Humanitarian Access Working Group Coordinator Afghanistan

What we are looking for

NRC is looking for a Humanitarian Access Working Group Coordinator to join the Afghanistan mission. The HAC Manager is responsible for co-leading the Humanitarian Access Working Group. The role holder is expected to ensure strong collaboration and collective outcomes, provide guidance to the NRC Access Focal Point, and advise NRC Afghanistan on broader access issues.

If you are an experienced and seasoned leader with a background in developing and integrating distinctive strategies; with strong analytical expertise and high integrity; and strong interpersonal, networking, and stakeholder management skills and able collaborate with others while building sound, constructive relationships, then this is the role for you!

What you will do

• Leadership and strategic direction to the Humanitarian Access Working Group.
• Primary focal point for NGOs to the HAWG. Co-lead the Humanitarian Access Working Group.
• Foster collaboration among humanitarian actors.
• Humanitarian advocacy and negotiation support.
• Humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law compliance promotion.
• Humanitarian Country Team Access Strategy, Humanitarian Access Working Group Engagement Strategy, and Joint Operational Principles review and revision.
• Humanitarian Country Team endorsed Humanitarian Access Working Group workplan development and execution of workplan activities. 
• Guidance and advisory development and implementation monitoring. 
• Represent the Humanitarian Access Working Group before donors, authorities, and stakeholders.
• Coordinate efforts, to address emerging access issues, across clusters, working groups, NGO fora and other coordination platforms.
• We highly encourage you to learn more about the role: please review the full Job Description here.

What you will bring

• Conflict/post-conflict humanitarian work experience in volatile environments.
• Humanitarian access technical knowledge. Experience managing and advising on the same.
• Humanitarian access dilemmas undermining the delivery of effective humanitarian assistance in hard-to-reach areas expertise.
• Forum leadership or coordination contribution experience.
• Humanitarian principles understanding.
• Policy and strategic guidance drafting and implementation experience.
• Industry access tools, resources, and methodologies familiarity.
• Protection principles knowledge in high-risk settings.
• Analysis, coordination, and stakeholder management experience.
• High risk, insecure, complex, and volatile context exposure.
• Afghanistan context and the Afghan humanitarian community response experience and knowledge.
• English fluency, both written and verbal

What makes this position attractive?

• Access to people in need by humanitarian actors, and people’s access to humanitarian services remains one of the greatest challenges that the humanitarian community is facing in Afghanistan. Considering the challenging context and complex operating environment, the current need for access coordination is great. 
• The Humanitarian Access Group (HAG) in Afghanistan was formed in 2015 and served as an important platform dedicated to improving humanitarian access. A smaller national access working group (NAWG) was created in 2022 but significant developments in the operating environment led to the group undergoing a redevelopment led by OCHA and NRC. The result was a newly formed Humanitarian Access Working Group (HAWG) co-chaired by OCHA and NRC and that is responsible to provide technical strategic advice to the Humanitarian Country Team and support collective approaches to overcome access challenges. The HAWG became operational in November 2023 and has become a key body in supporting humanitarian leadership and operational partners on access issues.
• Since the Taliban take-over of Afghanistan in August 2021, a reduction in conflict has meant that access has improved. However, a withdrawal of diplomatic and development actors, and an assertive new authority has created challenges in maintaining principled humanitarian access, not least due to the deteriorating position with regard to women’s rights.
• The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is complex, protracted, and worsening. The country recently underwent a regime change in a short space of time. The current regime has limited resources and/or systems in place to provide basic services. In addition to this, internal displacement has taken place due to conflict, climate change, and the economic crisis currently experienced in the country. Afghanistan is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis with a risk of systemic collapse and human catastrophe.
• This is an opportunity to contribute to the protection and assistance of vulnerable and crisis-affected women, girls, boys, and men. NRC is one of the leading humanitarian response agencies (particularly for Afghans who have felt forced to flee their homes due to conflict), maintaining a presence of 11 provinces and over 600 staff around the country; and notably in the country’s most troubled provinces. NRC Afghanistan is the largest INGO in the country, at a programmatic, field coverage, and staff count level.
• NRC Afghanistan operates a diverse grants portfolio providing services within Education; Protection; Information Counselling and Legal Assistance; Shelter and Settlements; Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene; and Emergency core competencies.
• Meaningful work that responds to the diverse needs, priorities, and concerns raised by beneficiary communities. NRC Afghanistan meets immediate humanitarian needs, prevents further displacement, and contributes to durable solutions.
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• Learn more about NRC’s operation in Afghanistan here.

What we offer

• Kabul, Afghanistan duty station.
• 12-month contract duration.
• 10% travel, approximately.
• Grade 9 in NRC’s International Salary Scale, with accompanying terms and conditions. NRC offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer and aims to have staffing diversity in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.
• Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC. 

Important information about the application process

• Internal candidates:- To apply log in with your official NRC email address or click on Opportunity Marketplace.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as per your passport.
• Apply by completing all the system-required fields of your experience, employment history, and education in your application.
• Ensure to attach your latest CV.
• Submit your application and CV in English.
• Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. NRC is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role and you meet most, but not all the requirements, we encourage you to apply anyway.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered.
• Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position. Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to give detailed feedback to applicants who have not been shortlisted.
• For any queries, please email us at aela.recruitment@nrc.no with “HAWG Coordinator Afghanistan” as the subject line. This email address is for queries only. Applications will not be accepted via email.
• Please note that NRC does not request any fees in connection with its recruitment processes.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

NRC Afghanistan seeks to protect and assist vulnerable women, girls, boys, and men who are affected by displacement. NRC provides assistance to meet immediate humanitarian needs, prevent further displacement, and contribute to durable solutions. We implement programming across all of NRC’s core competencies, integrating protection, advocacy, and an emergency response team to support preparedness and response.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• Do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• Join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• Be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

Learn more about NRC here.