Afghanistan: Director Country Office Cordaid, Afghanistan

Cordaid believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for just and sustainable societies where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion divide societies, we connect people and communities. We stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders. We aim at maximizing our social impact and contributing to systemic change. We operate where natural disasters strike, where conflicts tear up communities and where lack of opportunities and service delivery keep families in extreme poverty.

Cordaid is one of the leading CSO’s in the Netherlands, working in fragile contexts on Health, Resilience, Economic opportunities, Humanitarian aid and Security & Justice. Apart from our work abroad we also contribute to new forms of job creation and social innovation in The Netherlands.

Cordaid is a member of the international Catholic networks Caritas and CIDSE and we are active in worldwide civil society networks. We work in around 30 countries in Africa, Middle East and Asia.

For the Cordaid Country office in Afghanistan, Cordaid is looking for aDirector Country office

Introduction

Cordaid has been active in Afghanistan since 2001. It has a Country Office in Kabul and networks of field staff and local partners overseeing implementation of projects in Balkh, Kunduz, Faryab, Herat, Daikundi, Uruzgan, Bamyan, Parwan, Kabul, Nangrhar, Paktia, Kandahar, Helmand, Laghman and Badakhshan. Cordaid’s program in Afghanistan provides healthcare services, tackles the problems of gender – based violence and provide support for women to improve their leadership skills, access to justice, lobby and advocate for their rights and participate in peace and decision – making processes, and addresses agriculture production, food security and economic opportunity issues.

Cordaid in Afghanistan joins hand with a number of ministries, government institutions, Local and International Organizations, civil society groups, alliances and networks, etc. for wider reach, efficiency, cost effectiveness and sustainability. Main donors of Cordaid program in Afghanistan are the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union, the Afghan Ministry of Public Health and others. The budget for 2018 is around -18.4 million euros. At this moment Cordaid is building the capacities of the offices to increase the responsibilities the country offices in the management of the programs and projects.

Position and responsibility

The Director Country Office will report to the Director International Offices, Cordaid. He/she is responsible for integral management of the Cordaid Kabul office. At this moment 38 national staff members are working in Cordaid Office in Kabul, of whom, for 2017, 2 were expats (including the CD), 13 program staff (health, women security and justice, lobby and advocacy and M&E), 4 finance staff, logistic coordinator, HR & security coordinator, 1 HR Coordinator, 1 IT Coordinator, 2 Project Coordinators, and 17 support staff (guards, drivers, cleaner and cook). The Director Country Office chairs the 4 person’s senior management team (CD, administrator and 2 senior program managers including a female). Management culture is participative with the Director Country Office having the final responsibility for the management of the office and Cordaid programs in Afghanistan.

Focus will be Networking, Representation and Donor Acquisition as well as managing the relationship with Cordaid in The Hague. The Director Country Office will create the synergy between the different program units, administration and Cordaid HQ. He/she will be responsible for realization of Field Office targets.

Specific objectives

• Creating Unity of Purpose in Cordaid Afghanistan within the boundaries of Cordaid International Policies resulting in Strategy proposals;

• Monitors the progress and interdependencies of different projects and programs, taking into account the developments in the country/regions, and proposes improvements in the chosen strategy;

• Creates partnerships with governmental institutions, donors, partner organizations and (inter)national non-governmental organizations;

• Interacts with (potential) local/institutional donors to ensure the future funding for the program(s) in Afghanistan;

• Translates the agreed Country Office targets into a Business/Action Plan, with specific results in designated project areas while securing the connection with the Cordaid strategy;

• Keeps track of developments within the projects, manages the activities within the team and makes the necessary adjustments, taking into account the business/action plan, governmental policies, relations with strategic partners, donor policies and the efficient allocation of resources. Prevents mission creep;

• Assesses security, reputational, administrative and financial risks in projects and oversees the security of the Cordaid team, consultants and Cordaid visitors, according to the Cordaid Safety First Manual;

• Identifies opportunities for generation of knowledge products, i.e., studies, conferences, based on the experience accumulated in the country in different areas of Cordaid’s operations. Ensures that the CO has a smooth and active cooperative relationship with Cordaid’s Centre of Excellence;

• Collects information within the programs and reports timely about the results;

• Leads personnel in accordance with the management style and social policy of Cordaid, focused on results, employee development and satisfaction. Ensures efficient use of resources and controls quality of work.

Qualifications

• Academic degree in agriculture, health, economy, business/public administration, social sciences or other subject related to international cooperation;

• At least 5 years of experience with managing and monitoring relief, reconstruction and development programs, preferably also with EC, WB, USAID funded programs;

• Extended experience in program and project planning and implementing security policy in insecure areas;

• Experience in reporting requirements of institutional donors and working with local NGOs;

• Excellent management skills including human resource and financial management, communication and intercultural cooperation skills;

• Experience with human security, health, livelihood, resilience and gender programs is an asset;

• Experience in coping with national and international political pressure;

• A human centered approach to management and ability to promote and structure teamwork;

• A networker, diplomatic and result oriented;

• Ability to work under stressful and time bound project conditions;

• Good oral and written communication skills in English language;

• Awareness of external environment and a firm and assertive negotiator;

• Analytical and problem solving mind;

• Flexible and capable of working in a stressful context;

• Experience in Afghanistan will be an advantage.

Specifics of station

The Director Country Office will be based in Kabul. This is a non-accompanied posting.

Contract information

The contract period is for 1 year starting as soon as possible, with the intention to extend for a longer period. We offer a Cordaid contract with a competitive salary and a benefit package which includes R&R, a comprehensive insurance cover, social security and pension contribution, a holiday allowance, 13^th month, hardship allowance and cost of living allowance (if applicable).

Further information & how to apply

Applications including a motivation letter and extensive CV in English, including the contact details of at least three professional references should be forwarded on attn. of mr. Remco van der Veen, before 26 April 2018.

For more enquiries please contact rve@cordaid.org.

Please note that we accept applications through our website only: https://www.cordaid.org/en/vacancies/international/?cd_job_id=99422