Action Against Hunger/Action Contre La Faim (AAH/ACF) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that was created in France in 1979. AAH/ACF has been active in Afghanistan in the medical, nutrition, food security, and water and sanitation fields since 1995. AAH/ACF improved access to health and nutrition services for the most vulnerable people, who live in remote areas without a local health system. In particular, the country team supported pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under five, who are at greater risk of malnutrition. Nutrition programs rely on an integrated approach, addressing both primary and underlying causes, in order to have a lasting impact on nutritional status. The country team worked at community level, in villages and at provincial level, strengthening the public health system. It also worked at national level to ensure reliable information about the nutritional situation reached the wider humanitarian community. Covid-19 prevention was integrated into all interventions and additional response activities were implemented, such as the disinfection of health facilities and public places, cash assistance, psychosocial support and the distribution of hygiene kits to affected populations.

Objective 1: To design, develop, and evaluate the strategy and actions in the field of nutrition and health

The Head of Nutrition and Health Department is responsible for:

• The analysis of the nutrition and health situation in the country
• The standard of nutritional and medical proposals submitted by his/her teams
• The support of the health and nutrition teams to identify new programs
• The development of an AAH nutrition and health strategy specific to the mission
• The implementation of all work-related activities with a gender, disability, and child protection lens, taking into account the different needs, concerns, and ideas of our staff and beneficiaries
• The collection and quality control of monitoring, follow-up, and evaluation data
• Ensuring quality of health and nutrition program data analysis

Tasks:

• Assessment and analysis of the prevailing context of nutrition and health situation in the country
• Development of the health and nutrition strategy for ACF in country
• Initiation of studies based on the analysis of data provided by other partners (NGOs, UN agencies, governmental departments)
• Engaging in teamwork with Heads of Departments in other technical areas  to develop an integrated multi-sectoral approach
• Drawing up new proposals for intervention in health and nutritional programme areas for submission to funding bodies in collaboration with Program Managers, Field managers, and Field Coordinators
• Liaison with finance and logistics departments to establish budgets for new programmes in nutrition and health
• Developing and monitoring budgets allocated to the field of nutrition and health
• Identifying challenges and proposing research projects and innovative approaches in the health and nutrition sector under the ACF scope of intervention
• Building on good practice, experience, and assessments in the framework of ACF's organizational development strategy and ensuring that recommendations arising from assessments are implemented

Objective 2: To monitor and coordinate programmes in the fields of nutrition and health

The Head of Nutrition and Health Department is responsible for:

• Deciding to launch nutritional surveys in liaison with the DCD programs (or contributing to the decision with HoD surveillance if any)
• Development of integrated (inter-disciplinary) approach programmes
• collection and analysis of data, including the decision-making on this basis
• Providing activity report of quality In the given timeline
• Monitoring all the consolidated programme budgets relating to nutrition and health allocated to the country

Tasks:

• Supervise or conduct nutrition rapid assessments and/or nutritional surveys (in the absence of HoD surveillance)
• Control, validate, and monitor the resources used by the programs to draft requests and undertake quality control; specific attention should be paid to pharmacy management, in link with the mission pharmacist and the Health and Nutrition program managers
• Monitoring program quality by using APR indicators qualitative (internal monitoring tool) and quantitative reports submitted by nutrition and health Programme Managers
• When possible, appropriate and relevant, promote an integrated approach in the programs to ensure a sound understanding of the causes of malnutrition in an area (e.g., study of market prices) – in liaison with other sectors (Food Security livelihoods, WASH, and Mental Health and Protection)
• Producing a synthesis of all data collected by Nutrition and Health Programme Managers and informing the Mission DCD and relevant HQ personnel of the key indicators having a bearing on the programs
• Producing activity reports for funding bodies on health and nutritional aspects of the programs

Objective 3: To manage the Nutrition and Health team in the country office, if any, and be the Technical/Support Manager of the Nutrition and Health Program Managers

The Head of Nutrition and Health Department is responsible for:

• Evaluation and building of capacity of nutrition and health team members under her/his direct management.
• Evaluation of the technical performance and skills of Health and Nutrition Programme Managers
• Developing the technical skills of Nutrition and Health teams

Tasks:

• Managing overall planning and dispatching of work as well as individual action plans for the Nutrition and Health team in country office
• Providing support to the Nutrition and Health team in country office on routine matters (incl health and nutrition expert)
• Facilitate interaction with other ACF sectors and health and nutrition team by ensuring ‘integration’ is part of their action plan.
• Organising and leading meetings with the Nutrition and Health team in  country office
• Organising and leading the Nutrition and Health team in country office appraisals
• Appraising technical performances and skills of Nutrition and health Programme Managers
• Identifying the training needs among the team members, and providing technical support to teams in the area of health and nutrition
• Creating, organizing, and leading training sessions
• Liaison with the Field Coordinator, and Field Managers to deal with any problems within the Nutrition and Health Programs

