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Country Director , Oxfam Novib

Oxfam Novib is committed to ridding the world of poverty. We have a conviction that people are well capable of building a livelihood without poverty on their own, once given the chance to do so. Which is why we support local projects in developing countries, why we lobby governments and companies to take into account the interests of the poorest people, and why we campaign to involve Dutch men and women also in our work. We work together with other Oxfam affiliates to increase our impact on development issues.

Oxfam Novib is looking for a

Country Director
36 hours/week
Duration: initial one year with possibility for extension
Location: Kabul
Single Posting


Oxfam Novib is the Managing Affiliate of Oxfam in Afghanistan.

Contextual notes

  • Scope and complexity of the existing programme
    • Complex political environment.
    • Broad range of programme components – humanitarian response, longer-term development, advocacy and capacity building of local partners.
    • Maintaining close coordination with other Oxfam affiliates.
  • Degree of risk/impact
    • Security related risks with potential impact on staff safety and ability to programme.
    • Chronic and deep poverty, combined with high level of vulnerability to natural disasters and conflict for a large proportion of the population.
    • Links to global campaigning for Oxfam International –currently through the Rights in Crisis campaign; risks related to the sensitivity of the local context and the high global profile requiring careful consideration of best approaches to advocacy and campaigning.

Objective of the position
To develop, manage, and represent all Oxfam’s programme in Afghanistan, ensuring high levels of accountability and programme impact.

  1. Providing strategic and high quality leadership to a developing one Oxfam programme and supporting the teams on developing implementing quality programming in the Humanitarian, Campaigns/Advocacy and Development sectors.
  2. Ensuring that the management systems and processes utilised by the Afghanistan team support and promote effective management of the programme.
  3. Building strong and effective working relationships with stakeholders on behalf of Oxfam in Afghanistan including national Government, the UN, other NGO’s and the private sector.
  4. Overseeing delivery of Oxfam International Single Management Structure (SMS) in Afghanistan.

Reporting lines
Post holder reports to Regional Manager, South Asia of Oxfam Novib.
Post holder line-manages the Senior Management Team and chairs the Oxfam Country Leadership Team (CLT).

Main tasks

  • Provides strategic leadership of Oxfam’s programme in Afghanistan.
  • Leads a diverse team.
  • Ensures security management in country.
  • Accountable to the South Asia Programme Governance Group for the delivery, effective management and monitoring, evaluation and learning of the programme.
  • In a Consortium model, holds the Implementing Affiliate to account for delivery of their part of the programme strategy and plan. Chairs and supports the Country Leadership Team.
  • Takes the lead in representing all Oxfam’s work in Afghanistan within the country, the region and globally with a strong focus on advocacy/campaigning. Builds relationships and develops networks.
  • Works to ensure that the Single Management Structure change activity is implemented successfully.
  • Works with the Country Leadership Team (where applicable) to ensure that minimum standards are met in the country – for programme, programme management, HR, finance, security, health and safety etc.
  • Co-ordinates with the Country Leadership team (where applicable), to identify new funding sources and negotiate funding opportunities to support programme implementation.
  • Ensure overall leadership of disaster preparedness, disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response activities for Category 2 and 3 emergencies guarantying the one programme approach.
  • In coordination with CLT, ensures the fulfilment of roles and responsibilities of the Humanitarian lead and other affiliates according to the Humanitarian Dossier and the fragile context debates.

Skills experience and knowledge

  • Senior management experience in leading the development and ensuring the delivery, of programme strategy, either through partners or directly, in one or more challenging locations.
  • Proven analytical skills and ability to think strategically, including the ability to think beyond the country programme context and to act within a regional and global framework.
  • Ability to manage the development of, and contribute to, the high level analysis of factors driving poverty, marginalisation and vulnerability in developing country contexts, including the ability to ‘think politically’ by understanding motivations, pressures and challenges faced by colleagues, partners and other actors.
  • Awareness of Oxfam humanitarian approach and Oxfam values.
  • Demonstrates good judgement, willingness to take risk, based on analysis.
  • Experience and knowledge of security management.
  • Understands ethics and codes of practice and IHL/ independence/impartiality.
  • Experience in leading and motivating multi disciplinary, geographically remote teams; a high degree of self awareness and an understanding of how to drive and support excellent team performance and individual development; experience with people management.
  • Experience of managing complex change processes and relationships involving a wide range of both internal and external multi-cultural stakeholders across a variety of disciplines & geographical areas.
  • Experience in representing an organisation with partners, government agencies, private sector organisations, and donors at senior level: locally, regionally and globally in Afghanistan.
  • An active commitment to promoting gender equity and the interests of marginalised people in all aspects of an organisations work.
  • High level financial management skills to steer the operational budget.
  • Experience of fundraising from diverse institutions, both local and international.
  • Understanding of managing security and risk within an INGO context.
  • Good level of IT literacy and an understanding of how new developments in technology can positively contribute to the aims of an INGO.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills to motivate, influence, and negotiate.
  • Fluent in speaking and writing English.



Behavioural competencies

  • Strives to achieve results by setting and communicating goals and ensuring effective and appropriate decision making and problem solving. Able to resolve complex problems and provide clear and effective communication and representation (‘Outward Behaviours’)
    o Analytical Thinking
    o Initiative
    o Communications
  • Achieves results through working effectively with others and holding others to account. Communicates appropriately, encourages and develops others, providing feedback and adapting leadership style to bring about successful outcomes. Able to influence & manage multiple stakeholders (‘Leadership Behaviours’)
    o Motivating & Developing Others
    o Achieving Results
    o Facilitating Change
    o Tolerance of ambiguity
    o Ability to assess, shape and grow structures in an efficient way
  • Must be able to remain objective, consider broader organisational relevance/implications (‘Outward Behaviours’)o Initiative
    o Analytical Thinking
    o Communications
    o Ability to take risks
    o Ability to work in rapidly changing context, adopt a flexible approach and patience
    o Ability to prioritise
    o Ability to work with limited information
  • Builds and strengthens internal culture by displaying self-awareness and appropriate communication to set an example for others to follow(‘Inward Behaviours’)
    o Self Awareness
    o Interpersonal Awareness

We offer
Oxfam Novib is committed to providing you with a competitive, fair and comprehensive pay and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors. The salary range for this position is set between € 3.229, - and € 4.967, - on the basis of a fulltime position.

More information and application procedure
Please send your motivation letter and curriculum vitae to jobs@oxfamnovib.nl to the attention of Shabinah Asgarali, Recruiter, before March 7, 2012.

For more information about this position you can contact Mr Anjo van Toorn (tel. +31 70 3421765) Regional Manager, South Asia.

Contact persoon:
Shabinah Asgarali
Telefoonnummer:
+31 (0)70-3421868