PUI recruits 01 Head of Mission

PUI recruits 01 Head of Mission

Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-political and non-religious international aid organization. Our teams are committed to supporting civilians’ victims of marginalization and exclusion, or hit by natural disasters, wars and economic collapses, by answering their fundamental needs. Our aim is to provide emergency relief to uprooted people in order to help them recover their dignity and regain self-sufficiency. The association leads in average 200 projects by year in the following sectors of intervention: food security, health, nutrition, construction and rehabilitation of infrastructures, water, sanitation, hygiene and economic recovery. PUI is providing assistance to around 7 million people in 21 countries – in Africa, Asia, Middle East, Eastern Europe and France.

Find out about our history and values.

Humanitarian situation and needs:

Afghan mission is the oldest PUI mission, with first medical intervention launched in 1979 just after the Soviet Invasion. Since then, the country has mostly been in conflict, with national armed groups and international forces, causing mass casualties and massive movements of population, within or out of the countries. In 2017, 438 000 people have been internally displaced (bringing the total number of displaced people to 1.7 million) and there has been an influx of more than 550 000 afghan returnees from Iran and Pakistan. This high number of returns is putting pressure on host communities that are already strained by the conflict. The achievements realized by the international community following the post-2001 intervention are now jeopardized by the intensification of conflict and violence and fragile governance. Indeed, due to the increase of the attacks, casualties, displacements and consequently, of the acute needs, the United Nations reclassified Afghanistan conflict from a protracted one to an active one. Many armed groups (mainly Taliban, Islamic State…) are threatening the Government of Afghanistan, struggling to impose its vision of development, despite continuous extended military, financial and political support, nationally and internationally.

Insecurity, economic concerns, governance issues and increased pressure on the delivery of services are pushing many Afghans to risk their lives fleeing to Europe, as they see no future in Afghanistan. Afghan refugees represent the third largest refugee group worldwide and the second largest contingent of asylum seekers to the EU.

In this scenario, with elevated pressure on aid actors, the capacity to deliver aid to the most in need in remote areas is jeopardized. Access on field remains one of the biggest challenges in Afghanistan, especially in some provinces, including Nangarhar and Kunar. The humanitarian crisis is looming as actors are overstretched and resources oriented to other crises. A high capacity to deliver aid is then required in such a complex environment where humanitarian needs are huge.

Our actions in the field:

PUI strategy is to address the fundamental needs of the Afghan population in respect with all humanitarian principles. Indeed, neutrality and impartiality are key principles to respect in order to enable humanitarian access to the affected populations. PUI has a strong health expertise in the country that can be used as an entry point to implement an integrated approach to support the population to regain their most basic needs and also to their self-sufficiency. Indeed, such problems as malnutrition and undernutrition request a multi sectoral and comprehensive response in order to decrease the prevalence of the phenomenon. Since the beginning of 2013, PUI in Afghanistan started interventions on emergency preparedness and medical interventions for conflict-affected populations. With constant increasing of civilian casualties from January 2014 to December 2017 (around 10,000 documented during the year 2017), it is indeed crucial to have health staff prepared and equipped for mass casualties, and also to implement responses to population displacements.

Due to the violent recent history of the country and the constantly increasing number of security incidents in the country, PUI is developing an advocacy plan for development of PFA in the country, in order to support the development of such activity countrywide. The main programmatic objectives of the mission for 2018 are: PUI will continue its emergency interventions in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces to procure live-saving assistance to people whose needs are the most urgent (ECHO and CHF funded projects). The reduction of the malnutrition in Kunar by the implementation of targeted supplementary feeding program still constitutes a priority for PUI teams. With the recruitment of a PFA advisor and the implementation of PFA and PSS interventions, mental health is a key matter for PUI, which will insist on it in its projects. Finally, PUI is BPHS implementer in Kunar until at least mid-2018 and aims at remaining the main implementer in this province for the coming years.

Find out more about our response to the crisis. 

As part of our actions in Afghanistan, we are looking for a Head of Mission. 

The Head of Mission is responsible for the implementation of PUI’s strategy in the Country, smooth functioning and the development of the mission.

Tasks and Responsibilities: 

Safety: He/She is responsible for the safety of the mission.

Programs: He/She coordinates the technical and geographical teams ensuring that programmes are properly carried out, according to PUI’s principles and strategy and donor requirements. He/She also monitors the humanitarian situation / needs and suggests new operations and development tracks for the mission.

Medical and technical monitoring: He/She ensures that medical and technical practices respect the PUI’s procedures and formats and are in compliance with PUI’s operation policy.

Human Resources: He/She ensures that the mission is adequately staffed and supervises the teams (defining objectives, monitoring).

Logistical, administrative and financial monitoring: He/She ensures that logistical and administrative practices on site respect the procedures and formats of PUI and are in compliance with the rules of the Donors. He/She ensures that the mission has adequate logistical and financial means to a proper implementation of the programmes.

Representation: He/She represents the association in its relations with partners, donors, the media and different authorities.

Relations with Headquarters: He/She ensures that information is properly circulated between Headquarters and the field and ensures that due dates are respected.

Do not hesitate to look at the job description below for all the details you need.

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Min. 3 years of humanitarian experience in project co-ordination.
Previous experience as Head of Mission in an NGO or OSI.
Experience in security management
Successful experience in expatriate team management and multi-sector programmes.

Knowledge and skills:

Excellent writing skills
Team management
Project management
Detailed knowledge of the donors (ECHO, World Bank, EuropeAid, CHF, UN Agencies)
Ability to work in unstable circumstances.

Required Personal Characteristics (fitting into the team, suitability for the job and assignment): 
Leadership skills and the ability to make decisions
Trustworthiness and a sense of responsibility
Charisma and the ability to awake enthusiasm for the work the project involves
Ability to use authority, when necessary
Analysis and synthesis abilities (discernment, pragmatism)
Ability to adapt
Organizational skills, ability to be thorough and respect due dates
Strong listening and negotiation skills
Good communication skills
Ability to remain calm and level-headed
General ability to resist stress and particularly in unstable circumstances

Starting date: As soos as possible

Monthly Gross Income: from 2640 up to 3520 Euros depending on the experience in International Solidarity + 50 Euros per semester seniority with PUI

Cost Covered: Round-trip transportation to and from home / mission, visas, vaccines…

Insurance including medical coverage and complementary healthcare, 24/24 assistance and repatriation

Housing in collective accommodation

Daily Living Expenses (« Per diem »)

Break Policy: Break every 2 months + break allowance

Paid Leaves Policy : 5 weeks of paid leaves per year + return ticket every 6 months