Afghanistan: Country Director Afghanistan - 12 months, renewable

1. B**A** CKGROUND

GERES-**Groupe E**n**e**rg**i**e**s Re**nou**vel**ables, En**vi**ro**n**n**e**m**e**nt e**t So**li**d**a**r**i**tés** - is a French non-profit NGO

created in 1976 after the first Oil Shock.

Environmental conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, reducing energy poverty, and improving livelihood of the poor are the main focus areas for GERES. The GERES team is particularly involved in the implementation, in partnership with local stakeholders and communities, of engineering solutions for development and providing specific technical expertise.

Activities include conducting energy efficiency programs, providing decentralized energy services for local economic development, supporting and developing renewable energies and promoting waste management.

Today, more than 250 staff members work on 60 innovative and sustainable development projects in France and in 13 developing countries.

InAf**gh**anistan**

GERES has been working in Afghanistan since 2002 and has worked in Environment through Energy scope in 17 provinces of Afghanistan.

FIE**LDS** OF I**NTERVENTION**

Ene**rg**y effi**ciency** has been developed by GERES in public buildings (more than 300 medical centers, schools, community rooms, mosques, etc.), and in private housing (more than 1100 houses), through insulation and alternative techniques (passive solar houses, solar walls, direct gains, improved heating & cooking stoves, etc.).

Rur**al** devel**opm**e**n**t** projects implemented by GERES in Afghanistan deal with the development of agricultural income-generating activities (IGA), the improvement of rural productive activities, and capacity-building for local institutions. In these sectors, GERES has been developing tools such as: improved greenhouses, post- harvest cellars (nearly 400 units).

AR**E**AS O**F** INTERVENTION**

GERES mission in Afghanistan is managed by a coordination team in Kabul. In 2012, a program started in the districts 5, 7 and 8 of Kabul, ended in 2015.

In 2014, GERES Afghanistan is extending its activities to the Central Highlands region such as Bamyan and

Wardak provinces. The Central Highland Program (CHP) is funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and so for three years. It is a three NGO’ consortium program leaded by GERES.

As per January 2016. GERES signed a new contract with European Union focusing on the capital Kabul (15 Police Districts out of the 22). Duration of the project: 42 months. In 2016, GERES is also expecting to progressively prepare and ensure continuity of activities in Central Highlands.

TE**AM**

In 2016, the GERES team in Afghanistan comprises 56 permanent staff and 5 expatriates and the annual budget is 1.000.000 EUROS.

Since beginning of 2016, GERES has entered in a nationalization process of some positions, preparing a concrete capacity building plan for local team.

PARTNERS**

In Afghanistan, GERES has been working with: International donors, International Organisations, national

NGO, and Afghan Ministries.

2.**M**I S S I O N O F T H E P O S I T I O N**

Under the supervision of the Deputy Executive Director based in Aubagne (France), the Country Director is the head of the office in Afghanistan and represents GERES with all external partners and interlocutors locally. (S)he is the head of the Core management Team and ensures the efficiency and effectiveness of the operational and program activities of GERES Afghanistan.

3. M**A** INOBJECTIVES

The Country Director is responsible for the following objectives:

Fundraising and Representation of the mission

Developing and facilitating partnership in the country

Ensuring a good understanding and clear view of the on-going programs’ strategy in consideration of the geopolitical and development contexts

Managing and supervising teams to work in line with the global strategy

4.MA I N T A S K S**

In line with the objectives, the Country Director is in charge of:

Co-ordination and mon**i**toring o**f** activities

With the support of the GERES Afghanistan Coordination team:

(S)he coordinates the work of GERES team in Afghanistan (Project Leaders, project teams and support staff) and partner NGOs on activities included in the annual strategy plan and/or GERES contractual commitments to its funders;

(S)he provides methodological support to the teams, with the support of technical advisers and external experts;

(S)he handles and/or oversees the monitoring & evaluation of activities and organization/running of follow-up workshops;

(S)he ensures clear communications and coordination with GERES HQ team;

(S)he oversees the quality of management and development of projects and follow up with the partners;

(S)he supervises, assists and ensures the adoption and use of the proposed tools; (S)he takes part in framing/reframing strategic activities and guidelines;

Se**curity** Management

With the support of the Security Coordinator:

(S)he is in charge of the security of all teams ;

(S)he updates GERES Afghanistan security procedures;

(S)he is responsible for monitoring and analyzing the security situation ;

(S)he ensures the information flow with the HQ, and is able to take necessary measures according to the situation;

(S)he decides any change of security level, according to the situation and liaising with the General

Management of GERES ;

(S)he is responsible to ensure a permanent security watch and to keep the teams updated.

