The Liaison Office (TLO) founded in 2003 as an Afghan non-governmental organization (NGO) that emerged from a Swisspeace pilot project (supported by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung) with the aim of improving local governance, stability, and security through systematic and institutionalized engagement with customary structures, local communities, civil society groups, and government institutions. TLO is based in Kabul, with regional offices in Paktia, Khost, Paktika, Herat, Ghazni, Farah, Samangan, Balkh, Nangarhar, Maidan wardak and Baghlan and additional field offices across Afghanistan. TLO works to achieve its objectives through key program activities: research and analysis, dialogue facilitation for peacebuilding, access to justice and governance, humanitarian assistance, third party monitoring and evaluation, and environment & natural resources management.

About the Project: Afghanistan is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to its high sensitivity and low adaptive capacity. Climate projections for Afghanistan suggest a future of higher temperatures, reduced rainfall, higher evapotranspiration and increased frequency of extreme events such as droughts, storms, floods, landslides and avalanches.

1. Job Description:

The Livelihoods and Enterprise Development Officer will play a pivotal role in implementing activities aimed at enhancing rural livelihoods and fostering sustainable economic growth within the framework of the Climate Change Adaptation and Rural Livelihoods (CARL) project. Reporting directly to the Livelihoods and Enterprise Development Specialist, the Officer will work closely with the project team to design, implement, and monitor livelihoods and enterprise development initiatives in targeted communities.

2. Duties and Responsibilities:

• Enterprise Development: Lead the identification, assessment, and development of income-generating opportunities and micro-enterprises that align with the project's objectives and the needs of rural communities.
• Livelihoods Enhancement: Design and implement interventions to diversify livelihood options, increase resilience to climate change impacts, and improve the socio-economic status of project beneficiaries, with a focus on marginalized groups and vulnerable populations.
• Market Analysis: Conduct market assessments and value chain analyses to identify market opportunities, constraints, and potential interventions to enhance market access for rural producers and entrepreneurs.
• Capacity Building: Facilitate training sessions, workshops, and mentoring programs to build the capacity of local communities, farmers, and entrepreneurs in areas such as business management, financial literacy, marketing, and value addition.
• Community Engagement: Foster participatory approaches and community-led initiatives to ensure the active involvement of beneficiaries in the design, implementation, and monitoring of livelihoods and enterprise development activities.
• Partnership Development: Establish and maintain partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector actors, NGOs, and community-based organizations, to leverage resources, expertise, and support for project activities.
• Gender Mainstreaming: Ensure gender equality and social inclusion considerations are integrated into all aspects of livelihoods and enterprise development programming, promoting women's economic empowerment and equitable access to resources and opportunities.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation plans to track the progress and impact of livelihoods and enterprise development interventions, collect data, and prepare regular reports for project management and donors.
• Knowledge Management: Document best practices, lessons learned, and success stories from livelihoods and enterprise development activities, and facilitate knowledge sharing and learning events to promote adaptive management and continuous improvement.
• Budget Management: Assist in the preparation and management of budgets for livelihoods and enterprise development activities, ensuring efficient use of resources and compliance with donor requirements and project timelines.
• Risk Management: Identify potential risks and challenges related to livelihoods and enterprise development initiatives, and develop mitigation strategies to address them proactively.

Job Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Economics, Business Administration, Rural Development, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience in livelihoods development, enterprise development, market systems development, or related fields, preferably within the context of rural development and climate change adaptation projects.
• Technical Skills: Strong analytical, research, and project management skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and data analysis software. Experience in conducting market assessments, value chain analyses, and feasibility studies is desirable.
• Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication, facilitation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders, including community members, government officials, and development partners.
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in English and proficiency in local languages (e.g., Pashto, Dari) is required.
• Commitment to Gender Equality: Demonstrated commitment to promoting gender equality, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in livelihoods and enterprise development programming.
• Adaptability: Willingness to work in challenging and dynamic environments, with a flexible and adaptive approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
• Travel: Ability to travel regularly to project sites in rural areas of Ghazni province for field visits, workshops, and meetings.

Only short-listed candidates whose application responds to the above criteria will be contacted for the written test/interview. Interested candidates should fill the form in this link: https://forms.gle/FJsszGr2r97Yv7uh8