HHWO, is a humanitarian non-profit, non-governmental, non-political, and non-partisan, national organization founded by its ardent founders in 2014. HHWO is registered in the Ministry of Economy (MOEC) with registration number (#3291) dated 28-09-2014.

At HHWO, we seek to build a future in which all Afghans - regardless of their gender, age, race, ethnicity, or religion - experience a life of dignity and comfort, free from hunger, poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, violence, and backwardness.

Our overall mission is to eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, provide and promote access to health care and education, provide access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), promote gender equality, and provide child protection services to vulnerable and underprivileged children by putting an emphasis on their education, nutrition, health, and participation in sports. We also put a lot of effort into developing the skills of both men and women, increasing their social and legal awareness, assisting them in becoming equal partners, active citizens, and key decision-makers, allowing them to assume leadership positions, addressing women's needs, and advocating for local issues through which the vulnerable groups can assert their dignity and pursue human rights and peace.

Helping Hands for Women Organization, under the WADA Joint Programme, is implementing a women-focused economic empowerment project through the establishment and operationalization of the WADA Business Center in Badakhshan. The project supports women-led enterprises in five productive clusters: handicrafts, dairy, dried fruits, food processing, and beekeeping. To enhance the technical capacity of these businesses, HHWO seeks to recruit a sector-based Technical Consultant to deliver specialized, hands-on support for production improvement, product standardization, and market-readiness.

The Technical Consultant will provide tailored technical support to women-led businesses across the five enterprise clusters. The consultant will focus on improving production techniques, quality control, product development, hygiene standards, packaging, and value chain competitiveness.

Key Responsibilities

Cluster Technical Support

• Conduct rapid assessments of production practices, equipment use, and technical challenges within each enterprise cluster.
• Identify gaps in product quality, standardization, hygiene, packaging, and use of equipment.
• Develop tailored technical guidance and tools for women entrepreneurs in each sector (e.g., recipe cards, hygiene checklists, standard operating procedures).
• Conduct on-site technical coaching sessions and demonstrations to improve production efficiency, product quality, and safety.
• Introduce and promote environmentally friendly and cost-efficient production methods.
• Submit a diagnostic report outlining cluster-specific recommendations and support needs.

Training and Capacity Building

• Design and deliver sector-specific training packages for each enterprise group (e.g., improved drying techniques for dried fruits, hygiene and packaging for dairy products, embroidery design trends for handicrafts, etc.).
• Support training-of-trainers (ToT) sessions for local women to replicate skills within their communities.
• Strengthen participants’ understanding of product grading, certification, labeling, and traceability.
• Deliver at least 10 tailored technical coaching sessions to selected businesses.
• Provide hands-on support in improving product quality, safety standards, labeling, and packaging.
• Develop checklists and SOPs for quality assurance and production workflows.
• Guide businesses in developing product specifications, cost-efficient production plans, and storage procedures.

Product Development and Market Readiness

• Work with business development and marketing consultants to upgrade products for market and customer preferences.
• Support women in meeting quality and hygiene requirements aligned with local market or potential export standards.
• Recommend small-scale equipment, packaging materials, and low-cost technologies for improved production.

D. Product Prototyping and Packaging

• Work with cluster members and the branding team to develop at least 5 product prototypes.
• Ensure packaging and labeling meet local market and compliance standards.
• Incorporate culturally relevant and environmentally friendly designs.

E. Quality and Compliance Support

• Assist cluster enterprises in meeting basic quality certification or food safety criteria (e.g., hygiene protocols, ISO readiness where applicable).
• Facilitate connections with relevant government or certification bodies for compliance orientation.
• Help document processes for future scale-up and donor review.

Deliverable

                                                                                                           Timeline

Rapid assessment report of technical needs in 5 enterprise clusters / Week 2

Technical support package per cluster, including SOPs, quality standards, and hygiene guides / Week 4

10 on-site technical coaching sessions delivered / Weeks 3–10

5 sector-based training sessions conducted (one per cluster) / Weeks 4–8

Product improvement suggestions and packaging prototypes / Week 9

Compliance and quality documentation for cluster products completed / Week 8-12

Final technical support and sustainability guidance / Week 9-12

Final consultancy report detailing progress, challenges, and recommendations / Week 12

Subjects:                       

1. Strategic management and Women leadership,
2. Business Development,
3. Marketing- Small business,
4. Business/ investors negotiation skill
5. Financial literacy,
6. Cooperative management & managing corporate finances (management of saving/loans)

Education:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Food Technology, Engineering, Industrial Design, Product Development, Agriculture, Food Science, Livestock Production, Rural Development, Textile Design, or other relevant fields.
• Certifications in food safety, hygiene, or product development are an asset.

Experience:

• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in technical support to SMEs, women-led businesses, or cooperatives
• Experience in one or more sectors: dairy, food processing, handicrafts, dried fruits, beekeeping.
• Proven experience providing technical support to small businesses or cooperatives, especially women-led enterprises.
• Demonstrated experience in product improvement, packaging design, food processing, or machinery use.
• Experience with women’s economic empowerment and gender-sensitive approaches is an asset.
• Familiarity with local production methods in Badakhshan is a plus.
• Experience working with NGOs, rural communities, and value chain actors in Afghanistan.

Skills and Competencies:

• Practical skills in quality control, hygiene, production tools, and technical problem-solving.
• Strong facilitation, coaching, and community training delivery skills.
• Ability to prepare easy-to-use technical manuals and visual training tools.

Languages: Written and spoken fluency in English and Farsi-Dari.

Location: Badakhshan

• Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and CV to hr.hhwo@gmail.com
• Please write the Job title and Vacancy Number in the subject line of your email.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered
• ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED