Place: Kabul, Afghanistan (movements to provinces Kandahar, Herat, Kunduz, Nimruz, Bamyan)
Starting date: 1st August 2026
Duration of contract: 12-24 months
Closing date for applications: 20th May 2026

Humanity & Inclusion is an independent and impartial aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. The organisation works alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

Since its creation in 1982, HI has run development & humanitarian projects in more than 55 countries and responded to numerous emergencies. Today, we have a budget of approximately 200 million euros, with 4,000 employees worldwide

At Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion, we truly believe in the importance of inclusion and diversity within our organisation. This is why we are engaged to a disability policy to encourage the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities.

Please indicate if you require any special accommodation, even at the first interview. For more information about the organisation.

JOB CONTEXT:

HI Afghanistan is currently present in Herat, Kandahar, Kunduz, Kabul, Nimruz.

Handicap International is present in Kandahar since 1995, supporting a Physical Rehabilitation Center (PRC). On average, the PRC supports more than 8000 people with physical impairments with the provision of prosthesis and orthotics, physiotherapy services and mobility aids / assistive devices. HI In Afghanistan has the opportunity to expand their provision of services in PRCs in different provinces.

Nationally, HI is a strong actor in physiotherapy, MHPSS, P&O and Disability and Inclusion technical support and awareness. HI has supported the development of professional physiotherapists (PT) with designing curricula meeting standards recognized internationally, and a similar project to support training of prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) technicians.

HI Afghanistan employs 480 national staff and 16 international staff. We are looking for a Country Director to accompany and steer the deployment of the 2026-2029 Strategy, in a complex and challenging environment.

HI Afghanistan operating framework is outlined in the operational strategy (“Stratop”) developed in 2023 for the next 2 years. The 3 pillars are:

• Health
• Basics Needs and Economic Inclusion
• Armed Violence Reduction
• Protection of Vulnerable Populations

HI is currently involved in different sectors of activities:

• Physical and functional rehabilitation (both on service provision and training – tech assistance), in development and chronic crisis settings
• Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS)
• Inclusive livelihood
• Mine Risk Education
• Support in Inclusive Humanitarian Action with the Disability Inclusion Working Group
• Atlas Logistics – service of mutualized access to storage and transport for humanitarian operators.

HI has 5 offices located in the different provinces of intervention. Central office is located in capital city (Kabul) and hosts the management team (including operations, support services, technical unit, MEAL, access and security), and a small operational team for 3 ongoing projects.

4 bases, located in Herat (West), Kunduz (North), Nimroz, and Kandahar (south) are fully operational with dedicated support services and project’s management teams. HI responded to emergency interventions in Paktia (2022), Herat (2024), and Kundar and Nangarhar (return in 2025) following earthquakes in the mentioned provinces

Most of the fundraising effort and donor’s relationship is held at Kabul level. HI is also part of different fora / coordination bodies (ACBAR, HAG etc.) as well as member of several cluster, including health, Logistics, and Co-Chairing the Disability Inclusion Working Group.

HI Afghanistan program is also strongly involved in rolling-out institutional policies, particularly regarding PSEAH, code of conduct, child protection, fraud and corruption policy. Operationally, objectives are to mainstream DGA (Disability / Gender / Age) policy, as well as operationalizing the PSEAH policy in all projects.

The total budget of Afghanistan is estimated to be at 7 million Euros / year for 2026.

YOUR MISSION:

Under the responsibility of the Geographic Director MAGRITTE (Afganistan, Pakistan, Yémen, South Asia, Maghreb, Haïti), the Afghanistan Director contributes within his/her geographical area to the implementation of the mandate and the 5-year strategy of Humanity & Inclusion. He/she ensures optimal quality and impact of the activities in the Programme, through a delegation system with appropriate control mechanisms. He/she shares with all HI managers the responsibility of a sound management and successful functioning of the global organization, through paradigm changes.

Responsibility 1: Management  

• Be the top manager of the Programme organization 

• Embody and transmit HI values, ensure compliance with code of conduct and institutional policies, ensure the expected mind set and individual and collective behaviours, and disciplinary measures when necessary. 

• Conduct a Programme Steering Committee with his/her direct managers. 

Responsibility 2: Deployment of HI Strategy 2025 and HI frameworks & regulations in the Programme  

• Conduct the development of the Programme’s Operational Strategy, and its implementation and annual monitoring 

• Be responsible for fundraising and resource planning 

• Ensure the deployment of and compliance with HI global frameworks, institutional policies and standards. 

• Ensure financial control and monitoring of operations are effective in the Programme 

• Be responsible for security management 

• With both potential opportunities and risks in mind, ensure continuous monitoring and analysis of current developments in his/her geographical context 

 Responsibility 3: legal representation  

• He/She is the legal representative of the overall HI organization internally and externally, and promotes a high reputation and positive image of HI. 

• Representation of HI vis-à-vis international organizations and coordination mechanisms & system. 

• Negotiation and signature of operational partnerships, and monitoring of operational partnerships signed in affiliated countries 

Responsibility 4: Influence and leadership 

• Develop external influence of HI (forums, operational & strategic alliances, etc.) and the external representation of the organization (events, media) in the Programme’s geographical scope 

• Carry out the overall HI mandate (e.g., advocacy, weapons, emergency) and organization (including Federation, Technical Divisions, National Associations, the Institute), internally and externally (be a representative of HI vis-a-vis external parties) 

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION:

The position is based in Kabul. The climate in Kabul is continental with hot and dry summers, and cold winters with a high altitude of 1,800 meters. International and national staff are allowed to travel to bases in all provinces and to some project’s location, upon ad-hoc assessment of the security situation. Expatriates can be accommodated in the bases located in the 5 provinces (Kunduz, Kandahar, Nimroz, Paktika and Herat).

The security and access situation in the Country is unpredictable, even though there is no direct targeting of international entities and individuals.

The Guesthouses in Kabul are shared between all international staff, and spacious, well equipped, secure and comfortable, in order to provide adequate living conditions and wellbeing to international staff considering the limitations to move around the city.  The guesthouses have small but functional sports facilities as well as common areas for recreational activities. HI in Afghanistan provides a cook and a cleaner for the Guesthouses during working days, and international food is available in various supermarkets in the Kabul, and delivery options for international and local food are available.

Both women and men have to respect local culture and norms, which are important for acceptance by the communities were HI provides its services. 

Requirements

• 8+ years of professional experience in the humanitarian/development sector. 

• At least 3 years of experience as a Country Director in a difficult context. 

• Proven success in programme management and strategic development skills 

• Ability to understand complex geopolitical context and multi stakeholder’s environment. 

• Extensive experience in security management, ensuring the safety of teams and beneficiaries. 

• Stress prevention and management, HR management skills 

• Strong capacity on transfer of skills 

• Fluent in English 

Benefits

At HI, the conditions offered are up to your commitment and adapted to the context of your mission: Join the team

12-24 months International contract starting from 1st, August 2026

The international contract provides social cover adapted to your situation:

• Unemployment insurance benefits for EU nationals;
• Pension scheme;
• Medical coverage with 50% of employee contribution;
• Repatriation insurance paid by HI;

Salary from 3232€ gross/month upon experience;

Perdiem: 622€ net/month - paid in dollars in the field

Hardship: 500 € net/month paid with your salary;

Paid leaves: 25 days per year;

R&R: according to the level of the mission 5 days every 8 weeks

Position:

• Unaccompanied:
• Payment for travel costs (air ticket & visa) and transport of your personal effects;
• Mission of more than 12 months: a child allowance of 100€ per month, per child (from the second child) paid in the field;

Housing: Collective taken in charge by HI;