Afghan Youth Services Organization (AYSO) is a National Afghan NGO registered in 2006 with the MoEc of Afghanistan with registration No:397.AYSO since came into being has developed, successfully implemented, and provided direct assistance services in different   sectors such as health, educational, Food Security,  Capacity building, GBV Prevention and Response, Peace, Justice Research, and Surveys human rights and awareness projects and programs with the technical and financial support of several UN Agencies such as UNDP,UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO, AYSO has implemented projects with government ministries and departments as well as has been being implementing partner with AAH/USAID, FHI, BARC, AADA,HEWAD, and other National and International Organization.

Scope of Work:

General Summary: Afghan Youth Services Organization (AYSO) is seeking a Female qualified and passionate Program Coordinator – Women Empowerment to lead and oversee the design, implementation, and monitoring of women-focused initiatives under AYSO’s programs.

The Program Coordinator will play a key role in ensuring that all women empowerment activities are aligned with AYSO’s strategic goals, donor requirements, and community needs. He/She will be responsible for providing technical guidance, managing field teams, coordinating with partners and stakeholders, and ensuring that women and girls are meaningfully included and empowered through project interventions.

This role requires strong leadership, gender expertise, and program management skills, along with a deep commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s rights across Afghanistan.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Coordinator – Women Empowerment will play a key role in advancing AYSO’s mission to promote gender equality and women's participation in Afghanistan's development. The incumbent will lead, coordinate, and ensure the quality implementation of women-focused interventions across provinces, in line with donor agreements and AYSO’s strategic priorities.

1. Program Management and Implementation

• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of all women empowerment initiatives, including but not limited to economic empowerment programs, skills development, SMEs/MSMEs, TVET, Emergency response to Refugees and Returnees at Zero-Point, awareness-raising campaigns, and leadership training.
• Coordinate the design and rollout of multi-sectoral support services for women and girls, including vocational training, psychosocial support, GBV referral mechanisms, and livelihood initiatives.
• Develop and manage detailed project implementation plans, work schedules, and activity-based budgets in collaboration with field teams and the Head of Programs.
• Oversee field-level activities in multiple provinces to ensure effective and timely delivery of outputs, maintaining quality and accountability standards.
• Ensure gender-transformative programming by embedding women’s voices, needs, and priorities into all stages of project design and delivery.
• Support the integration of women empowerment components into cross-sectoral AYSO programs including education, food security, climate resilience, and protection.

2. Technical Guidance and Support

• Provide expert-level technical input on women’s rights, gender mainstreaming, and empowerment strategies to program and field staff.
• Develop or adapt training materials, tools, and methodologies tailored to the local context, ensuring alignment with AYSO’s gender strategy and donor requirements.
• Guide the design and implementation of women-led initiatives such as women support groups, community development committees, and vocational cooperatives.
• Facilitate capacity building for AYSO staff, local CSOs, and community partners on topics such as gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, protection, gender-sensitive service delivery, and inclusive programming.
• Support community outreach activities to promote positive gender norms and increase the participation of women and girls in community development and decision-making.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Work closely with the AYSO Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) unit to develop gender-responsive M&E tools and indicators that accurately measure women empowerment outcomes, including economic resilience, social inclusion, and protection.
• Track the progress of project activities using agreed log frames, targets, and indicators, and ensure data is collected in a timely, ethical, and gender-sensitive manner.
• Identify performance gaps, implementation challenges, and risks; propose and support adaptive measures to improve program quality and accountability.
• Lead the preparation of comprehensive and timely donor reports, monthly and quarterly progress updates, and internal briefs—ensuring alignment with both donor requirements and AYSO reporting standards.
• Document and disseminate success stories, case studies, and lessons learned that showcase the impact of AYSO’s women empowerment interventions at the individual, household, and community levels.
• Conduct regular monitoring and supervisory field visits to project sites in target provinces (e.g., Nangarhar, Logar, Laghman, etc.), meet with beneficiaries, and verify that services are reaching intended female participants.

