AFGHANISTAN - COUNTRY DIRECTOR (M/F) - KABUL
Solidarités International
Director and Top Executive Full-time Desired start date: 05/07/2026
Duration of the mission: 12 months
Location: Kabul
SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid association which, since more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs for food, water and shelter. Particularly committed to the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water, the leading cause of death in the world, SI's interventions provide expertise in the field of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in 26 countries, the SI teams – 3200 people in total, made up of expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at HQ, and a few volunteers - intervene with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultural norms.
SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has resumed its programs in Afghanistan in December 2021 and has initially established a presence in Bamyan, Kapisa, Wardak and Kabul provinces. As of today, activities are implemented in Bamyan, Nimroz, Farah and Herat provinces as well as in Kabul.
Following a scale up over the course of 2023, the team is now made of 130 national and 10 international employees with an annual budget of around 5,5 M EUR. In Afghanistan, SI delivers life saving support to crisis-affected communities in the most hard-to-reach and underserved areas. SI addresses needs arising from water related health risks, large-scale population movements, and climate-induced shocks by providing safe water and sanitation, promoting hygiene practices, and distributing emergency livelihood support.
There are currently 5 ongoing projects (under ECHO, AHF and CDCS), 3 on them being consortium and 2 standalone projects.
In Kabul, there are a total of 7 internationals and 37 nationals at the coordination. CD is managing the DCD prog, DCD operations, Fin coo, HR coo, Log coo, Liaison and Humanitarian engagement Coo and Grant Manager. The bases are staffed with base managers having each around 40 staffs to manage.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
Over the next two years, SI aims to strengthen its position as a leading WASH actor in Afghanistan. Key priorities include: continuing program quality improvement by leveraging technical expertise and enhancing influence in coordination to support longer-term development projects; advancing the Women in WASH initiative, promoting ambitious, innovative solutions led by Afghan women; and expanding fundraising efforts by capitalizing on increased visibility and nurturing promising funding opportunities.
ISSUES AND SPECIFIC CHALLENGES
- Administrative delays, including slow approval of MoUs required for project implementation.
- High reporting requirements and various forms of interference affecting operations.
- Volatile security context, requiring constant adaptation of field activities.
- Need to understand and navigate external coordination mechanisms, including their limitations and opportunities.
- Highly politicized environment
PRIORITIES ON THE 2-3 FIRST MONTHS
Implementation: ensure that MoU are signed for newly awarded projects
External coordination: meeting with donors, authorities, ACBAR, and other NGOs
Women agenda: understand and keep alive the strong women focus SI took in terms of programing and management
SECURITY CONSTRAINTS
Movement is limited due to the security context. Walking in Kabul streets is prohibited; all movements outside the compound must be by car and follow security procedures. Supermarkets, restaurants, bazaars, and other NGO or UN compounds remain accessible depending on the situation. Female staff must respect local cultural norms, wearing a headscarf and modest clothing covering arms and legs.
Security is volatile, with occasional tensions along the Pakistan border. A curfew is in place at midnight in Kabul and may be earlier in field locations. Temporary restrictions, reduced movements, or hibernation may be implemented depending on the situation.
DIPLOMAS AND EXPERIENCE
| License or Master degree in humanitarian field and related topics |
SKILLS
TECHNICAL SKILLS
| Security and liaison, negotiation with local authorities | |||
| Programs: external representation and coordination, fund raising | |||
| Admnistrative understanding, budget awarness |
TRANSVERSAL SKILLS
| Peaceful negotiation, with calm approach with local authorities | |||
| Capacity to negotiate a highly political context | |||
| Leadership on the women agenda |
LANGUAGES
| english mandatory | |||
| dari / pashtoo and / french will be an asset |
A salaried position:
According to experience, starting from EUR 3740 gross per month (3400 EUR base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of USD 600.
SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate's country of origin and the place of assignment.
Breaks: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every two months (with a USD 850 break allowance, allocated by Sl). To these breaks periods, SI grants one (1) additional rest day per month worked.
Insurance package: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which refunds all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.
LIVING CONDITIONS:
Office and guest house are located in two separate buildings within the same compound. The guest house offers individual bedrooms with private bathrooms and shared spaces (kitchen, living room, dining room, terraces). Internet and 4G are available. Restaurants, delivery services, supermarkets, and social life within NGO/UN compounds are accessible. Winter temperatures can reach –15°C with high pollution; summers average 30°C. Field conditions may be more basic, with possible electricity limits and greater isolation.
Do you recognize yourself in this description? If yes, please send us your CV and cover letter!
Please note that CV-only applications will not be considered, and that the vacancy may close before the deadline.
Thank you for your understanding.
To learn more about Sl: www.solidarites.org
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Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and fight all type of abuse – all act of exploitation, abuse and/or sexual harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or collaborators, fraud, corruption, violation of persons and/or property, funding of activities harmful to human rights – that could be perpetrated in the frame of its interventions. SI implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of abuse, notably acts of SEAH.
Solidarités International is an equitable employer committed to find all forms of discrimination. SI will ever ask for any remuneration to take part in a recruitment process.
