Area Coordinator – Afghanistan – Jalalabad at Première Urgence Internationale

Fixed-term contract : 9 months

Starting date : 01/09/2022

PUI all around the world

With its 40 years of experience, Première Urgence Internationale :

Supports close to 6 millions beneficiaries
With more than 100 Millions € yearly budget
Present in 22 countries, on 5 continents

Thanks to the work and commitment of :

More than 2000 national staffs
Around 200 expatriates from 45 different nationalities
And 90 employees at HQ

PUI works in 10 areas of intervention and distinguishes itself by the implementation of an integrated approach in its response. This method aims to identify and understand the needs of all those affected by a crisis. Our teams come together to bring a rapid global response to the basic needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises to help them regain independence and dignity.

Learn more on our history, our values, our areas of intervention.

Focus on our activities in Afghanistan

Our mission in Afghanistan has been open since since 1980. PUI is developing its integrated approach in Health, Nutrition, MHPSS and Water-Hygiene-Sanitation. In addition, PUI works on a fixed-site intervention via primary health centers or first aid centers, in support of certain hospitals, or via the deployment of mobile clinics in the most remote areas. Today, the mission consists of 6 main projects, some of which are linked.

What about the Area Coordinator ?

As Area Coordinator, you will be responsible for the oversight of all programs, operations, and safety and security of all staff under your responsibility in a specific area of the country. You will represent PUI to local stakeholders, monitor and analyse the humanitarian context, and assess needs accordingly to the programmatic strategy. You will also be in charge of monitoring and negotiating humanitarian access.

For this purpose, you will be responsible for :

Safety and Security: In collaboration with the Head of Mission, you will be responsible for the safety and security of all PUI staff, assets, and premises under your areas of operation.
Humanitarian access: In collaboration with the Head of Mission, you will be responsible for the negotiation of humanitarian access with appropriate stakeholders at regional level.
Programs: You will be accountable for an adequate definition and efficient implementation of the projects, which are under the responsibility of the Programmes department and the project managers at the base level.
Team management: You will indirectly supervise all the teams under your area of responsibility, composed of national and international staff. You will support the team’s recruitments, briefings of new staff and HR, and ensure the needed follow-up.
Representation: You will represent PUI locally (if security allows) and promote an optimal operational space for pursuing PUI’s strategic priorities in coordination with all relevant entities.
Fundraising: You will assist the Head of Mission and Deputy Head of Mission Programmes in donor relations and identifying fundraising opportunities, especially in your area of responsibility.
Coordination: You will centralize and disseminate information from/to the area and consolidate the internal and external reporting activities implemented in your field of operations before submitting them to the Head of Mission and Coordination. You will ensure effective communication and dissemination of information between the area under your supervision and Coordination among the field team and bases of operations.
Assessment/Strategy: You will proactively monitor the context and humanitarian needs under your areas of responsibility, propose, design, and lead assessments and the development of appropriate interventions. You will participate actively in the mission-wide strategy development.

The challenges that await you:

A relatively broad portfolio of donors: BHA, ECHO, WHI, CDCS, WFP, AHF. Apart from this, new donors are in the pipeline. Complex programing that involves integrated health with nutrition, WaSH, PSS as well as protection and gender mainstreaming. The mission also aims to build capacity with regard to ecological considerations. Remote work might be needed to a larger extent in the coming months until the end of the year. Complexity of the programs, relatively large HR teams.

What you will need to succeed

Training: You hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in social science, politics science, program management, international development or any relevant field. Any diploma(s) and/or training(s) that bring added-value for the position will be appreciated.
Experience: You are strengthened by minimum 3 years of experience in the humanitarian field in multi-sectorial projects development and implementation, and minimum 1 year of experience as Field Coordinator / Head of Base. You have a strong experience in Budget/Finance Management (cost-efficiency) and in managing logistical processes. You also have experience in working with a variety of donors and in Safety & Security. You have skills and experience in developing national staff capacity. All the better if you have a Program Coordinator experience, and an experience with qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methodologies. You already worked with Première Urgence Internationale? It would be a definite asset!
Skills: You have excellent writing skills, you master team and project management but also security management and context follow-up. You have external representation and negotiation skills and a strong interest in humanitarian access negotiation. Knowledge of procedures related to institutional donors (BHA, ECHO, UN agencies…) and about health/Nut Programming, MHPSS and Protection will be appreciated.
Qualities: You are able to work independently, to take initiatives and to take responsibility in a proactive approach. You are self-motivated, flexible and adaptable to the needs of the team and organization, and you have strong commitment in humanitarian principles. You show resilience to stress, diplomacy and open-mindedness, and have good analytical, problem solving and leadership skills. You are organized and able to manage priorities in a varied workload, and able to guarantee effective and timely outputs. You are able to work and manage professionally and maturely, and to integrate into the local environment, taking account of its political, economic and historical characteristics.
Languages: English has no secrets for you! All the better, it is mandatory for this position. If you speak Arabic and/or French, it would be a definite asset.

PUI will offer you

Status : Cadre with a Fixed-Term Contract
Monthly Gross Income : 2 970,00 – 3 500,00 EUR depending on your experience in International Solidarity + 50€ per semester of seniority with PUI
Insurance including medical coverage and complementary healthcare, 24/24 assistance and repatriation
Housing in collective accomodation
Daily Living Expenses (“Per Diem”)
Break Policy : 5 working days at 3 and 9 months + break allowance
Paid Leaves Policy : 5 weeks of paid leaves per year + return ticket every 6 months

Our commitments

Première Urgence Internationale sees diversity of nationalities, genders, beliefs, profiles and statuses among its Human Resources as a major asset for its humanitarian action, and therefore compels itself to the strict observance of the principle of non-discrimination throughout its recruitment process.

Première Urgence Internationale applies a policy of zero tolerance towards exploitation, sexual abuse and mistreatment, in all its forms, of women, children and all other vulnerable persons. It engages all its staff to promote, disseminate and respect the principles set out in its ethical charter.

Please note that Première Urgence Internationale shall not in any case request a financial contribution for administrative costs related to recruitment. Any such information would be fraudulent, please disregard it.

You recognize yourself in this profile and you adhere to our commitments ? You feel ready to take up the challenge and to join PUI great family ?