agreement fees.

• Salary sustainment measures (sickness, paternity, maternity)

• Leaves and RnR: 25 days of paid leaves per year, 20 RnR per year, airfare reimbursement with a ceiling to get to the chosen break destination, and 215 € for each RnR period

• Accompaniment and trainings:
  • Follow-up and support for career development
  • Free and unlimited access to the certifying e-learning platform Crossknowledge ©
    
    

ACF is committed to people with disabilities and actively fights against all forms of discrimination.

Afghanistan is facing a unique humanitarian situation in a very complex context. ACF has a great team, committed, competent, dynamic and diverse in Afghanistan. ACF is recognised as a major NGO actor and is able to provide extremely needed humanitarian assitance. Leading the Country Team and the implementation of our country strategy in the current Afghan context is a very unique and rewarding challenge.

Kabul base hosts the coordination office in charge of implementing water, sanitation and hygiene and nutrition projects aiming to  reduce acute malnutrition in the Kabul Informal Settlements and in 26 health facilities. Social Opportunities do exist although there are some restrictions in place thus a recruit must be comfortable with having limited outlets for entertainment. As Kabul's setup can change rapidly, expats must have strong stress management skills. There are 126 National  employees in Kabul with majority of expats located in the capital. There is a well-equipped guesthouse for expats, a coordination office and warehouse located separately.