Action Against Hunger/Action Contre La Faim (AAH/ACF) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that was created in France in 1979. AAH/ACF has been active in Afghanistan in the medical, nutrition, food security, and water and sanitation fields since 1995.  AAH/ACF improved access to health and nutrition services for the most vulnerable people, who live in remote areas without a local health system. In particular, the country team supported pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under five, who are at greater risk of malnutrition. Nutrition programmes rely on an integrated approach, addressing both primary and underlying causes, in order to have a lasting impact on nutritional status.  The country team worked at community level, in villages and at provincial level, strengthening the public health system. It also worked at national level to ensure reliable information about the nutritional situation reached the wider humanitarian community. Covid-19 prevention was integrated into all interventions and additional response activities were implemented, such as the disinfection of health facilities and public places, cash assistance, psychosocial support and the distribution of hygiene kits to affected populations.

Job Purpose

To provide support to Emergency Response programs, in conformity with the country's strategy and the standards set internationally, by ACF and the national policies, with the ultimate goal of ensuring a timely and efficient response that minimizes harm and protects lives and property.

Mission 1: Contribute to deliberations on strategy and the positioning of the FSL-DRR Department

The Emergency expert is responsible for:

• Ongoing, systematic, and thorough analysis of the humanitarian situation in respect of FSL, Emergency, and the context of intervention in his field of activity (Rapid assessment, Market survey, Community level and Household assessment, etc.);
• taking part in the determination of strategy for emergency intervention
• ensuring that teams have a clear understanding of these documents
• promoting transversal integration of the FSL sector with other sectors, in collaboration with the FSL-DRR HoD ;
• Taking cognizance of transversal problems associated with FSL initiatives (Gender issues, Disaster Management, Environment, Handicap, humanitarian access, etc.)

Examples of tasks:

• Monitor and analyze general indicators
• Become thoroughly familiar with the ACF strategy action plan and that of the mission
• Define the operational direction to be promoted in relation to the strategy, the capacities of the mission and the identification of need in the sector
• Take notice of the sectorial orientations of national strategy and understand the implications for his field of activity
• Identify the presence and the strategic orientations of other partners in the field with a view to improving coordination and effective working (particularly with ANDMA and DORR)

Mission 2: Identify needs and contribute to project elaboration

The Emergency expert is responsible for:

• Identifying humanitarian needs in the field of FSL-DRR, especially for the Emergency interventions
• Actively lead and participate in emergency assessments, including, where appropriate, target populations and local actors (ANDMA and DORR), partners (IP WFP and UNHCR) in the identification of needs and ways of responding to them
• Participation in defining and developing Emergency programs and preparedness plan
• Providing relevant inputs and ideas to the design of new projects
• Prepare an emergency report

Examples of tasks:

• Carry out needs assessment missions (Rapid assessments, Household surveys, Market assessment, etc.) (methodology, team training in the field, carrying out investigations on the ground)
• Collect secondary data and information supplied by the target populations
• Analyze the results of need assessments and write up analysis reports
• Put forward recommendations for the definition of programs (Location, methods of implementation, context, and beneficiaries’ targeting...)
• Work on the definition of programs, taking into account logistics, administration, other areas of intervention, partners, etc.
• Contribute to proposal development  (Context analysis, logical framework, covering literature, text, budget, time scales, and logistics.....) in collaboration with the concerned departments

Mission 3: Support field teams technically on Emergency projects

The Emergency expert is responsible for:

• The quality of the Emergency programs established in conformity with the technical and project management standards of ACF (use of the Project Quality Management Tools “PQMT”),
• Familiarizing him/herself thoroughly with his projects, the issues involved, the logical framework and indicators ;
• Identifying the technical constraints associated with the implementation of the projects
• Proposing innovative technical solutions in response to such constraints

• The implementation of technical recommendations concerning his/her project Supervising his programs, using internal APR monitoring tools review every month (Narrative and Quantitative), a regular presence in the field to monitor the team and supervise the activity implementation
• Preparing in time to meet FSL-DRR components deadlines of external and internal reports relating to his/her projects

Examples of tasks:

• Take notice of funding agencies’ contractual document
• Train his teams in the logical framework of the project, activities, indicators, monitoring, transversal issues, etc.
• Define the various stages of the projects by reference to existing technical guidelines
• Develop for submission and approval by the Head of the FSL-DRR Department “technical methodologies for the implementation of his projects”
• Take part in the monthly budgetary monitoring exercise, and request it if it has not been undertaken 
• Engage in the planning of needs and resources with the Logistics and Finance Departments
• Support for reports submission to funding agencies (intermediate and final) and reports for the information of regulatory authorities 
• Submit in good time reports to his hierarchical and line manager for approval and dissemination
• Identify risks in consultation with the support departments concerned

Mission 4: Contribute to the quality, accountability and impact measurement process of his/her projects

The Emergency expert is responsible for:

• Promoting and taking part in the monitoring and evaluation of the impact of his projects (constant internal monitoring, external assessment)
• Promoting and contributing to learning and improvement of program quality (internal evaluation and joint visits)
• Promoting complaints mechanism procedures for ethical and transparency reasons, particularly in respect of the beneficiary populations

Examples of tasks:

• Ensure and supervise the adequate monitoring of the program done by his team (training, follow up of the team)
• Play a part in writing the TOR of the external assessment
• Accompany external assessors
• Follow-up on the recommendations made as a result of internal and external assessments in the context of a specific work plan (quality control)
• Promote a complaint mechanism procedure based on ACF standard
• Initiate if necessary KAP inquiry at both the beginning and end of each FSL-DRR project

Mission 5: Participate in coordination, representation, and partnerships of ACF in his/her area of intervention 

The Emergency expert is responsible for:

• Coordination of activities with other sectors and departments of ACF to ensure rational use of resources and optimum integration particularly with DAIL, ANDMA, and DoRR PDMC, UNHCR, and WFP implementing partners)
• Representing ACF and ensuring coordination with partners, the authorities (ANDMA, DoRR, DAIL, Provincial Departments of Public Health (DoPH), district governor, Provincial Disaster Management Committee PDMC), agencies of the United Nations and NGOs in his sector, in collaboration with the Field Coordinators and field managers (sharing information on program progress, communicate assessment documents after approval of FSL-DRR HoD)
• Contributing to the process of selecting partners, formalizing partnerships, and enhancing their capabilities (Local NGOs, international NGOs, national authorities, private agencies, etc...)
• Reinforcing the FSL and DRR response mechanism of the partners

Examples of tasks:

• Participate in and contribute to internal and external coordination meetings
• Represent ACF in forums/clusters or working parties in FSL and related areas
• Identify potential partners with strong emergency preparedness and response capacity
• Take part in their selection according to the documented partnership policy of ACF
• Analyze and carry out a technical capacity assessment with partners and develop jointly a plan for capacity building/development
• Draft and propose to the FSL-DRR HoD articles for the technical Newsletter or related external support (Field exchange...)

Mission 6: Contributing to capitalization and technical development in his/her sector

The Emergency expert is responsible for:

• Capitalization of program-related data and documentation of the innovations achieved (archiving both soft and hard copies)
• Dissemination of the technical and operational expertise acquired in the course of the program
• Contributing to the upward transmission of data/information from the ground to better inform ACF communications department for an efficient information/lesson learned dissemination
• Ensuring a respectful use and a good follow-up of the entire material linked with the program through stock reports in collaboration with the logistics department.
•  Build relationships and play a leadership role in ACF’s country Disaster Risk Management (DRM) networks, and promote the sharing of ACF Afghanistan’s good practices “across the global organization”

Examples of tasks:

• To produce capitalization reports based on existing formats
• Compile and archive both soft and hard copies of all documents dealing with the essential techniques and methodologies involved in the projects (including the list of beneficiaries and distribution etc..) for capitalization and audit purposes
• Ensure that his/her superior is supplied with all essential documents for archiving in digital form
• Contribute to the sharing of experience (end of mission account, interview, internet site.....)

SKILLS & EXPERIENCES REQUIRED FOR THE JOB

• Education (if relevant) and experiences expected:
  • A bachelor's degree in a field such as Food security and livelihood, agriculture, international development, public policy, or a related field. Additionally, relevant work experience in food security, nutrition, WASH, agriculture, or community development is highly valued. At least two years of working experience in emergency context and response
  • Strong previous experience in needs assessment
  • Strong previous experience in Emergency projects (NFI, Food Aid, Cash and Vouchers Assistance)
  • Previous experience in emergency supply schemes (purchase, distribution...)
  • Strong experience in humanitarian environment
  • Experience in linking relief, recovery and development projects will be a key asset
  • Strong background in community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) and overall disaster preparedness.
  • Previous experience in rapid response projects will be a key asset
• Technical skills:
  • Knowledge of international minimum standards (SPHERE…) and emergency preparedness response and tools
  • Very good knowledge of food security and livelihood programming
  • Knowledge and previous experience in project cycle management
  • Knowledge of humanitarian actors including institutional donors
  • Knowledge of humanitarian environment challenges (Policies, UN humanitarian reform, stakeholders…)
  • Extend and relevance of experience in identifying and preparing programs strategies and policies on humanitarian and transition contexts at the country level

• Managerial skills:
  • Very good organizational and planning skills
  • Strong communication skills, patient and diplomatic
  • Very good negotiation skills
  • Strong ability in coordination (external coordination) and in response management
  • Very good team management and supervision skills, leadership

Qualified and interested candidates should submit a cover letter and full CV with three Referees indicating the vacancy announcement to the address:

Human Resources Department AAH office

or can also be emailed to:

vacancies@af-actionagainsthunger.org indicating the job tile and vacancy number of the position in the email subject line.

Eligible candidates are invited to apply by the earliest possible, until 03 Feb 2025. 

Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply.

Do not submit academic certificates with the application. These will be requested if the candidate is selected. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the written test/interview.  

Action Against Hunger/Action Conter La Faim is an equal opportunity employer.  We strongly encourage women and people with disabilities to apply.  ACF/AAH has zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, and abuse (SEA).