Food Security Advisor - Afghanistan

Role and Responsibilities

Provide technical advice and support to management and project staff, deliver training and ensure quality programming. Develop, lead, monitor and evaluate technical aspects of the country programme activities in the area of Food Security. Coordinate and network at a senior level with national and regional authorities, clusters and other NGOs. Provide capacity building for national and international staff, champion best practice (international and Medair) and contribute to the overall management of the country programme. Responsible for assessment and survey design, for existing and new project areas, this role is also point of contact for food security in the country programme for HQ sector Technical Advisors.

Project Overview

The Afghanistan programme has projects in WASH, Food Assistance, Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Emergency Response. All projects contribute to the overall objective of increased resilience and contain Disaster Risk Management elements.

Medair

Medair is a humanitarian organisation inspired by Christian faith to relieve human suffering in some of the world’s most remote and devastated places. We bring relief and recovery to people in crisis, regardless of race, creed or nationality. As signatories of the Red Cross Code of Conduct, we believe that aid should be given to everyone who is in need, regardless of political, social or religious viewpoint. We save lives in emergencies and then stay to help people recover from crisis with dignity—working side by side with communities to leave a lasting impact. We provide a range of emergency relief and recovery services: health care and nutrition, safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, shelter and infrastructure.

Workplace         

Kabul, Afghanistan

Starting Date

April 2015

Initial Contract Details

Full time, minimum contract 24 months

Key Activity Areas

Project Management  

• Provide programme support and technical advice with an emphasis on food security, food assistance, livelihoods, and disaster risk reduction.
• Define appropriate policies, guidelines and protocols for the Food Security aspects of Medair’s work in country, in consultation with other field managers and in line with relevant government, Sphere and FSAC guidelines.
• Provide technical support to the teams at project sites, including the evaluation and impact analysis of current projects and the support for donor proposals and reports in coordination with the Programme Funding Manager.

Operations Management

• Support field managers in coordination with the Projects Coordinators in all aspects of finance, administrative, human resource and logistics management, ensuring knowledge of and adherence to applicable operational systems, donor requirements and country programme strategy.
• Prepare and implement policies, procedures and guidelines, as appropriate and with the relevant field managers and HQ staff, so as to enhance the smooth running of the programmes through standardised procedures and improved support. This may include finance and governance procedures, staff management, fleet management and IT security and infrastructure.

Representation

• Actively participate in the Food Security and Agriculture cluster (FSAC) meeting and events.
• Develop and maintain relationships with UN, NGOs, donors, partners and other stakeholders, with the objective of raising public awareness of Medair and ensuring good co-operation and partnerships.

Staff Management

• Involved in the recruitment of Food Security staff for the country programme, providing advice on technical skills and experience as requested.
• Ensure that all Food Security staff are adequately trained and, if necessary, create possibilities for capacity building, mentoring and coaching, within budget constraints. Plan and develop training material as required.

Financial Management

• Work with the Projects Coordinator, relevant field managers and HQ staff to plan and construct project budgets.

Quality Management

• Promote and use the Medair intranet and other operating procedures, ensuring that all standardised formats are used and guidelines are followed.

Qualifications

• University degree in Food Security, Agriculture or other relevant technical subjects and/or significant senior level experience in food security

Languages

• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written)

Experience / Competencies

• 3-5 year relevant post-qualification professional experience
• 1-3 years overseas work experience in food security programming, preferably in the developing world, in an NGO context
• Experience of the humanitarian sector in an emergency context
• Excellent proposal and report writing skills (including ability to develop and report on log-frames and a knowledge of indicators and impact)
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, Sphere and HAP Standards, protection issues and other international humanitarian guidelines and protocols
• Excellent negotiation / advocacy skills within varying cultural and professional contexts, in particular regarding donors and government officials
• Advanced leadership and project management skills
• Team-player with good inter-personal skills
• Able to cope with basic living conditions in the field and during field trips

Medair Standard Working Requirements for the Field

• Experienced professionals in a relevant field; Overseas intercultural experience
• Committed Christians; commitment to the Medair values
• Strong working knowledge of English, spoken and written
• Working knowledge of French, spoken and written, for French-speaking field programmes
• Single or married (with no children under 18). If married, your spouse must also apply.
• Successful completion of Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC)
• Reflect the vision and values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, external contacts
• Able to live and work in a multicultural team under difficult conditions
• Strong character traits, including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, honesty, and physically fit

Benefits

• A salary based upon the grade of the position and the experience of the position-holder
• Comprehensive briefing at our Swiss headquarters, as well as an in-country briefing
• Security training for those going to particularly insecure environments
• Accommodation, food, and transportation in-country
• Return flights to and from the country programme (one return flight for every year of service)
• Rest and recuperation (R&R) leave (including travel, accommodation, and food allowance)
• Annual leave; Death and disability allowance
• Contribution matching programme for retirement savings (for experienced relief workers)
• Additional contract benefit allowance for those who commit to longer contracts
• Comprehensive medical and emergency rescue insurance, with up to 60 days post- assignment coverage, including debriefing

Working Conditions  

• This position is based in Kabul with some field travel to the Central Highlands area and potentially new project areas. Working and living conditions may be very different to that previously experienced.

Application Process

Follow this link: www.medair.org/work-with-us, check if you are an Experienced or New Relief Worker and that you fit our standard working criteria, then:

a)      apply for this vacancy (or another position that matches your profile), or

b)      apply for a Medair ROC (where we can try and match your competencies to our vacancy needs).

Please do not make multiple applications. We will not review email applications. Only English-language applications / CVs will be reviewed. Medair does not set closing / deadline dates for applications; recruitment is on-going until the position is filled.