Desired start date: 13th of April 2025
Duration of the mission: 1 year
Location: Kabul
SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid association which, since more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs for food, water and shelter. Particularly committed to the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water, the leading cause of death in the world, SI's interventions provide expertise in the field of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in 26 countries, the SI teams – 3200 people in total, made up of expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at HQ, and a few volunteers - intervene with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultural norms.
SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has resumed its programs in Afghanistan in December 2021 and has initially established a presence in Bamyan, Kapisa, Wardak and Kabul provinces. As of today, activities are implemented in Bamyan, Nimroz, Farah provinces as well as in Kabul. Operational bases are in Zaranj (capital of Nimroz Province) and Bamyan, capital of Bamyan Province.
Following a scale up over the course of 2023, the team is now made of 130 national and 10 international employees with an annual budget of around 5,5 M EUR. SI currently implements integrated FSL and WASH programs and aims at scaling them up in 2025.
there are currently 3 grants under implementation:
BHA: in Bamyan and Nimroz, focusing on WASH and FSL with a MPCA components allowing cash distribution further to shock (returnees in Kabul, Flood affected population in other intervention areas); this project is in consortium (Mercy Corps and MEDAIR), MEDAIR being the lead). one top up under finalization.
ECHO: currently a top up focusing only in Nimroz and Farah provinces after a first year of activities in Bamyan and Kapisa. This project is mainly focusing on wash activities, including the usual package (wash facilities, Hygiene promotion, acces to water through wells).
CDCS: covering Wash and FSL sectors in Farah province, top up under finalization.
Forecast for end of 2024 are AHF through the NFI and shelter cluster further to a previous project funded by AHF in winterization. Wash and FSL cluster are as well targetted.
For 2025, the main stake will be first to keep the current positionning with CDCS, AHF, BHA and ECHO (existing main donors) with new funding, as well as new on going positioning with INTPA in consortium (one CN already submitted).
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The finance coordinator will direct and coordinate all administrative, accounting and financial services associated with the mission.
As coordinator, he/she is responsible for guaranteeing the financial balance of the mission and for ensuring that all Solidarités International procedures, donor procedures and all laws of the country in which Solidarités International is intervening are respected.
He/she is the point of reference for the mission, and the link between headquarters and the mission for all matters relating to management, accounting and budget monitoring.
ISSUES AND SPECIFIC CHALLENGES
- Training of the Administrative & Finance teams (both at coordination and base offices), along with a Mission-wise prioritization of national staff capacity building continue to be a priority, as most teams have good potential and are capable to take key Finance positions in the bases.
- Use of the new SI shared cost methodology.
- Specific financial reporting to line ministries and government bodies. Highly volatile currency, that has been appreciating constanlty since 1 year.
- Global shrinking of humanitarian funding in the country, with competition between humanitarian actors to access the funds.
PRIORITIES ON THE 2-3 FIRST MONTHS
- Capacity building of staffs to ensure decentralization and autonomisation of the bases; Ensure that managers can cover the full scope of their JD through continuous capacity buidling.
- Keep working on the reinforcement of newly opened bases.
- Financial reporting of 2 projects will have to be done in the first months of contract.
SECURITY CONSTRAINTS
The security environment in Afghanistan remains tense, dynamic and volatile. While the risks associated with the conflict between the government and the armed opposition have disappeared with the victory of the opposition, third party armed groups (notably ISKP) continue to operate in certain provinces including Kabul and the possibility of the emergence of a new opposition cannot be ignored. On the other hand, the country has always witnessed a certain level of criminality, and among other threads, kidnapping, targeting nationals and expatriates have been regularly reported in the last decades.
DIPLOMAS & EXPERIMENT IN THE HUMANITARIAN SECTOR
Masters’ degree or equivalent in a relevant field.
EXPERIMENT IN THE HUMANITARIAN SECTOR : 3-4 years
EXPERIMENT ON SIMILAR POSITIONS : 3-4 years
TECHNICAL SKILLS
1. In-depth knowledge and experience of Finance good practices and SI processes
2. Demonstrated ability to lead and develop Finance department staff members /Training skill / Aptitude for capacity building
3. Use of SAGA software and Budget follow up skills
TRANSVERSAL SKILLS
1. Good communication and negotiation skills
2. Solution making oriented
3. Planning and prioritization
LANGUAGES
1. English (mandatory)
2. Pashto or Dari is a plus
A salaried position:
According to experience, starting from EUR 2860 gross per month (2600 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of USD 600.
SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate's country of origin and the place of assignment.
Breaks: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every two months (with a USD 850 break allowance, allocated by Sl). To these breaks periods, SI grants one (1) additional rest day per month worked.
Insurance package: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which refunds 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.
LIVING CONDITIONS:
Living conditions are good in Kabul, with possible access to all essential goods and services. It should be remembered that the consumption of alcohol is forbidden in Afghanistan. The security situation can be tense, and travel is sometimes restricted, but it is possible to have a social life.
Living conditions in the field are often harsher (harsher weather conditions, isolation, etc.) with paradoxically, depending on the area, less strict security conditions.
Do you recognize yourself in this description? If yes, please send us your CV and cover letter!
Please note that CV-only applications will not be considered, and that the vacancy may close before the deadline.
Thank you for your understanding.
To learn more about Sl: www.solidarites.org
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Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and fight all type of abuse – all act of exploitation, abuse and/or sexual harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or collaborators, fraud, corruption, violation of persons and/or property, funding of activities harmful to human rights – that could be perpetrated in the frame of its interventions. SI implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of abuse, notably acts of SEAH.
Solidarités International is an equitable employer committed to find all forms of discrimination. SI will ever ask for any remuneration to take part in a recruitment process.