ABOUT LA CHAÎNE DE L’ESPOIR

La Chaîne de l’Espoir is an international Non-Governmental Organization founded in 1994. Its mission is to strengthen health systems to give everyone, especially children, the same chances of survival and development. Helping the most vulnerable children is more than an ethical obligation, it is a prerequisite for achieving the 2030 goals for children’s health and well-being.

We work in 28 countries with a comprehensive approach, focusing on children, mothers and disadvantaged communities:

• Prevention and screening from an early age, particularly through school health programs.
• Care and surgery, to meet the most urgent needs of children and their mothers.
• Strengthening the medical and surgical workforce thanks to our international network of experts.
• Construction and equipment of hospital structures adapted to local needs.

CONTEXT

La Chaîne de l’Espoir has been working in Afghanistan since the early 2000s. In 2005, it built the French Medical Institute for Children (FMIC) in Kabul, a non-profit pediatric hospital, to provide high quality medical and surgical care for young patients. Since 2006, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has been responsible for the overall management of the FMIC, with La Chaîne de l’Espoir providing medical support and access to the most vulnerable populations. In 2016, the hospital expanded with the opening of gynecology, obstetrics and neonatology services, becoming the French Medical Institute for Mother and Child (FMIC). Services for adults have also been developed in recent years.

The goal is to increase access to healthcare in particular for the most vulnerable Afghans. To do so, we :

• Train and support the medical, paramedical and technical teams through short and long term volunteer missions.
• Provide free surgical treatment at FMIC and social care for the most vulnerable children and women coming from all the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, through the “Women and Children House” project (WCH).
• Provide support to the FMIC program of care for children suffering of severe malnutrition established in 2022.

Given the evolution of the situation in the country and the severity of the humanitarian, economic and political crisis, in 2023, La Chaîne de l’Espoir decided to continue its support to the most vulnerable Afghan children and women, including the support provided to internal displaced people living in information settlements in Kabul.

POSITION AND MISSION

The Health Programs Coordinator will ensure the proper implementation of the programs, guarantee its quality and suggest improvements. He will be in charge of the WCH project and the malnutrition project that is carried out by a team of 16 employees, including one medical officer and his assistant, one nutrition officer, nurses, midwives and social workers. The Health Programs Coordinator will also contribute to the strategic planning for the mission, in particular to develop new projects.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Implementation and operational monitoring

• Plan, supervise and monitor the implementation of the activities
• Supervise and support the operational team of the WCH project in the weekly planning and reporting of project activities
• Develop the referral systems by identifying relevant organizations that can refer children or women from provinces
• Supervise and develop the work conducted by the M&E Officer in the monitoring and evaluation of the project activities
• Supervise the work conducted by the nutrition officer to develop the malnutrition component at the hospital and beyond
• Supervise the recording of data and ensure the database is properly utilized
• Manage the database (good Excel proficiency) for indicator monitoring on a monthly basis
• Ensure quality implementation and monitoring of program
• Suggest any improvement of the activities, if necessary
• Work with the finance department, contribute to developing budgets relative to his/her program, monitor expenses, budget forecasts and cash needs
• Liaise with the French Medical Institute for Children teams on the activities carried out and solve problems arising
• Support the preparation of the medical missions with the WCH team

Staff management

• Define/review the job descriptions of the team under his supervision
• Assess the human resources needs
• Participate in the recruitment of the staff under his supervision
• Greet and brief the staff working on the program
• Train, manage and support the team under his responsibility
• Evaluate the skills and performances of the staff

Reporting / communication / representation

• Collect information and analyse the activities carried out
• Prepare program reports and ensure timely submission to the head of mission
• Participate in writing reports and proposals to donors
• Ensure that all reports are delivered on time and in the appropriate format
• Conduct proper advocacy with authorities and NGOs
• Write regular children’s stories in order to communicate about the project (newsletter, website…)
• Represent the organization when asked and/or delegated to do so (clusters, meeting with organizations…)
• Reply to headquarters information requests regarding specific needs

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

An advanced university degree in project management or in a related field is required

Work experience

• Previous experience as project manager in the humanitarian sector
• Previous experience in health sector is an asset
• Experience in managing teams
• Experience of working in a tense security context

Personal qualities

• Capacity to manage a project and a team (remotely if necessary)
• Ability to take initiatives
• Good interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills
• Rigorousness, thoroughness and working accurately
• Good analytical and reporting skills
• Proficiency in Excel
• Good oral and written communication skills in English
• Dari or Pashto would be an asset

CONDITIONS

• 12 months full time contract renewable as an expatriate in Kabul
• Starting date : ASAP
• Fixed monthly gross salary from 2 300 €, according to profile and experience
• Monthly per diem and living allowance : 700 € net
• R&R
• Housing : single room in a collective accommodation provided
• Comfortable accommodation with access to an outdoor space and sport facilities. Involves living in community (with other permanent expatriates and doctors who regularly come on missions) and respecting strict security rules
• Transportation to and from the workplace is provided
• Medical coverage with 50% of employer contribution
• Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance covered by CDE
• Death and disability insurance covered by CDE