Admi**n**i**s**t**r**ative and fi**n**ancial m**anagement/logistics**

With the support of the National, and HQ Administrators:

(S)he monitors the local administration on financial and accounting operations

(S)he assures compliance of all internal rules and procedures of GERES Afghanistan (Management control);

(S)he assures compliance with contractual obligations to funders and suggests appropriate operating tools;

(S)he assures compliance with National legal obligations and suggests appropriate operating tools;

(S)he coordinates the preparation of annual budgets (project and operational) and monitors these budgets throughout the year;

(S)he monitors and assures cash-flow management;

(S)he monitors and oversees the allocation of expenditure; (S)he supervises funding applications;

(S)he manages budgets and treasury.

Humanres**o**u**r**ce m**anagement**

With the support of the national and HQ HR department

(S)he manages a multidisciplinary team;

(S)he ensures timely and effective recruitment, training and assessment of GERES Afghanistan’s local and expatriate staff;

(S)he builds a strong identity within the team, by setting clear expectations, circulating information, building capacity, etc (briefing/debriefing, motivation, personal support and availability, evaluations of the performances, orientations);

(S)he manages the relation with the partners;

Managementof p**artnership** rel**ations**

(S)he oversees the preparation of partnership agreements; (S)he develops new strategic partnerships;

(S)he assess the quality of partnerships;

(S)he ensures co-operation with the local authorities.

Institutionalr**e**pr**e**s**e**n**tation i**n A**f**gh**anistan**

With the support of the team:

(S)he shares and participates in developing the strategy of GERES Afghanistan in line with GERES

global strategy, and oversees its implementation through all current actions;

(S)he is Responsible for the official representation of the NGO in the country and looking out for opportunities ;

(S)he has an active participation to humanitarian/development coordination forums;

(S)he ensures linkage and feedback with head office, distributes information to branch offices and takes part in GERES global strategy;

(S)he facilitates exchanges of technical and methodological information between projects to improve their technical quality and foster the development of in-house skills;

Fundr**aising** &Devel**opm**e**n**t**

In line with the global strategy

(S)he identifies and prospects for financial partners, mainly in Afghanistan, to develop the GERES Afghanistan operation and co-fund ongoing projects;

(S)he identifies local and regional opportunities corresponding to the GERES activities; (S)he guides the process of drafting of project documents, feasibility studies, etc;

(S)he explores opportunities for organizational development in Afghanistan in the sub region ;

(S)he plans the organization of the activities, supervises the follow-up and evaluation of the activities; (S)he organizes the capitalization and knowledge management;

(S)he contributes to the process of setting a regional coordination.

5. P R O F I L E**

Education**: Graduate degree in the field of Economics / Environment / Development

Experience:**

Minimum 5 years of international cooperation with 3 years in developing countries; Experience working in countries in conflict

Working in economic/social development with project management and/or country office organization responsibilities;

Experience of cooperating with multiple local partners; Security Management and Risk Analysis knowledge;

Knowledge of environmental and energy saving issues, an asset.

Languages, IT sk**ill**s**: Fluent in English; French would be an asset; Knowledge of local languages

(**Dari/Farsi**) would be appreciated; sound knowledge of office software

De**s**i**r**able sk**ill**s**: Knowledge of rural energy, rural habitat and environmental issues

De**s**i**r**able qu**alities**:

Excellent communication and persuasion skills, ability to lead a multicultural project team, to convince, work in partnership and facilitate consensus;

A flexible approach to managing and prioritizing high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines;

Self-starter with strong research, analysis, and critical thinking skills;

Knowledge of the Afghan context is highly appreciated; Good knowledge of Islamic environment; Responsive and dynamic; Diplomacy & teaching skills;

Empathy with organizational goals.

6. C**O** NDITIONS

• Duration: French expatriate contract (CDDU), 12 months renewable

• Lo**cation**: Based in Kabul (Afghanistan), occasional travels to Bamyan

• MonthlyGrossSalary: following GERES salary scale and taking into account previous experience of applicant

and asecurityallowance of 700€/month (prorated with effective days spent in Afghanistan)

• Ann**u**al le**aves** : 5 weeks + 10 days of R&R

• Other advantages: Afghan visa & work permit expenses are covered and managed by GERES; 2 return tickets per year between Afghanistan and home country and 2 lump sum allowances of EUR 400 for intermediary breaks in the sub-region health insurance, repatriation insurance, retirement, and unemployment insurances (cost is shared between GERES and the employee).

• Accommodation: GERES Guest House

• Livin**g** All**ow**ance: 300$ per month (paid locally and prorated with effective days spent in Afghanistan)

To apply, register your candidacy (CV + LM) before July 29th on the following web page : http://job.geres.eu/?action=ref&id=3

Or go directly on our website www.geres.eu, within page About us / Recruitment, select the Country Director Afghanistan offer and apply on line