Objective 4: To develop and launch programs in collaboration with governmental and local agencies

The Head of Nutrition and Health Department is responsible for:

• Dissemination of the ACF nutrition and health strategy at country level to partners and funding bodies
• Developing and maintaining a network of harmonious and productive relationships with national representatives and program partners (funding bodies, other NGOs, etc.)
• Establishing MoU to define the terms of various partnership

Tasks:

• Negotiation with local partners on work organization, protocols, action plans, training at all levels (local, regional, and national), taking account of all those involved in the area
• Negotiation of agreement protocols with the program partners
• Whenever necessary, updating the agreement protocols to secure the efficient functioning of the program (e.g., structural change in the partner agency, redefinition of roles)
• Coordinating the implementation of programs with representatives of national and local government
• Providing technical input on the project MoU and holding a technical discussion with MoPH for MoU approval
• Linking up with partners and taking part in meetings with other agencies (WFP, UNICEF, other NGOs, etc); to define partnership agreements
• Analysing training needs and arranging training for the teams of program partners
• Lending technical support to developing national and local strategies in the struggle against malnutrition and aligning health and nutrition.
• Setting out a common strategy and action plan (ACF and partners) concerning specific projects
• Collaborating with partners through the ongoing provision of helpful information and regular meetings
• Building a long-term strategy for the program to enable the partner to achieve autonomy, with particular attention, where necessary, to cost recovery aspects
• Influencing the definition of national protocols through negotiation with representatives of partner structures (notably the Ministry of Health) to disseminate ACF's technical standards for dealing with malnutrition and ACF positioning on aligning health and nutrition.
• Defining a country-specific strategy for technical advocacy in link with the DCD and HQ

Objective 5:

The Head of Nutrition and Health Department is responsible for:

• Representing ACF in dealings with national and international authorities on matters of health and nutrition
• Making national and international authorities fully aware of the ACF positions and protocols

Tasks:

• Developing and maintaining relations with current and potential donors (visits to projects, presentations of ACF and its work, requests for funding) 
• Representing ACF in meetings with the health authorities and other agencies (cf cluster) and participating in national networks on nutrition and health
• Promoting the philosophy and protocols of ACF to local partners (NGO, MoH, etc.)
• Representing the areas of health and nutrition in the national coordination of ACF
• Producing technical, strategic, and activity reports in the fields of health and nutrition (for partners)
• Producing and/or publishing information, both internally and externally, concerning technical progress in the fields of health and nutrition in the country of intervention
• Elaborating communication tools for disseminating information on ACF and the nutrition and health dimensions of its programs
• Work with/provide technical support to the Communication and reporting officer for making publications to strengthen nutrition visibility in Afghanistan
• Coordinate with the Deputy Country Director, Surveillance Head of Department, and Communication and Reporting Officer for the production of surveys/project lessons learned and recommendations as well as in the organization of a restitution workshop at the end of the project with external nutrition stakeholders.

The applicant should preferably hold a medical doctor, Master's degree in Public health, senior nursing, or senior midwifery, with substantive work, international experience, and significant experience with INGOs. Previous experience with ACF is an asset; 5 years of experience minimum in a similar position; Experience in successful proposal development is expected; Advanced knowledge of donors’ guidelines and procedures (ECHO, BMGF, GFFO, FCDO, BHA, UNICEF; )Proven ability to multi-task. Additionally, we seek someone with proven leadership qualities who can effectively manage and mentor a diverse team, fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment. Excellent written and spoken English communication skills are crucial. Organize, train and motivate a multicultural team;   Fluent in English (professional English needed); excellent drafting and written skills; previous experience in insecure setting is an advantage; previous experience as Health & Nutrition HOD is also desired.

Qualified and interested candidates should submit a cover letter and full CV with three Referees indicating the vacancy announcement to the address:
Human Resources Department AAH office or can also be emailed to:
vacancies@af-actionagainsthunger.org indicating the job tile and vacancy number of the position in the email subject line.
Eligible candidates are invited to apply by the earliest possible, until 21 Dec 2024.
Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Do not submit academic certificates with the application. These will be requested if the candidate is selected. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the written test/interview.
Action Against Hunger/Action Conter La Faim is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage women and people with disabilities to apply.
ACF/AAH has zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, and abuse (SEA).