Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

Project/ Department Summary

Mercy Corps works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build a more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives. Recognizing both the great potential and the complex challenges faced by Afghanistan, since 1986 Mercy Corps has been implementing a range of humanitarian assistance and development programs tailored to the specific needs of the country and of those communities where we work.

Mercy Corps has implemented several key programs in the South and North of the country in key sectors such as agriculture and food security, skills development, renewable energy, natural resources management, community infrastructure, and job creation. Mercy Corps has a couple of ongoing multi-sectoral programs including WASH. Mercy Corps is currently preparing to implement a new program “Emergency WASH Response to the Returnees in Kandahar Province” funded by OCHA through the AHF funding stream. This is a short-term project (7 months) that’s aimed at responding to the acute emergency WASH needs, save lives and enhance the resilience of returnees in Kandahar through provision of safe drinking water, basic sanitation and hygiene services in Daman and Kandahar districts. 

General Position Summary

Under the direct supervision of the project Manager, the Community Mobilization and Hygiene Promotion Officer conducts community mobilization and hygiene promotion activities in the program target area. Key activities include baseline and end-of-the-project surveys, assessments, community mobilization and engagement, and hygiene promotion sessions in the target area. The Community Mobilization and Hygiene Promotion Officer will also assist the WASH Officers and Project Manager in designing appropriate hygiene & sanitation awareness/promotion approaches and community engagement in addition to developing all the required Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Materials. S/he will work with the Project Manager, WASH Officers and WASH Assistants to complete all the procurement processes for purchase requests, purchase orders, and payment requests for hygiene promotion and community mobilization activities.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Carry out community engagement and hygiene promotion assessment and support MEL team to conduct the baseline, end line survey, KAP, PDM, and any other type of survey required during the life of the program.
• Assess the training needs of the target population plan and design and develop community mobilization and hygiene promotion training materials.
• Analyze assessment data and prepare reports on findings from assessments, site visits, and consultations with local authorities and community members.
• Facilitate and deliver hygiene promotion training to the hygiene volunteer workers hygiene promotion committees and the program participants.
• Support the identification and recruitment of the community committee of the hygiene/health volunteers.
• Ensure that sustainable systems are set in place for longer-term hygiene promotion needs including the provision of all necessary training.
• Ensure that all water and sanitation work is carried out in a manner that is sensitive to the needs of children and women.
• Regularly visits project sites to deliver hygiene promotion campaigns and training sessions in addition to the community mobilization.
• Responsible for the implementation of hygiene portion and community mobilization-related activities in the field, ensuring that the program’s objectives are met.
• Work with the WASH assistants in coordination with the MEL team to achieve all the hygiene promotion-related indicators.
• Document implementation of all hygiene promotion and community mobilization activities and track progress towards program targets.
• Submission of the weekly report along with updated work plan and pictures from the field.
• Develop and maintain good lines of communication and relationships with local authorities, the local community, and other stakeholders and partners.
• In consultation with the Project Manager and WASH Officer ensure regular monitoring of program activities to determine the success of interventions and document them with successful story reports.
• Work with the WASH Officers and Assistants to update the work plan on a regular basis and identify any improvements required.
• Working closely with the technical WASH team to engage and mobilize the communities to support the WASH infrastructure activities to maintain them operating for the long-term run, in addition to making sure the awareness of the good hygiene practices within the community.
• With support from the WASH Assistants, to complete all the procurement processes for purchase requests, purchase orders, and payment requests for hygiene promotion, community mobilization, hygiene kits, and emergency WASH services, in coordination with the Procurement Department.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the security, political, cultural, and overall contextual situation in areas of program implementation.
• Ensure a safe working environment for all people involved in project implementation.
• Follow the standard procedures and standards when monitoring all service provision activities, including the hygiene promotion sessions.
• Establish and train the Community Hygiene Workers (CHWs) and Water Management Committees (WMC) on the WASH activities.
• Develop and train the community on Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (PHAST).  
• Follow all MC protocols and regulations according to guidance provided by the direct supervisor.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

• Support the distribution team in the distribution of hygiene kits, dignity kits, and other NFIs that are an integral part of the project as per the work plan.

• Submission of weekly progress report along with updated work plan and pictures from the field.
• Performs any other duty assigned by the supervisor.

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• Bachelors in community health, public health, social science, or related degree.
• 2-3 years of relevant experience in implementing capacity building, community development, public health, hygiene promotion education, water and sanitation, economic opportunities, natural resource management, and/or youth mobilization.
• Strong familiarity with Afghanistan water and sanitation standards and international WASH SPHERE standards.
• Extensive knowledge and work experience in Afghanistan, and preferably in the South/East Provinces including Kandahar.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to achieve cooperation and agreement amongst diverse groups with competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and tasks efficiently and with a calm attitude.
• Excellent time management skills and resourcefulness with strong attention to details.
• Ability to engage with local communities and government authorities.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Honest and committed to compliance with all policies and procedures in all aspects of work.
• Good strategic thinking and planning skills with eagerness for innovation.  
• Good knowledge of spoken and written English and Pashto are required.
• Good computer skills in basic, office programs.

To apply for this position, please submit your CV and Cover letter, with the vacancy number and position title (MCA120-2024 Application for (Community Moblization and Hygiene Promotion Assistant ) in the subject line, by email to af-vacancieskbl@mercycorps.org.

The deadline for submission is the close of business on 31-July-2024 applications received after the closing date and without a subject line will not be given consideration so, please make sure you put the vacancy number and title on the subject of your email, or your application will be disregarded by the system.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates whose application responds to the above criteria will be contacted for the written test/interview.

Note: Please note that MCA will provide office space and facilities only and is not providing any lodging facilities for its Team Members/Employees in HQ and field offices and it is the employee’s responsibility to arrange the lodgings for themselves if they work in a field office other than their home province.

Ps. Females are highly encouraged to apply for the MCA Open positions.