Dedicated Women Social Services Organization (DWSSO) is a pioneering, women-led national non-governmental organization (NGO) headquartered in Daikundi Province, Afghanistan, with a mission to empower women, strengthen community resilience, and alleviate poverty. Established in 2016 and registered with the Ministry of Economy (Registration No. 3969), DWSSO operates as a trusted partner in Afghanistan’s development landscape, bringing life-changing resources and opportunities to some of the country’s most vulnerable populations, particularly women, children, and youth. DWSSO’s robust presence spans Daikundi, Ghor, Nooristan, Zabul, Faryab, Paktika, Nangarhar, Balkh, Herat, and Helmand Provinces, with a Liaison Office in Kabul to facilitate national and international collaboration.

Our organization leads rights-based, inclusive initiatives that uplift marginalized Afghan communities through sustainable interventions in food security, vocational training, literacy, livelihood support, and social protection. With a focus on fostering self-reliance, economic empowerment, and social cohesion, DWSSO works to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and align with Afghanistan’s National Development Strategy, creating pathways out of poverty and toward dignified livelihoods.

Through strong partnerships with international donors, UN agencies, and local civil society networks, DWSSO integrates protection, gender equity, and accountability principles into every aspect of its programming. Our skilled personnel and established community relationships ensure effective, culturally sensitive service delivery across complex regions. As an active participant in key humanitarian clusters, DWSSO’s innovative approach and commitment to humanitarian values position us as a critical driver of sustainable progress and social change in Afghanistan.

Purpose of the Position:

The Project Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic oversight, and quality delivery of the Tele-Survey project, ensuring that all phases of planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting are carried out efficiently, ethically, and in alignment with UN Women’s gender equality mandate and safeguarding standards. The Project Manager will lead a diverse team, coordinate multi-level stakeholders, maintain robust risk management, ensure financial and operational compliance, and guarantee that the data collected serves the intended purpose of amplifying the voices of Afghan women and men in national decision-making processes. The role demands proactive problem-solving, adaptive leadership in a complex operational context, and a strong commitment to women’s empowerment and protection principles.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop a robust and detailed project implementation plan with clear deliverables, timelines, risk mitigation measures, and quality benchmarks, ensuring full alignment with UN Women’s objectives.
• Lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the Tele-Survey project, providing clear direction, support, and supervision to the technical, field, and administrative teams.
• Oversee and coordinate all stages of data collection across 34 provinces, ensuring that field teams operate in compliance with safeguarding and ethical research standards.
• Coordinate closely with UN Women Programme Manager and other UN partners (e.g., IOM, UNAMA) to align project activities with broader gender and peacebuilding objectives.
• Develop and manage the project budget, track expenditures against deliverables, and ensure financial accountability and timely reporting to UN Women.
• Lead regular coordination meetings with internal teams and external partners, preparing detailed updates, agendas, and actionable minutes to ensure smooth collaboration.
• Provide leadership in the recruitment, onboarding, training, and continuous capacity-building of all project staff, ensuring gender-sensitive and safeguarding-compliant work culture.
• Monitor project risks and develop proactive mitigation strategies, maintaining an updated risk register and escalation plan.
• Ensure that project monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks are integrated throughout implementation, and that lessons learned are documented and shared.
• Lead the preparation and timely submission of high-quality technical and financial reports, datasets, and analytical summaries as per UN Women requirements.
• Ensure procurement of goods and services for the project complies with UN Women’s procurement rules, ethical standards, and transparency principles.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with local authorities, community representatives, and other stakeholders to facilitate smooth project operations.
• Guarantee that all project activities are conducted in a conflict-sensitive, gender-responsive, and safeguarding-compliant manner.
• Address any operational, technical, or HR challenges promptly, ensuring minimal disruption to project delivery.
• Represent the project in donor meetings, coordination forums, and national stakeholder engagements as needed, advocating for women’s voices and inclusive policy influence.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Master’s degree in International Development, Project Management, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in managing multi-sectoral, donor-funded projects in Afghanistan, preferably with UN agencies or INGOs.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale data collection, surveys, and research initiatives.
• Strong background in budget management, financial reporting, and compliance with donor regulations.
• Experience implementing projects in gender equality, safeguarding, women’s empowerment, and community resilience.
• Proven ability to manage and mentor diverse, multi-location teams.
• Familiarity with safeguarding, child protection, and ethical data collection practices.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and project management tools.
• Excellent English (oral and written) with fluency in Dari and/or Pashto.
• Knowledge of Afghanistan’s socio-political and operational context.

Personal Attributes:

• Ethical, transparent, and accountable in all professional activities.
• Committed to gender equality, women’s rights, and safeguarding principles.
• Strong leadership and team-building capabilities.
• Culturally sensitive, adaptable, and respectful.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for engaging with diverse stakeholders.
• Results-oriented and able to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
• Proactive, innovative thinker with strong problem-solving skills.
• Flexible and able to adapt to shifting operational environments.
• Upholds confidentiality and demonstrates a high level of integrity.
• Collaborative, fostering a positive, gender-sensitive team environment.

Interested candidates should submit their applications (CV, Tazkera & Educational documents) by e-mail or in writing (marked confidential and clearly indicating on the sealed envelope the vacancy announcement number) to:

House# 10, Left Lane 02, Street 13, Wazir Akbar Khan, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Email address: hr@dwsso.org

Phone: 0799 149 513