Pediatrician

Over the past few years, Afghanistan has witnessed a relative improvement in security and stability across much of the country. This has allowed humanitarian actors like INTERSOS to maintain uninterrupted access and expand services in areas that were previously hard to reach. Despite this progress, the humanitarian situation remains critical, with millions of Afghans continuing to face acute vulnerabilities due to prolonged economic hardship, natural disasters, and limited access to essential services.

In 2025, more than half of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance, with food insecurity, child malnutrition, and displacement remaining key concerns. Natural disasters, such as floods and recent earthquakes, have further compounded the needs of already struggling communities.

INTERSOS continues to operate through a community-based approach with field bases in Kabul, Kandahar, and Zabul, delivering primary healthcare, nutrition, and protection services with a focus on women, children, and persons with disabilities. The organization enjoys strong community acceptance and collaborates closely with relevant national authorities, including maintaining the full participation of female staff in all activities.

While the operational environment is largely stable and conducive, funding shortfalls and systemic barriers such as restrictions on financial flows and administrative bottlenecks continue to impact the scope and scale of humanitarian response. Sustained support is crucial to ensure the continuity of life-saving services and to address the urgent needs of Afghanistan’s most vulnerable populations.

The Paediatrician (Specialist) provides specialized paediatric care for children with complicated Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) admitted to Stabilization Centres, ensuring treatment in accordance with national IMAM guidelines. The role supports quality clinical management, strengthens linkages between Stabilization Centres and OTP services, and builds the capacity of health staff to ensure safe, effective, and standardized inpatient care.

Reporting to:

Hierarchical: Medical Doctor TL (or Medical Activity Manager in the absence of TL)

Functional: Same as above

Tasks

• Diagnose, treat, and monitor children admitted with complicated SAM and associated medical conditions in the Stabilization Centre according to national inpatient SAM management protocols.
• Conduct daily clinical rounds, review treatment plans, monitor patient progress, prescribe appropriate therapy, and manage complications to ensure timely recovery.
• Authorize discharge of children from the Stabilization Centre once recovery and stabilization criteria are achieved and facilitate referral to Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) services for continued treatment until full recovery and programme discharge.
• Provide clinical oversight for neonatal and critically ill paediatric cases, including management of prematurity, low birth weight, neonatal infections, and other conditions requiring neonatal stabilization, ensuring appropriate referral when advanced care is required.
• Identify children requiring enhanced psychosocial stimulation and collaborate with PSS counsellors to promote cognitive and emotional well-being of SAM children, while supporting psychosocial counselling and guidance for mothers and caregivers during admission.
• Provide technical supervision, mentorship, and on-the-job training to nurses, nutrition staff, and other health workers on stabilization care protocols, clinical monitoring, infection prevention, and proper documentation.
• Ensure accurate clinical documentation, rational use of medicines and therapeutic nutrition supplies, proper stock monitoring, and timely reporting of Stabilization Centre activities and clinical outcomes.
• Ensure adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, therapeutic feeding protocols, hygiene standards, and safe clinical practices within the Stabilization Centre.
• Perform other relevant technical tasks as assigned by the supervisor to support programme implementation and quality of care.

Education

• Medical Doctor (MD) degree with specialization in Paediatrics or significant clinical experience in paediatric care.

Professional experience

• Minimum 3 years of clinical experience, preferably in pediatrics, child health, or nutrition programmes.
• Experience with CMAM and inpatient management of SAM is strongly desirable.
• Experience in humanitarian or low-resource settings is an advantage.

Professional requirements

• Knowledge of WHO / National SAM inpatient treatment protocols.
• Ability to train and supervise multidisciplinary clinical teams.
• Basic computer literacy (Word, Excel, and reporting tools).

Personal requirements

• Strong teamwork and leadership skills.
• Flexibility and ability to work in challenging humanitarian contexts.
• Commitment to INTERSOS principles and humanitarian values.

Languages 

• English language, Pashto and Dari is essential.

Respected Applicants, please visit the link below and fill in the required information.

https://forms.gle/TitbEiWdJf7hHpzq9

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted with and called for a test/Interview.

Qualified People with Physical Disabilities and Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply