Kamituga-Kalehe Project Coordinator - DRC - M/F at ALIMA
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Job Description
Project Description:
The Kalehe territory in South Kivu province has been severely impacted by the security crisis linked to clashes between the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and armed groups, including the M23/AFC. Since January 2025, this violence has caused significant population displacement, destruction of health infrastructure, and interruptions to humanitarian activities along the strategic Minova-Bukavu axis.
A joint OCHA-ALIMA-SAD assessment in March 2025 identified more than 30,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in the health areas of Kalehe, Katana, Kavumu, Mudaka, and Bukavu. In Nyabibwe, 14,208 displaced and returnees were identified, and in Luzira, nearly 3,880 people remain. Several health centers, including Bushushu, Kalehe, Luzira, and Muhongoza, are experiencing a critical deterioration in their care capacity (less than 20% utilization rate, limited equipment). The Kalehe HGR is showing worrying saturation, particularly in pediatrics and the UNTI, with an occupancy rate of 131%.
Faced with these needs, ALIMA, in consortium with SAD and UGEAFI, is implementing a coordinated multi-sectoral response, aiming to:
- Restore access to primary and secondary health care, including SAM management, medical response to GBV, mental health support and rehabilitation of WASH structures (ALIMA);
- Strengthen prevention, screening and community nutritional monitoring (SAD);
- Improving access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in priority sites (UGEAFI).
The intervention targets four priority health areas (Muhongoza, Kalehe, Kaseke, Tchofi) as well as the Kalehe Higher Regional Hospital. The project aims to save lives, restore essential services, and support affected communities towards a gradual recovery in a more stable environment. The complementarity between international NGOs and local partners will enable a more integrated, anchored, and sustainable response.
Security context:
The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to face chronic instability, fueled by armed conflicts and intercommunal tensions, particularly in the east of the country where ALIMA operates. The provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri are among the most affected, plagued by around 100 armed groups, the main ones being the M23, the FDLR, the ADF, and CODECO. These border areas, unstable for several decades, have been under a state of siege since May 2021.
In South Kivu, a major escalation of violence has been observed since mid-June 2025 in the Walungu territory. Clashes between the M23/RDF, the FARDC/Wazalendo coalition, and various local armed groups (RM Maheshe, Ngandu, Mubangu, Mudundu 40) are concentrated around the localities of Burhale, Mulamba, Bwahungu, and Tubimbi, with the stakes being control of the RN2 and mining areas. The fighting has caused heavy human losses, massive destruction, and significant displacement towards Bukavu, Mirhumba, and Muhumba.
Finally, targeted attacks on June 22 targeted Pygmy villages in Kalehe territory, causing mass displacement. In Bukavu, fighting in Bagira and Cirunga caused panic and led to the closure of schools. Convoys of mining companies, particularly Chinese ones, were attacked several times, reinforcing the hostile perception of armed groups towards road traffic, including humanitarian aid.
Humanitarian context
A joint OCHA-ALIMA-SAD assessment in March 2025 identified more than 30,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in the health areas of Kalehe, Katana, Kavumu, Mudaka, and Bukavu. In Nyabibwe, 14,208 displaced and returnees were identified, and in Luzira, nearly 3,880 people remain. Several health centers, including Bushushu, Kalehe, Luzira, and Muhongoza, are experiencing a critical deterioration in their care capacity (less than 20% utilization rate, limited equipment). The Kalehe HGR is showing worrying saturation, especially in pediatrics and the UNTI, with an occupancy rate of 131%.
Epidemiological data indicate a high prevalence of malaria (23%), acute respiratory infections (21.9%) and diarrheal diseases (6%), largely linked to consumption of untreated water from Lake Kivu. On the nutritional level, the lack of inputs since the end of 2024 compromises the management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM), in a context of worsening vulnerabilities.
Humanitarian Access Issues: Main trends, although it should be noted that humanitarians are not direct targets:
Without being systematically targeted, NGOs are exposed to an increasingly hostile environment in several key areas of South Kivu, making necessary a reinforced dialogue with local actors , rigorous security monitoring , and adaptive planning of movements .
Humanitarian access to South Kivu is severely hampered by clashes between M23/RDF, FARDC, Wazalendo, and local armed groups, particularly around the RN2 (Burhale, Tubimbi, Bwahungu) and in the Hauts Plateaux of Minembwe. Although humanitarian workers are not direct targets, their mobility is limited by growing insecurity, unpredictable fighting, and confusion with other actors (armed forces, mining companies).
Consequences :
- Temporary suspension of activities, postponement of outings, frequent changes of itineraries
- Perceived loss of neutrality
- Need for permanent renegotiation of acceptability.
The humanitarian situation remains critical, marked by an intensification of displacement, violence against civilians, returns to underserved areas and the deterioration of basic social infrastructure.
- Sexual violence: at least 354 cases of GBV documented in Kalehe (South Kivu) since January 2025.
- Targeted infrastructure: increased attacks, looting and destruction of health and education facilities, compromising the continuity of essential services.
Travel dynamics (April — May 2025)
- South Kivu : 130,000 newly displaced people in Fizi and Mwenga. Tensions persist in Kalehe, Kabare and Walungu; assistance provided to 47,000 people (food and household items).
Project resources:
- Expatriate HR (1): A. Project coordinator,
- Local HR (5): RAM (Physician in Charge of Activity)
- A referring physician, an Admin, a supervising physician, supervising nurse, a Log, staff with Alima contract and staff with HD contract)
Priority
- Analysis of the context (environment, actors, security, access negotiations, etc.) and humanitarian issues.
- Identifies and analyzes medical and humanitarian needs in collaboration with the Medical Referrer, proposes a relevant operational strategy for the intervention area,
- Collaborates with humanitarian and medical actors to ensure good coordination of activities and teams in the intervention zone and the pooling of resources
- Further assessment of humanitarian needs in the area, including monitoring and health and epidemiological surveillance in the area
- Consolidate project activities and strengthen coordination with health authorities and other partners (at cluster level)
Project-specific required profile elements:
- Previous experience in managing projects in emergency contexts, RRM (context of forced displacement, IDPs, assessments of intervention and exit criteria) and multi-sectoral projects are assets
- Medical profile highly recommended for the position
- Ability to conduct MSAs within an acceptable timeframe, monitoring activity reports
- Ability to lead projects in collaboration with health authorities and other stakeholders in consortium
- Working in a context with multiple humanitarian needs in a difficult environment
- Successful experiences of security management in volatile security situations