4. Team Coordination and Capacity Building

• Provide day-to-day supervision and technical support to field teams, including Project Officers, Community Mobilizers, Vocational Trainers, and Social Workers engaged in women-focused activities.
• Facilitate regular planning and review meetings to ensure that field teams are on track, supported, and clear on program expectations and deliverables.
• Assess capacity-building needs of staff and community stakeholders; design and conduct tailored training workshops on women’s leadership, GBV prevention and response, gender mainstreaming, rights awareness, and community engagement strategies.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning within the women empowerment team and across the broader program department.
• Mentor team members, particularly women staff, to strengthen their professional growth and leadership in program delivery and management.
• Foster safe, inclusive, and respectful working environments—both in the office and field—aligned with AYSO’s safeguarding and gender policies.

5. Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Represent AYSO in coordination meetings, working groups, and clusters related to gender, protection, livelihoods, and women empowerment at national and provincial levels.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including UN agencies (e.g., UN Women, UNDP, WFP, UNFPA and other AYSO Strategic Partners), relevant NGOs, civil society organizations, and community-based structures.
• Facilitate inclusive coordination mechanisms with women leaders, elders, religious figures, and youth representatives to promote community ownership and acceptance of project activities.
• Identify and establish strategic partnerships to expand program coverage, enhance referral pathways (especially for Gender inclusion and response), and strengthen access to vocational training, financial inclusion, and psychosocial support for women.
• Ensure regular communication and collaboration with local women's Comunities, DDCs, and women’s groups to create a safe and supportive environment for female participation in all project areas.
• Advocate for women’s representation in community decision-making bodies and ensure their voices are reflected in local planning and development processes.

6. Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure that all women empowerment activities are implemented in full compliance with AYSO’s policies, donor regulations, contractual obligations, and national laws, particularly those related to gender equity, protection, and child safeguarding.
• Oversee the consistent application of AYSO’s Gender Equality Policy, Code of Conduct, PSEA, AAP, GRM standards across project sites.
• Continuously assess and monitor cultural, political, and security risks that may affect women’s engagement and the safe delivery of project interventions.
• Develop context-specific risk mitigation strategies to ensure the inclusion and protection of women and girls, particularly in conservative or conflict-prone areas.
• Collaborate with security and safeguarding focal points to ensure field teams and female participants operate in a safe, secure, and respectful environment.
• Report any incidents or violations promptly in accordance with AYSO’s incident reporting and accountability mechanisms.

Note : This position requires frequent travel to provinces. 

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Administration, or a related field is required.
• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is strongly preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in managing women empowerment, gender equality, or protection programs within national or international NGOs or UN agencies.
• At least 3 years in a senior coordination or supervisory role, overseeing multi-province or large-scale women-focused interventions.
• Proven experience in working with donor-funded projects (e.g., UN Women, UNDP, WFP, or other bilateral/multilateral donors).
• Demonstrated experience in working closely with local authorities, civil society, and communities, particularly in gender-sensitive or culturally conservative environments.
• Solid track record in project cycle management, proposal development, and donor reporting.

Technical Skills:

• Strong understanding of gender equality principles, women’s rights frameworks, and international best practices in women empowerment.
• Knowledge of community-based protection mechanisms, GBV response and referral systems, and rights-based programming.
• Proficiency in project planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, and team leadership.
• Excellent computer skills, particularly in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), with familiarity in digital data collection tools (e.g., Kobo, ODK) considered an asset.

Language:

• Excellent written and spoken skills in Dari, Pashto, and English.

Personal and Professional Attributes:

• Strong leadership, organizational, and coordination skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities with sensitivity to cultural and gender diversity.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, and commitment to AYSO’s values and gender equity principles.
• Willingness to travel frequently to field locations under sometimes challenging conditions.

Please submit CV to hr@ayso.org.af  
Applications after the closing date (12:00 AM) will not be accepted.
Please Indicate the position title and vacancy Number in the Subject Line otherwise your application will not be considered.
Please note that there is no telephonic inquiry and only shortlisted applicants will be contacted and called for an Interview.
AYSO zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. AYSO also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct.