DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSOCIATION
La Chaîne de l’Espoir is an international NGO founded in 1994. Its mission is to strengthen health systems to give everyone, especially children, the same chances of survival and development. Helping the most vulnerable children is more than an ethical obligation, it is a prerequisite for achieving the 2030 goals for children's health and well-being.
We work in 25 countries with a comprehensive approach, focusing on children, mothers and disadvantaged communities:

• Prevention and screening from an early age, particularly through school health programs.

• Care and surgery, to meet the most urgent needs of children and their mothers.

• Strengthening the medical and surgical workforce thanks to our international network of experts.

• Construction and equipment of hospital structures adapted to local needs.

La Chaîne de l'Espoir has been working in Afghanistan since the early 2000s. In 2005, it built the French Medical Institute for Children (FMIC) in Kabul, a non-profit pediatric hospital, to provide high quality surgical care for young patients. Since 2006, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has been responsible for the overall management of the FMIC, with La Chaîne de l'Espoir providing medical support and access to the most vulnerable populations.
In 2016, the hospital expanded with the opening of the mother and Child Unit offering gynecology, obstetrics and neonatology services, becoming the French Medical Institute for Mother and Children (FMIC). Services for adults have also been developed in recent years.

Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with half of the population in need of assistance. The health system is under significant strain, with limited access to specialized care, particularly for women and children. In this context, La Chaîne de l’Espoir plays a critical role in supporting access to quality healthcare for the most vulnerable populations, while strengthening partnerships and advocating for equitable access to services
The objective of La Chaîne de l’Espoir is to enhance access to high-quality medical and surgical care for the most vulnerable populations in Afghanistan. To achieve this, La Chaîne de l’Espoir:

• Trains and supports the medical, paramedical and technical teams through short- and long-term volunteer missions.

• Provides free surgical and medical treatments at FMIC and social care for the most vulnerable children and women coming from all the provinces, including the most remote areas, through the 'Women and Children House' (WCH) project.

Given the evolving situation, marked by health system crisis, access restrictions for women and ongoing humanitarian needs, La Chaîne de l’Espoir continues to adapt programming to reach the most vulnerable populations while ensuring staff safety and compliance with local regulations.

POSITION AND MISSION
As Head of Mission, you are responsible for providing strategic leadership and overall management of CDE’s programs in Afghanistan. You oversee the implementation of CDE’s strategy in the field and ensure the quality of overall programming, in close collaboration with CDE’s headquarters in Paris.
Your role also involves developing, coordinating and maintaining CDE’s network with health and humanitarian actors, partners, and donors. You will play a key role in ensuring access to specialized healthcare for vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, through strategic engagement with a growing number of partners.
As a leader, you will be expected to manage, inspire and support the team in their professional growth, capacity development and wellbeing, particularly in a high-stress environment.
Additionally, you are accountable for the security of CDE staff and medical volunteers, ensuring comprehensive analyses of the surrounding context. This position requires strong contextual analysis, diplomatic engagement, and adaptive leadership in a highly complex and evolving operational environment.

MAIN ACTIVITIES
The Head of Mission works closely with the Program and Support Coordinators and carries out the activities below in liaison with CDE's headquarters:

Strategic leadership and planning

• Monitor the humanitarian and political context.

• Develop and execute the country’s strategy in alignment with the organization's mission and global objectives.

• Oversee the design (including needs assessment), implementation, and monitoring of programs to ensure impact, efficiency, and sustainability.

• Ensure compliance with donor requirements, national regulations, and internal policies.

Fundraising & Donor Relations

• Identify funding opportunities and lead resource mobilization efforts, including grant writing and donor engagement.

• Maintain relationships with donors, ensuring timely and accurate reporting on projects.

• Develop strategic partnerships with NGOs, government agencies, and private sector actors to enhance funding opportunities and program impact.

Security

• Ensure the safety and security of La Chaîne de l’Espoir employees, volunteers and visitors.

• Responsible for the security briefing of visitors.

• Monitor the security situation and attend relevant security meetings (UN, coordination mechanisms, French representation, FMIC security management).

• Ensure the compliance to security regulations of all CDE’s stakeholders in Afghanistan.

