Emergency Response Mechanism Program Manager - Kabul Job Vacancy, 17, October 2011

Solidarités International is a French humanitarian organization which provides aid and assistance to victims of war or natural disaster. For over 30 years the association has focused on meeting three vital needs - water, food and shelter - by carrying out emergency programmes followed by longer-term reconstruction projects. Whilst fully respecting the assisted populations’ customs and culture, Solidarités International’s programmes are implemented through the joint expertise of around 180 expatriates and 1500 local managerial staff and employees. Solidarités International is currently present in Africa (Central African Republic, Southern Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Liberia, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe), in Asia (Afghanistan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar) and in Haiti.

CONTEXT OF INTERVENTION

Solidarités International’s (SI) mission in Afghanistan was and still is a historically significant mission, linked to the birth and development of the association. The mission was the biggest of the association until 2003/2004 when a volume reduction trend started. From 2008 onwards, the trend was reversed and the mission witnessed an increase in the volume of activities with the maintaining and strengthening of a major rural development component both linked to the humanitarian situation in Solidarités International’s areas of intervention (mainly the central highlands) and a donor strategy putting emphasis on early recovery and development type projects. In addition, it should be noted that since 2005, Solidarités International continued the implementation of WASH projects in “urban poor” environments in Kabul city and its immediate outskirts. At the same time, Solidarités kept up its intervention in peak crisis situations with the implementation of emergency food security-related projects (direct food distribution, voucher for work, cash for work, food for work, and emergency shelter) in its areas of intervention. Finally, throughout 2010, SI began the development of its emergency response capacity, setting up an umbrella emergency response mechanism in several provinces of the country.

Currently, Solidarités International’s intervention takes place in four provinces: Kabul, Bamyan, Baghlan and Samangan.

OBJECTIVES

The Emergency Response Mechanism Program Manager (ERM PM) will be responsible for the management and implementation of initial emergency responses (assessments, information sharing and initial rapid response).

The ERM PM will work under the supervision of the Emergency Coordinator based in Kabul Coordination and will be a part of the coordination team.

The EPM position’s major objectives are to properly achieve the following global tasks: • Proper implementation of all aspects of the emergency response mechanism (Full project cycle approach); • Team management of all operational staff within the project; • Enhanced coordination with the other members of the consortium (ACF and MEDAIR) for a smooth implementation of the ERM as a whole

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Information collection and sharing : a. To define and develop guidelines and methodologies for assessments and assessments reports b. To produce and disseminate assessment reports according to developed formats c. To establish and train assessment teams d. To proactively coordinate and work with other actors on the ground e. To ensure proper communications schemes with the different levels of local authorities
• Disaster response : a. To implement disaster response following assessment recommendations and with stock items available b. To coordinate emergency response needs with support departments (Admin & Logistics) c. To ensure replenishment of stocks with agreements put in place with the different UN agencies d. To identify strategic depot/distribution points e. To establish vulnerability criteria f. To ensure proper items distribution to disaster affected people based on established criteria g. To implement all monitoring and evaluation defined schemes (post distribution impact survey)
• Disaster preparedness : a. To develop disaster preparedness messages and to train the teams on their use. b. To monitor community trainings on disaster preparedness during distributions c. To implement all monitoring and evaluation defined schemes (KAP surveys)
• External coordination and representation, under the direct authority of the Emergency Coordinator : a. To participate in humanitarian coordination meetings (ad hoc and regular) b. To liaise with external humanitarian actors for humanitarian assessment and response c. To maintain a strong and continuous link with ACF and MEDAIR focal points in charge of the management of their part of the ERM
• Operational Team management : a. To finalise the recruitment and set up the training of the operational team b. To follow up of the operational team according to the missions’ Standard Operating Procedures (daily management, performance evaluation, holidays management) c. To conduct regular field visits (especially in SI’s areas of intervention) d. To ensure performance evaluation of the operational staff e. To constantly liaise and coordinate actions with the staff of ACF and MEDAIR involved in the ERM implementation
• Training & Capacity Building : a. To organise appropriate internal and external training for ERM team members b. To define in coordination with the Emergency coordinator the individual capacity building of key Emergency national staff
• Monitoring of the Humanitarian Situation in the areas of intervention : a. To follow reports and documents relevant to the humanitarian situation in the ERM areas of intervention b. To share information about the evolution of the humanitarian situation in the ERM areas of intervention with the Emergency coordinator and provision of action points in relevance to that
• Internal and external reporting : a. To provide internal reporting on activities according to Solidarités International’s internal tools b. To prepare external reporting to the members of the consortium and to the donor (with support from Emergency Coordinator)
• Financial Management : a. To follow-up the financial aspects of the project (Operational Follow Up, Budget Follow Up) b. Management of the cash forecast in link with the Kabul, Saighan and Ruy-e-Doab administrators
• Institutional Knowledge Building : a. To design and write Activity Forms for all major operational aspects in direct collaboration with the E&S coordinator
• Proposal Making & Amendment Process : a. To support in collaboration with the Emergency Coordinator the proposal making & amendment processes for a second phase project

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education: • Master’s degree in international development, political studies, humanitarian aid.

Experience: • At least 1 year in rural development/environment in developing countries • Project management in NGO/humanitarian field

Technical skills and knowledge: • Technical knowledge on food security, natural resources management and social water management • Project cycle management • Team management

Languages: • English (written, spoken, read) ; knowledge of Arabic would be an asset

Other desirable qualities: • Strong ability to work with communities • Aptitude for coordination with partners (institutional and humanitarian) • Adaptation to volatile context • Teamwork, capacity to delegate • Excellent analytical and writing skills • Good computer skills • Minimum 25 years old • Interest in the Afghan context www.globaljobscareer.blogspot.com/

CONDITIONS

Salaried post: from 1400 euros gross per month, according to experience, plus 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly, and a monthly Per Diem of 500 USD.

Solidarités International will cover accommodation and travel expenses from the expatriate’s home country to the site of the assignment.

• 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 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 15-day period after six months spent on the mission (Solidarités will cover travel costs).

DURATION : 12 months, beginning as soon as possible.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send us a CV and cover letter, either through our website or via the following link:https://emea2.recruitmentplatform.com/syndicated/private/syd_apply.cfm?I...