Humanitarian Director

TITLE: Humanitarian Director

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Afghanistan CO LOCATION: Kabul with 60% time traveling to field

GRADE: TBD CONTRACT LENGTH: 24 months

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 2: either the post holder will have access to personal data about children and/or young people as part of their work; or the post holder will be working in a ‘regulated’ position (accountant, barrister, solicitor, legal executive); therefore a police check will be required (at ‘standard’ level in the UK or equivalent in other countries).

ROLE PURPOSE:

The post holder will be a member of Extended Senior Management Team (ESMT). The post holder is expected to collaborate across all sectors of interventions and with a cross-functional approach. Save the Children’s programme has a large geographical footprint in Afghanistan, with programmes in many states. The agency works in Child Rights Governance, Child Protection, Education, Health, Nutrition, WASH, Shelter-NFI, and Food Security and Livelihoods. We are a full spectrum agency, delivering humanitarian and development programming.

The Humanitarian Director will play a critical role in turning planning, coordinating and delivering our humanitarian ambitions through the provision of technical and coordination support on key areas of humanitarian priorities. The role will be responsible for driving and delivering the of the Localisation Initiative, identifying operating models that advance localisation and ensuring that Country Office is equipped with easy to use guidance to support their localisation journey. They will be an experienced and entrepreneurial operations generalist with the ability to realise connections between localisation and broader operational initiatives across the movement.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Deputy Country Director-Operations

Budget Responsibilities: Yes

Number of reports: 4 with potential to increase (Humanitarian Manager, Localisation Manager, Education Sector Co-Coordinator, CP Sub Cluster Co Lead.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Humanitarian Analysis, Strategy & Programme Strengthening:

• Coordinates and provides strategic leadership, direction, guidance and technical support to the development of humanitarian programming across Afghanistan. Aligns the humanitarian response to Save the Children’s Country Strategic Plan and interagency response plans and strategies.
  
• Leads the annual development and review of a Humanitarian Plan for Save the Children in Afghanistan based on context analysis, and alignment with Save the Children’s CSP goals; supports its adoption and implementation across the CO.
  
• Coordinates the development of Save the Children’s contributions to the interagency annual Humanitarian Response Plan. Ensures contributions to interagency emergency response plans.
  
• Guides the Humanitarian Analyst, and coordinates with MEAL staff, to ensure relevant analysis, mapping, research and other learning exercises are undertaken, which inform strategic planning and decision-making, and contribute to effective programme design and advocacy.
  
• Works with the Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications & Media team to develop and disseminate key messages on the humanitarian context, gaps and needs in Afghanistan, to key internal and external stakeholders.
  
• Supports and follows up on pipeline funding opportunities, and engages directly in the design of strategic humanitarian project proposals that contribute significantly to the objectives set out within the Humanitarian Plan.
  
• Champions the integration of best practice and relevant innovative approaches within humanitarian programming, to maximize impact and sustainability. This includes, but is not limited to conflict sensitivity, anticipatory action, community-based DRR/CCA, durable solutions, and triple-nexus. Ensures the Centrality of Protection is embedded across all programming.
  
• Develops capacity-building initiatives to ensure staff across all functions understand humanitarian principles, standards and best practice, and can effectively undertake their roles, contributing towards timely and quality response.
  
  Emergency Response Planning & Implementation:
  
• Acts as default Team Leader for Category 1 and 2 responses. Ensures swift response to new emergencies or spikes in emergency are launched, by supporting teams to raise timely alerts, undertake rapid needs assessments, develop response plans and master budgets, mobilise funds, and deploy surge staff. Ensures that humanitarian sitreps and other reporting are submitted on time and to a high-quality standard.
  
• Acts as Fund Manager for allocation of internal humanitarian funding.
  
• Ensures all responses are well-coordinated with and complementary to other actors, including through facilitating ongoing engagement with sectors/clusters, partners, authorities and other stakeholders, and through contribution to interagency response plans, assessments and reports.
  
• Supports efforts to enhance project management, technical, MEAL, safeguarding, supply chain, finance and other support service capacity, systems and processes to increase readiness to implement safe, timely and relevant emergency responses.
  
• Provides guidance to field and humanitarian operations teams to ensure response implementation follows internal guidelines, donor guidelines, and meets standards.
  
  Preparedness and Anticipatory Action
  
• Manages the annual development and review of the Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP), ensuring inputs from field offices and CO functions are integrated. Follows up on Minimum Preparedness Actions and Advanced Preparedness Actions with all functions / departments, to ensure readiness across the CO for emergency response. Ensures Contingency Plans are developed for high-risk hazards.
  
• Plans prepositioning of appropriate emergency relief stock across the country, and advocates for access to common cluster pipelines.
  
