The Afghan Women Skills Development Center (AWSDC) is a national non-governmental organization (NGO) that has been relentlessly working towards the promotion and protection of women's rights in Afghanistan since its inception in 1999. With its key thematic focus areas of livelihoods, WASH, child/women protection, social cohesion, and humanitarian response, AWSDC has made a remarkable impact across several provinces of the country. The organization has provided humanitarian assistance to almost 65,000 COVID-19-affected individuals within its geographical areas since the onset of the pandemic. AWSDC is also a crucial humanitarian actor in Afghanistan, providing child/women protection, WASH and emergency shelter, and non-food items to vulnerable Afghan communities across the country.

In response to the current humanitarian crisis, AWSDC is scaled up its interventions in serving more people by providing life-saving assistance, protection, Livelihoods, WASH, and food/non-food items. The aligned strategic priorities will enable our target groups in addressing their acute deficits of humanitarian response, early recovery through the provision of Emergency Response (Protection, WASH, Food/NFIs) and early recovery and development interventions (Protection Services, WASH, Livelihoods and health).  

AWSDC is in the process to recruit a Head of Health Department for its main office based in Kabul.

The Head of the Health Department will serve as a strategic leader, overseeing the development and execution of AWSDC’s health programs in Afghanistan’s complex socio-political landscape. This role entails driving evidence-based health initiatives, securing funding, and ensuring operational excellence to deliver high-impact health services, particularly for women and vulnerable populations. The incumbent will spearhead program design, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy, leveraging AWSDC’s established presence to address critical health challenges. With a focus on sustainable outcomes, the Head of Health Department will play a pivotal role in advancing AWSDC’s commitment to community well-being in Afghanistan.

- Master’s degree or higher in Public Health, Health Administration, or a related field (MD, PhD, or equivalent preferred).

- Minimum of 3-5 years of leadership experience in public health, healthcare administration, or a related field.

- Proven expertise in developing health programs, preparing proposals, and fundraising in the nonprofit or humanitarian sector.

- Strong knowledge of public health policies, epidemiology, and health systems management, with an understanding of Afghanistan’s health challenges.

- Demonstrated success in securing grants and managing relationships with international donors.

- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder engagement skills, with fluency in English (knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto is highly desirable).

- Experience with budget management and resource allocation in resource-constrained settings.

- Commitment to gender equity, inclusion, and community-driven health solutions.

- Familiarity with data analytics and health informatics for program evaluation.

- Ability to advocate for policy changes within Afghanistan’s health sector.

- Strong network with international donors, UN agencies, or NGOs operating in Afghanistan.

Key Responsibilities:

- Develop and implement strategic plans to advance AWSDC’s public health goals in Afghanistan.

- Design, execute, and evaluate innovative health programs tailored to the needs of Afghan communities, with a focus on women and vulnerable populations.

- Prepare compelling proposals to secure funding from international donors, government and UN agencies, and other funding sources.

- Lead fundraising efforts to support health initiatives, including grant writing, donor engagement, and partnership development.

- Manage the department’s budget, resources, and personnel to ensure efficient and effective operations.

- Collaborate with government ministries, local communities, NGOs, and international stakeholders to address health disparities and promote wellness.

- Ensure compliance with Afghan regulations, international public health standards, and donor requirements.

- Represent AWSDC in public forums, Clusters and policy discussions to advocate for health priorities.

- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of health professionals to achieve departmental objectives.

- Monitor and analyze health data to inform decision-making and improve program outcomes.

Interested applicants should send their CVs to the below email address no later than 27 August 2025, with the subject line Head Of Health Department VA# 001 to hr@awsdc.org.af   

 Note 1: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applicants not following submission guideline their application will be rejected.