• Ensure that all security documents (contingency plan, security plan, SOPs, etc.) are updated on a regular basis.

• Immediately report and manage security incidents in coordination with HQ

Financial and operational oversight

• Participate in the design and validation of new budget proposals for donors.

• Oversee the country office’s annual budget and the monthly budget follow-up analysis.

• Ensure the quality of budgetary management and financial information reported to headquarters.

• Oversee financial controls, audits, and risk management processes.

Logistics

• Ensure operational efficiency, including logistics, procurement and administration.

• Ensure that CDE and donors’ logistical and administrative procedures are in place and monitored (procurement, assets management, inventory, stock management, etc.).

Human Resources

• Ensure that La Chaine de l’Espoir HR management is complying with legal requirements and ensure adherence to HR policies, ethics and best practices.

• Ensure staff capacity development.

• Oversee national staff recruitment by validating each stage of the process with the HR team.

• Develop and monitor an HR action plan with annual objectives to ensure effective human resource management

• Manage La Chaîne de l’Espoir employees through objective setting, support, and evaluations.

• Lead team coordination and meetings.

• Support the HR team in conflict resolution and arbitration within the team.

Team management and leadership

• Lead, coach and guide a team of international and national staff

• Establish a good work-life balance and support the team (listen, motivate, empower, supervise the staff under their responsibility).

• Conduct performance appraisals and set objectives in line with program requirements

• Develop and monitor an HR action plan with annual objectives to ensure effective human resource management

• Motivate teams and provide the necessary support to achieve programme objectives.

• Ensure staff capacity development.

Reporting

• Provide regular updates on progress and challenges to the HQ Coordinator.

• Coordinate donor and internal annual report drafting with field teams and institutional funding officers.

• Review and validate the narrative and financial reporting to donors (private and institutional donors) before sending to HQ for final validation.

• Ensure proper internal reporting by team members as per organizational requirements.

• Support audit preparations and ensure the implementation of agreed-upon recommendations.

Stakeholders' engagement, representation and external relations

• Represents CDE at national and international forums, including government agencies, donors, UN bodies, NGOs, humanitarian forums (ACBAR), partners (eg. FMIC) and other relevant stakeholders.

• Guarantee the visibility of La Chaîne de l'Espoir and its programmes in Afghanistan.

• Strengthen current partnerships to enhance program impact and sustainability and identify new partnerships to secure financial support from donors, foundations, and institutional partners.

• Collaborate closely with the FMIC, including general management, financial and support services, as well as hospital department heads. This includes participation in FMIC senior management meetings and quarterly board meetings.

• Advocate for policies and programs that align with the organization’s mission and goals.

TRAINING AND SKILLS

Training/ Experiences:

• Master’s degree in political science, International Relations, Business Administration, Finance, Public Policy, Public Health or any related field.

• At least 5 years’ working experience in the humanitarian/development sector in a similar managerial position.

• Experience working in complex and politically sensitive environments.

• Experience in Afghanistan is an asset.

Skills and abilities:

• Proven track record in strategic planning, program management, security management and fundraising.

• Excellent knowledge of project management cycle + fund raising environment & processes.

• Strong leadership skills and ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.

• The ability to live in a stressful environment.

• Adaptability and problem-solving skills in challenging contexts.

• Autonomous, resilient and diplomatic.

• Rigor, analysis and synthesis skills.

• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills

• French and English required. Dari/Pashto is an advantage.

CONDITIONS

• 12 months full time contract renewable

• Starting date: June 2026

• Expatriate contract, non-accompanied status

• Monthly gross salary: between 3 200 euros and 3 700 euros, according to profile and experience

• Monthly per diem and living allowance: 790 euros net

• Context allowance : 300 euros per month

• R&R: 5 days every 8 weeks (ticket flights supported by CDE up to 850 USD)

• Housing: single room in collective accommodation provided

• Medical coverage with 50% of employer contribution

• Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance covered by CDE

• Death and disability insurance covered by CDE

How to apply

https://jobs.layan.eu/fr/application-to-offer-of-la-chaine-de-lespoir-no-90172