Danish Red Cross, Country Manager, Afghanistan At Danish Red Cross

Can you build and manage a strong country team to successfully support the Afghan Red Crescent deliver humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people?

Danish Red Cross (DRC) has been present in Eurasia for more than 20 years and is currently active in Afghanistan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, DPRK, Nepal, Myanmar and Ukraine with approximately 40 staff in the region. In Afghanistan, DRC has been engaged in partnership with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) since 2007, with continuous in-country presence since 2016. DRC emphasize strengthening of partner organisations and their integrity, transparency, autonomy and sustainable volunteer structures as conditions for building sustainable operational capacity.

The overall purpose of the Country Manager (CM) position is to build and manage the DRC Country Office and represent the DRC towards the ARCS, Movement and non-Movement partners and other key stakeholders and donors in Afghanistan. In addition, the CM is responsible for development of the programme portfolio and ARCS capacity building in accordance with DRC and ARCS strategies and priorities.

Responsibilities

The CM refers to the DRC Head of Region Eurasia (HoR) and the main areas of responsibilities are:

• Team leading, HR management and Security (30%)
• Coordination, representation and partnerships (20%)
• Strategic development (10%)
• Programme and financial management (30%)
• Capacity development (10%)

Expected key results:

• Established a sustainable DRC Country Office set-up in Kabul
• Built a strong Country Team of competent Delegates and national staff
• Strengthened partnership with our principal partner, the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS)
• Sustainable programme portfolio and support to ARCS, particularly within Health and Emergency Response
• Ensured effective financial management at country and programme levels
• Pursued and built new partnerships for consortia cooperation modalities

The main responsibilities include:

• Strategic direction of the country programme portfolio in consultation with HoR
• Leading and managing the DRC team of delegates and national staff
• Development and implementation of the country programme portfolio and emergency response operations incl. planning, budgets, monitoring and reporting
• Representing DRC and developing partnerships with ARCS in particular, but also IFRC, ICRC, PNS and other in-country partners and stakeholders
• Proactively seeking out new funding opportunities and leading development of concept notes, programme proposals and budgets
• Coordinating emergency response operations in collaboration with DM Unit and HoR

Required experience and qualifications

You have a relevant academic background, e.g. Master Degree in Development studies, Programme Management, Disaster Management or other relevant field, with:

• Minimum of 8 years relevant international work experience from humanitarian organisations in emergency and protracted crisis contexts
• Relevant international work experience from high in-security contexts
• Experience with team leading and staff/team management
• Experience with security management as a requirement
• General technical experience within Health or Disaster Management programming as a strong asset
• Proven experience on resource mobilisation with major donors/funds including EU/ECHO, Danida, UN
• Proven experience on programme development and implementation
• Proven Expertise within programme cycle and financial management of programmes supported by major donors
• Experience from the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement as an asset
• Working experience from Afghanistan, South or Central Asia as an advantage
• Technical knowledge and experience in programme implementation through participatory methods
• Good analytical skills and confident self-management in situations of stress
• Ability to work in demanding situations under pressure is important
• Excellent communication, coordination, networking and facilitation skills
• Results oriented, patience and cultural sensitivity skills
• Full proficiency in English speaking and writing as a requirement
• Full proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Possession of a valid international driving licence

Employment Conditions

The starting date is as soon as possible and no later than 1 December 2021. The contract period is 24 months with possibility of extension. The initial weeks of the mission will be working remotely until actual deployment to Kabul is possible, expected January 2022. You are required to pass a standard medical check before deployment.

The duty station is Kabul, Afghanistan, with severe movement restrictions. The position is a non-family position with R&R entitlements in accordance with DRC Terms and Conditions. Travel to programme areas will be required when the security situation allows.

Salary and benefits in accordance with the DRC Terms and Conditions for Delegates on Long Term Missions. The salary including all allowances and pension will be between DKK 52,000 to 57,000 per month, depending on qualifications and experience. Shared housing in RCRC Compound and insurance is covered by DRC.

Further information is available in the job description. For more information on the position, please contact DRC Head of Region Eurasia, Bjarne Andreasen, on bjand@rodekors.dk