• Strengthens the internal hazard monitoring and early warning system to enable appropriate decision-making and response at CO level.
  
• Leads development and implementation of AA plan for identified hazards
  
• Works with NBD on AA action funding opportunities
  
  Humanitarian Coordination & External Representation:
  
• Represents Save the Children within all humanitarian coordination mechanisms, including relevant cluster meetings and taskforces; as well as NGO fora and working groups. Specifically, represents Save the Children on Refugee Consultation Forum and Durable Solutions Working Group.
  
• Proactively engages in relevant fora and working groups to achieve systemic change within the humanitarian community in alignment with Save the Children’s strategic goals.
  
• Represents Save the Children in donor meetings and visits. Maintains regular engagement with key donors in Afghanistan.
  
• Represents Save the Children with high-level authorities officials at both the national and provincial level, especially in relation to emergency preparedness and response.
  
• Line manages and supports the Cluster Co-Coordinators to ensure a coherent and effective response to needs being addressed by all agencies engaging in humanitarian interventions in Afghanistan.
  
  Humanitarian Access & Space:
  
• Work with and supports the DPO/Humanitarian Access to undertake effective context and risk assessment and analysis, facilitate programme access, and develop policies and procedures that support the safe delivery of programme activities and are responsive to local context.
  
• Support the team to engages significantly with relevant stakeholders to maintain access and space to develop and implement effective humanitarian programming in Afghanistan.
  
  Localisation of Humanitarian Response:
  
• Establishes relationships and ensures sustained engagement with a range of local and national actors (LNAs), including NNGOs, CBOs, youth networks, authorities and private sector; provides opportunities for local and national actors to speak.
  
• Undertakes internal advocacy and coordination to ensure improved ways of working, conducive to the development of strong strategic partnerships with local and national humanitarian and development civil society actors.
  
• Ensures implementation of ongoing humanitarian capacity-sharing programme of opportunities for LNAs, including NNGOs and authorities (on humanitarian principles, concepts and standards and emergency operations and NGO governance best practice), and develop more sustainable capacity-sharing models, including through engagement with NGO Fora and academic institutions. Advocates for and supports the use of quality and accountability standards by NNGOs undertaking humanitarian action.
  
• Leads initiatives to increase NNGO/CBO role in emergency response specifically, including through supporting their integration within Emergency Rapid Response Mechanisms (ERRMs), establishing sub-grant programmes, providing access to pooled resources and support services, and tailored capacity-sharing support, networking opportunities and advocacy.
  
  BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
  
  Accountability:
  
• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
  
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
  
  Ambition:
  
• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
  
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
  
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
  
  Collaboration:
  
• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
  
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
  
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
  
  Creativity:
  
• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
  
• willing to take disciplined risks.
  
  Integrity:
  
• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
  
  The post holder must commit to work in an international agency that respects racial diversity and fights racism in all forms; and to model positive behaviours and respect to all colleagues, partners and communities.
  
  
  
  EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
  
  · Minimum of 10 years experience gaining progressive responsibility in humanitarian roles with an NGO, to include a minimum of 4 years in field-based roles within a challenging or insecure context.
  
  · Familiarity with the localisation agenda, local leadership and prior experience of work with local civil society organisations
  
  · Excellent coordination and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels and with a range of stakeholders. Proven external coordination and representation skills.
  
  · Excellent knowledge of humanitarian principles, relevant humanitarian international laws, regulations and standards, and thorough understanding of key concepts in humanitarian action. Excellent understanding of humanitarian funding and coordination mechanisms.
  
  · Fluency in English, both verbal and written.
  
  · Excellent writing/editing, budget development and presentation/communication skills. Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
  
  · Prior experience in assessment, design and implementation of humanitarian programming.
  
  · Demonstrated capacity to work autonomously under pressure and with tight deadlines; develop and manage own workplan to achieve objectives. Excellent organisational skills.
  
  · Experience of solving complex issues through analysis and planning, defining a clear way forward and ensuring buy in.
  
  · Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
  
  · Ability and willingness to travel extensively to field sites and work independently.
  
  · Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children, in particular a good understanding of Save the Children’s mandate and child focus.
  
  Desirable:
  
  · Prior experience of working in Afghanistan.
  
  · Pashto/Dari language skills.
  
  · Prior experience as a member of Country Office Senior Management Team or equivalent.
  
  · Specific experience of supporting change management.
  
  Additional job responsibilities
  
  The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
  
  Equal Opportunities
  
  The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
  
  Child Safeguarding:
  
  We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
  
  Safeguarding our Staff:
  
  The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy
  
  Health and Safety
  
  The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.