Consortium Coordinator – Afghanistan At INTERSOS

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job Title: Consortium Coordinator

Code: SR-28-9613

Duty station: Kabul, Afghanistan

Starting date: 01/01/2025

Contract duration: 12 months

Reporting to: Head of Programmes

Supervision of: Consortium Team

Type of Duty station: Non-family duty station

General context of the project

Over 40 years of conflicts and political turmoil have taken a massive cumulative toll on the people of Afghanistan. A total of 18.4 million people, almost half of the total population, have been estimated by the UN to need humanitarian assistance prior to recent events. Severe droughts are recurring in Afghanistan, currently resulting in nearly 14 million people in acute food insecurity, with over 3 million children facing severe malnourishment. The recent displacement of 550,000 people is adding to an estimated 2.9 million people who remain internally displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance, while winter months are around the corner.

INTERSOS has been working in Afghanistan since 2001, with a country office in Kabul, and field bases in Kandahar and Zabul provinces. In recent years INTERSOS has been focusing its assistance on an integrated community-based approach that includes primary health care (including sexual and reproductive health care), nutrition, and protection programs serving conflict-affected populations, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, with a special focus on socially excluded individuals, including women, children and persons living with disabilities.

With its operational approach and active engagement with the communities, INTERSOS has been enjoying strong community acceptance and operational access. All INTERSOS activities continue to be implemented in Afghanistan at the present time, with no operational restrictions and with the full inclusion of female staff.

It is widely anticipated that Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation may deteriorate further, given that the international support to key essential and social services – food aid, health, education, and other essential services, is currently frozen. Although humanitarian aid cannot replace this gap, international assistance that prioritizes urgent humanitarian needs will be essential.

At the same time, unless the operational environment with all its impediments (including in relation to banking/cash transfers and counter-terrorism measures) does not improve, the response will continue to be a challenge.

Recognizing that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan will require more intensified international humanitarian assistance, INTERSOS remains in Afghanistan to deliver its ongoing activities, and potentially scale up its response.

The project overseen by the Consortium Coordinator, funded by AICS, if approved, is a 12 months consortium led by INTERSOS and constituted by one other (I)NGO – CESVI. The project aims for the implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) anticipatory risk mitigation and emergency responses for the most vulnerable Afghani Refugees, IDP and host communities affected by natural Disaster in the Central Region (Kabul Province) and Western Region (Herat Province).

General purpose of the position

The project overseen by the Consortium Coordinator, funded by AICS, is a 12 months consortium led by INTERSOS and constituted by one other (I)NGO – CESVI. The project aims for the implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) anticipatory risk mitigation and emergency responses for the most vulnerable Afghani Refugees, IDP and host communities affected by natural Disaster in the Central Region (Kabul Province) and Western Region (Herat Province).

Under the supervision of the Head of Programme (HoP) and in close collaboration with the Central Region (Kabul) Programme Manager, the Consortium Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring the proper coordination, implementation and communication of the project across all consortium member and teams. The Consortium Coordinator will be accountable for the overall achievement of the contractual objectives (reporting, timeframe, targets/indicators, budget) of the projects and for monitoring that the activities are implemented accordingly by the Programme managers (of INTERSOS and CESVI). With the support of the technical and support staff from all partners, at Kabul and Hirat level, this position will be responsible for establishing and maintaining an integrated vision among partners while being accountable for delivery on project objectives, targets, time, compliance and budget. The Coordinator will serve as the key liaison with donors and other stakeholders and will facilitate the collaborative partnership between them and the consortium partner.

Main responsibilities and tasks

Strategic planning and leadership:

• The Consortium Coordinator will be part of the Consortium Steering Committee responsible to present the Donor with key decisions, information and recommendations on strategic, operational and financial matters.
• The Consortium Coordinator will work closely with the Consortium Operational teams to supervise the overall project implementation across all consortium members, to ensure the technical coherence of the project, in coordination with all consortium members and the Quality & Accountability Working Groups.
• The Consortium Coordinator will be supervising the overall management of the project financial resources and grant’s compliance, with the support of administrative departments and of the Reporting and Compliance team.

Grant management:

• Lead on the overall programmatic, logistic and financial management of the project, including the identification and mitigation of risks and obstacles, to ensure donor compliance in terms of project deliverables and eligibility criteria.
• Lead on the contractual reporting preparation and consolidation (narrative and financial) in coordination with program managers and consortium members.
• Ensure compliance of logistics and administrative procedures, based on contractual requirements.
• Monitor the proper financial management and forecast of budget lines across the consortium, in coordination with the program managers and the finance departments.
• Conduct regular monitoring of activities, including field visits and regular consortium meetings in collaboration with program managers and consortium partners.

Internal Coordination:

• Lead on the set-up and implementation of efficient coordination and communication mechanisms between consortium team members, including project kickoff meetings, regular technical review meetings and project close-up meetings.
• Lead on the set-up of systems, TORs, SOPs and tools in place across the consortium, with the support of the Consortium Quality & Accountability Unit.
• Lead the Consortium program reviews to ensure the technical coordination and the quality of the project across the consortium.

External Coordination

• Represent the consortium with the Donor and attend National and Regional Technical Working Groups, UN Agencies and National Authorities meetings, when needed and in coordination with INTERSOS’ Coordination team.
• Ensure the consortium emergency response plan is aligned with relevant cluster contingency/emergency response plan.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL):

• Lead on the elaboration, implementation and revision of an effective MEAL plan and monitoring systems throughout the project, in coordination with the MEAL Working Group, and with the support of the MEAL Manager.
• Lead on the relevance and quality of monitoring reports, analysis and data trends, including recommendations produced by the MEAL Working Group.
• Take responsibility for the implementation of learning and recommendations from external or internal reviews/evaluations and donor feedback.
• Working with the MEAL unit, PgM ensure that beneficiaries have access to feedback mechanisms and that data is monitored and responses given within the appropriate time.

Required profile and experience

Education

• MA’s Degree in Rural Development, Humanitarian Response or a relevant technical subject (Health, Nutrition, FSL, WASH, ES/NFI, Protection, etc) or another relevant field.

Professional Experience

• Minimum Five (5) years of experience in humanitarian aid settings with INGOs, UN agencies and international organizations of which at least 3 overseas, with a minimum 2 years in a senior management role.
• Experience of consortium coordination, carrying out, project inception workshops, coordinating project implementation plan, and donor and internal report in line with internal and donor requirements.
• Experience managing complex emergency response programmes through both direct implementation, through local partner organisations and within consortia arrangements.
• Demonstrated familiarity with grant management and compliance requirements of AICS (a must) and other major institutional donors (e.g ECHO, OCHA, UNHCR, etc)
• Experience in Coordination and Leading big teams.

Professional Requirements

• Ability to manage huge team.
• Experience in Afghanistan or any similar context will be an asset.
• Experience of mainstreaming cross-cutting issues into humanitarian programmes: Protection, gender mainstreaming, conflict sensitivity, etc.
• Experience working with major grants and international donors.
• Desirable experience in managing integrated projects and Intersectorial programs (Triple NEXUS).
• Essential computer literacy (MS Office and internet)

Languages

• Fluency in English (written and spoken).

Personal Requirements

• Good organizational and planning skills.
• Leadership, team management and cooperation.
• Behavioral flexibility.
• Negotiation skills and decision-making skills.
• Diplomatic, interpersonal, and excellent communication skills.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Understanding of humanitarian operations principles, standards, and best practices.
• Commitment to INTERSOS principles.
• Work under pressure.