HEAD OF PROGRAMS (AFGHANISTAN)

GENERAL CONTEXT
Médecins Sans Frontières is an international independent medical-humanitarian organization, which offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.

MSF is a civil society initiative that brings together individuals committed to the assistance of other human beings in crisis. As such MSF is by choice an association. Each individual working with MSF does it out of conviction and is ready to uphold the values and principles of MSF.

The MSF movement is built around five operational directorates supported by MSF’s 21 sections, 24 associations and other offices together worldwide. MSF OCBA is one of those directorates. The operations are implemented by field teams and the mission coordination teams; together with the organizational units based in Barcelona, Athens and decentralised in Nairobi, Dakar and Amman. The field operations are guided and supported by 5 Operational Cells, the Emergency Unit and other departments supporting operations

MAIN PURPOSE 
Is responsible for MSF operational response in the Country/Mission. Defines the mission operational strategy in collaboration with the Operational cell. Leads plans and coordinates MSF programs in the mission, including identification of new humanitarian challenges. Represents and defends MSF ’s interests before third parties, according to the organization’s charter, policies, and ethics as well as international and national laws and regulations, in order to develop and effectively implement all the programmes and projects in the mission.

ACCOUNTABILITIES 

• Initiating and leading the mission-wide operational strategy; including country policy, annual plan, budget and policy frameworks. Leading the management team translating the strategic objectives into operational activities. Monitoring developments in MSF’s general policies and strategies and adapting the annual plan of the mission accordingly.
• Monitoring and analyzing the political, humanitarian and medical situation in the country and in the region. Identifying potential fields of intervention and determining response strategies.
• Representing MSF towards external actors (national authorities, NGO’s, donors, military organizations, media, etc.) to create commitment and negotiate terms and conditions for field operations.
  • Integrating an internal and external communication policy for the mission to advocate for change.
• Leading the implementation of medical-humanitarian activities in the mission.
  • Coordinating with other MSF sections to initiate, coordinate and develop short- and long-term strategies in-country.
  • Evaluating the progress and outcomes of activities to ensure that objectives are achieved and reporting to Headquarters.
• Being responsible for the planning and coordination of all human, material and financial resources to ensure the overall performance of the mission.
• Leading the mission and its staff, providing a clear vision for the direction of the mission and bringing staff together across functional and geographical lines to achieve the mission’s objectives.
  • Managing, coaching and developing direct reports in line with human resource policies.
  • Implementing Human Resources-policy and ensuring that MSF acts as a responsible employer in terms of working conditions and reduction of security and health risks.
  • Ensuring staff and management team are aware of mission strategies, ambitions and implementation plans.
  • Ensuring the associative character of MSF is reflected in the briefing of all MSF staff.
• Ensuring the internal and external flow of information.
  • Keeping staff and HQ informed and updated of context and security related issues.
  • Producing all required planning and program performance reports in line with the HQ reporting cycle.
• Being responsible for all security aspects of the mission.
  • Defining and ensuring the implementation of the security framework in the country, in order to ensure safety of staff and visitors across the mission.
  • Ensuring the implementation of the Inter-operational directorate Security Agreement (ISA) in the mission, both in spirit and letter, promoting a culture of pro-active information sharing and collaboration.”

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

The Head of Programs (HoP) for OCBA in Afghanistan, in collaboration with the medical coordinator, is in charge of the overall operational follow-up and support to the OCBA projects in Afghanistan. This has to be in line with the country strategy. Activities which might affect MSF presence and acceptance need to be agreed upon with the Country Representative (CR) who is the official representative of Afghanistan mission. The Head of Programs supports the project coordinators (PCs) to:

•  Develop and steer MSF operations according to the project planning

•   Support the project resources (HR, LOG, FINANCE, SUPPLY) in collaboration with Kabul intersection coordinators – who are supporting all MSF projects in Afghanistan of all operation centers.

•  Represent MSF in the project location in collaboration with PCs

•  HoP along Cell manager are decision-making authority on safety and security for the projects of the respective OC in coordination with the CR, unless the CR has contextual elements superseding the project risks analysis.

•  Develop the advocacy and communication of the projects in collaboration with comm and advocacy manager.

The current set-up is: one country representative and 4 Heads of Programs, each of them steering the daily operations of her/his Operational Center (OC), in collaboration with a medical coordinator per OC and a shared deputy Medco.

The CR remains the final decision maker in the mission for what concerns representation, advocacy and communication. Logistics with a back office of technical experts, supply, finance, human resources and administration are transversal and common for all section. Coordination from the support departments to the different HQs is differently organized based on the setup and agreement within the technical department (HR, Finance, Logistics, Supply, Comms, advocacy). HoPs and MedCos have a direct operational link with their respective cell. This set-up allows great autonomy in the operations for each section while benefiting from the expertise of strong technical coordination and keeping the coherence of a single organization in terms of representation.

REQUIREMENTS 
Education 

• University degree. Particularly in medicine, public health or paramedical or the field of international relations is a plus.
• Desirable degree in project management.

Experience

• At least two years of international experience in an equivalent position coordinating programs in humanitarian organizations.
• Essential experience with other NGOs or MSF.
• Essential working experience in developing countries.
•  Experience in security management.

Languages

• English is essential. Pashto and/or Dari is an asset.

Knowledge

• Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet).

CONDITIONS 

• Location: Position to de based in Afghanistan.
• Contract Duration: 12 months. 
• Salary: MSF’s salary grid IRFFG Level 15 and secondary benefits according to MSF-OCBA’s policies
• Starting date: March 2026

HOW TO APPLY 

• To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter. 
• Closing date: 28th September 2025, 23.59 CET (Central European Time).

MSF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, race, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We are committed to achieving a balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. 

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. MSF provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo reference checks. 

Médecins Sans Frontieres, as a responsible employer, under article 38 of “Ley de Integración Social del Minusválido de 1982 (LISMI)” invite those persons with a recognized disability and with an interest in the humanitarian area to apply for the above-mentioned position.