Physiotherapist Trainer – Afghanistan

JOB CONTEXT:

Handicap International/Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an independent and impartial international solidarity organization, which intervenes in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflicts and disasters. Working alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, it acts and speaks out to meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

At Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion, we truly believe in the importance of inclusion and diversity within our organisation. This is why we are engaged to a disability policy to encourage the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities. Please indicate if you require any special accommodation, even at the first interview.

HI Afghanistan’s operational strategy, formulated in early 2022 for the subsequent two years, delineates the framework for its activities. This strategy encompasses three key pillars: Health and Basic Needs, Economic Inclusion, Armed Violence Reduction and Protection of Vulnerable Populations. 

Currently, HI is engaged in various sectors, including physical and functional rehabilitation, mental health and psycho-social support (MHPSS), protection, inclusive livelihood programs, mine risk education, and the ATLAS initiative. These activities are conducted in both development and chronic crisis contexts. 

HI operates from five offices situated across different provinces in Afghanistan. The central office, located in Kabul, houses the management team, comprising operations, finance, logistics, human resources, technical expertise, humanitarian access and advocacy, and security functions. 

In response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis, HI/AL aims to enhance the delivery of aid, particularly in conflict-affected, disaster-prone, and hard-to-reach areas. To achieve this, plans are underway to establish a logistics platform for storage and mutualized transport services in Bamiyan. 

HI Afghanistan employs 490 national staff and 10 international staff, with fundraising and donor relations primarily managed at the Kabul level. 

Additionally, HI actively participates in various coordination bodies and forums such as ACBAR, INSO, HAG, and serves as a member of several clusters, including health. Furthermore, HI co-chairs the Disability Inclusion Working Group.

YOUR MISSION:

The Rehabilitation Technical Officer – Physiotherapist will report directly to the Rehabilitation Specialist. This role is dedicated to building the capacity of national physiotherapists, prosthetics and orthotics and national rehabilitation officers particularly in providing rehabilitation services persons with disabilities particularly such as clubfoot, cerebral palsy (CP) and developmental delays.

The position also focuses on supporting mothers and caregivers, ensuring high-quality rehabilitation services, conducting home adjustments and modifications, and developing adaptive devices to enhance the child’s functional abilities and quality of life. 

The role involves traveling across seven bases in Afghanistan (Kabul, Kandahar, Nimroz, Bamiyan, Kunduz, Herat, and Nangarhar) to support comprehensive physical rehabilitation services provided by mobile teams, static teams, and four specialized physical rehabilitation centers offering Prosthetic and Orthotic (P&O) services.

Mission:1: Ensure the quality of the physical rehabilitation services as per HI standards  

• Ensure all tools developed by HI related to delivery of physical rehabilitation services are properly used & well documented.

• Ensure all clinical procedures are followed properly during service delivery.

• Monitor the quality of services delivered.

• Ensure the quality of the assistive technology products including prosthesis and orthosis services meets the user needs and functions as per HI standards.

• Collaborate with other rehabilitation officers including occupation therapist and prosthetics and orthotics officers to design and develop adaptive devices and modifications to enhance the functional abilities and quality of life of children with disabilities.

• Promotes comprehensive and multidisciplinary approaches with all the rehabilitation sectors (P&O, OT) and other sectors.

• Facilitate strong exchange of technical information and documentation between various sectors (e.g. MHPSS, and P&O) and ensures an effective interdisciplinary approach.

Mission 2: Capacity Building and quality assurance of Physical rehabilitation services 

• Provide comprehensive training and mentorship to national Rehabilitation Technical Officers and physiotherapists to enhance their skills in delivering rehabilitation services, with a focus on children with disabilities.

• Develop Training Materials: Create and update training materials, guidelines, and protocols to ensure the highest standards of rehabilitation practices.

• Conduct Workshops: Organize and lead workshops and training sessions for physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals

• Education and Training: Provide education and training for mothers and caregivers on how to support the rehabilitation process at home.

• Home Modifications: Assess and implement necessary adjustments and modifications in the home environment to facilitate better care and support for children with disabilities.

• Assess technical officers, physiotherapist and P&O technicians rehabilitation technical difficulties and requirements for  proper implementation of rehabilitation activities, services to beneficiaries and identify specific training needs, in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Specialist.

• Facilitate weekly meetings of the field physiotherapists, P&O technicians to analyze individual assessment forms filled by the Physiotherapist in the field and share feedback.

• Deliver regular trainings to the project staff, community and other partners according to the needs identified by the project.

• In close collaboration with the Rehabilitation Specialist, participate in the designing and updating of physiotherapist tools and processes according to the needs.

 

Mission 3: Ensuring regular reporting and data/information management around Physiotherapist technical issues 

• Ensuring regular reporting on his/her activities to the Rehab Specialist and line manager on weekly basis

• Ensuring weekly and monthly reporting to the project staff with feedback, advice and clear recommendations

• Participating in close collaboration with the Rehabilitation Specialist on the elaboration of guidelines, training documents and protocols

• Collecting, following and analyzing the data related to physiotherapist/ P&O activities.

• Update the standards list of assistive devices and physiotherapist equipment and standardize the specification with Logistics

• Analyses data and produces reports in collaboration with Database officers.

 

Mission 4: Provides technical learning from projects 

• Collects the elements necessary for capitalisation or scientific documentation exercises

• Contributes to technical learning under the responsibility of the specialist or project manager, based on good practice.

• Contributes to the terms of reference for evaluations

• Implements recommendations for improving the technical quality of projects

 

   Mission 5: Contributes to the animation of its trade sector 

• Support the implementing partners in management of Physiotherapy staff and national technical officers including recruitment, induction, appraisals etc.

• Ensure a good communication – coordination – information level of each member of the team through participation to coordination meetings (or other if needed);

• Contribute to the personal and professional evolution of the technical team, and its development within the mission: individual interviews, oral and written evaluations;

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION:

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.

The position is based in Kabul, guesthouses in Kabul are shared between international staff, and are spacious, very well equipped, secure and comfortable, in order to provide adequate living conditions and wellbeing to international staff considering the limitations to move around the city. The guesthouses have sports facilities as well as common areas for recreational activities. HI in Afghanistan provides a cleaner for the Guesthouses during working days.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in physiotherapy with a clinical experience in humanitarian context.

 

Experience: 

• At least 5 years of professional experience working in SCI, amputation rehabilitation, working with children with cerebral palsy (CP), clubfoot, and developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).
• Experience in capacity building and training – TOT experience would be a strong asset

• Experience indicating a profound understanding of technical priorities in conflict and early recovery settings.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and overseeing projects focused on rehabilitation service delivery and systems strengthening, with expertise in working with children for developmental aids, adaptive devices (e.g., cerebral palsy, clubfoot, developmental dysplasia of the hip) and survivors  of war in healthcare settings.

Responsibilities: 

• Proven experience in providing technical direction, assistance, and oversight for project implementation, including measuring performance against targets and leading necessary training and mentoring for staff, partners, and key stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to manage teams effectively, employing both in-person and remote management approaches for supervising staff across various locations

 

Skills: 

• Strong leadership and management skills, with a track record of leading and motivating multidisciplinary and multicultural project teams.

• Demonstrated strategic thinking, creativity, acute problem-solving, and analytical skills.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.

 

Languages: 

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Proficiency in Dari and/or Pashto languages is advantageous.

At HI, the conditions offered are up to your commitment and adapted to the context of your mission.

• 12 months International contract starting from Mid November 2024
• The international contract provides social cover adapted to your situation:
• Unemployment insurance benefits for EU nationals
• Pension scheme
• Medical coverage with 50% of employee contribution
• Repatriation insurance paid by HI
• Salary: from 2346 € gross/month upon experience
• Per diem: 646,42 € net/month – paid in the field
• Hardship allowance: 500 € net/month paid with your salary
• Paid leaves: 25 days per year;
• R&R: 5 days every 6 weeks and possible transport/package support.
• Payment for travel costs (air ticket & visa) and transport of your personal effects
• Housing: Collective taken in charge by HI
• Position: unaccompanied

 

If you are resident in the country: local package