Business Development/Women’s Empowerment Specialist

Afghan Peace Builders Humanitarian Organization APBHO has emerged as a non-governmental, non-political, not-for-profit organization in April 2019 with its long experience as a team (Youth Council) advocating for the rights of communities especially children and women affected by conflicts, and humanitarian crisis in fragile settings.

Afghan Peace Builders Humanitarian Organization APBHO has emerged as a non-governmental, non-political, not-for-profit organization in April 2019 with its long experience as a team (Youth Council) advocating for the rights of communities especially children and women affected by conflicts, and humanitarian crisis in fragile settings.

Most of APBHO’s peacebuilding efforts focus on community-based conflict resolution and environmental peace-building on grass-root level.  APBHO aims to shift repressive gender norms and equip citizens with the skills to resolve any type of differences and conflicts non-violently.

Most of APBHO’s peacebuilding efforts focus on community-based conflict resolution and environmental peace-building on grass-root level.  APBHO aims to shift repressive gender norms and equip citizens with the skills to resolve any type of differences and conflicts non-violently.

Afghan Peace Builders Humanitarian Organization (APBHO) strategically implements sustainable economic empowerment/asset creation, time-critical emergency responses with various commodities including Food and Non-Food Items, research, advocacy, and promotion of peace projects with a cross-cutting focus on youth and women.

Afghan Peace Builders Humanitarian Organization (APBHO) strategically implements sustainable economic empowerment/asset creation, time-critical emergency responses with various commodities including Food and Non-Food Items, research, advocacy, and promotion of peace projects with a cross-cutting focus on youth and women.

Position Summary

Position Summary Position Summary

The Business Development/Women's Empowerment Specialist will lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of business development, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and women's economic empowerment interventions across the Southeast Region. The incumbent will support vulnerable women, returnees, IDPs, youth, self-help groups (SHGs), cooperatives, and micro-enterprises to improve their livelihoods, access markets, and achieve sustainable economic growth.

The Business Development/Women's Empowerment Specialist will lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of business development, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and women's economic empowerment interventions across the Southeast Region. The incumbent will support vulnerable women, returnees, IDPs, youth, self-help groups (SHGs), cooperatives, and micro-enterprises to improve their livelihoods, access markets, and achieve sustainable economic growth.

The position will work closely with government institutions, private-sector actors, financial institutions, community structures, and development partners to strengthen local economic opportunities and promote women's participation in economic activities.

The position will work closely with government institutions, private-sector actors, financial institutions, community structures, and development partners to strengthen local economic opportunities and promote women's participation in economic activities.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Key Duties and Responsibilities Key Duties and Responsibilities Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Business Development and Entrepreneurship

1. Business Development and Entrepreneurship 1. Business Development and Entrepreneurship

• Conduct market assessments and identify viable business opportunities for women and vulnerable households.
• Develop business development strategies and livelihood improvement plans.
• Support beneficiaries in preparing business plans and business growth plans.
• Provide coaching and mentoring services to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
• Promote entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities among project beneficiaries.
• Facilitate access to startup resources and business support services.

Conduct market assessments and identify viable business opportunities for women and vulnerable households.

Conduct market assessments and identify viable business opportunities for women and vulnerable households.

Develop business development strategies and livelihood improvement plans.

Develop business development strategies and livelihood improvement plans.

Support beneficiaries in preparing business plans and business growth plans.

Support beneficiaries in preparing business plans and business growth plans.

Provide coaching and mentoring services to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Provide coaching and mentoring services to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Promote entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities among project beneficiaries.

Promote entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities among project beneficiaries.

Facilitate access to startup resources and business support services.

Facilitate access to startup resources and business support services.

2. Women's Economic Empowerment

2. Women's Economic Empowerment 2. Women's Economic Empowerment Women's Economic Empowerment

• Lead women's economic empowerment initiatives across project target areas.
• Promote women's participation in income-generating activities and local economic development.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of women-led businesses and enterprises.
• Facilitate the formation and strengthening of women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
• Build women's leadership, negotiation, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Identify and address barriers limiting women's participation in economic activities.

Lead women's economic empowerment initiatives across project target areas.

Lead women's economic empowerment initiatives across project target areas.

Promote women's participation in income-generating activities and local economic development.

Promote women's participation in income-generating activities and local economic development.

Support the establishment and strengthening of women-led businesses and enterprises.

Support the establishment and strengthening of women-led businesses and enterprises.

Facilitate the formation and strengthening of women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

Facilitate the formation and strengthening of women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

Build women's leadership, negotiation, communication, and decision-making skills.

Build women's leadership, negotiation, communication, and decision-making skills.

Identify and address barriers limiting women's participation in economic activities.

Identify and address barriers limiting women's participation in economic activities.

3. Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy

3. Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy 3. Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy 3. Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy

• Conduct financial literacy training for beneficiaries.
• Promote savings culture through SHGs, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and community savings groups.
• Facilitate beneficiaries' access to financial institutions and financial services.

Conduct financial literacy training for beneficiaries.

Conduct financial literacy training for beneficiaries.

Promote savings culture through SHGs, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and community savings groups.

Promote savings culture through SHGs, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and community savings groups.

Facilitate beneficiaries' access to financial institutions and financial services.

Facilitate beneficiaries' access to financial institutions and financial services.

• Train beneficiaries on:
  • Household budgeting
  • Savings and investment
  • Financial planning
  • Loan management
  • Record keeping
  • Business financial management

Train beneficiaries on:

• Household budgeting
• Savings and investment
• Financial planning
• Loan management
• Record keeping
• Business financial management

Train beneficiaries on: Train beneficiaries on: Train beneficiaries on:

• Household budgeting
• Savings and investment
• Financial planning
• Loan management
• Record keeping
• Business financial management

Household budgeting

Household budgeting

Savings and investment

Savings and investment

Financial planning

Financial planning

Loan management

Loan management

Record keeping

Record keeping

Business financial management

Business financial management

4. Capacity Building and Training

4. Capacity Building and Training 4. Capacity Building and Training 4. Capacity Building and Training

• Develop and deliver training modules on:
  • Entrepreneurship Development
  • Business Planning
  • Marketing and Sales
  • Customer Service
  • Financial Literacy
  • Cooperative Management
  • Leadership Development
  • Women's Empowerment
  • Market Systems Development

Develop and deliver training modules on:

• Entrepreneurship Development
• Business Planning
• Marketing and Sales
• Customer Service
• Financial Literacy
• Cooperative Management
• Leadership Development
• Women's Empowerment
• Market Systems Development

Develop and deliver training modules on: Develop and deliver training modules on:

• Entrepreneurship Development
• Business Planning
• Marketing and Sales
• Customer Service
• Financial Literacy
• Cooperative Management
• Leadership Development
• Women's Empowerment
• Market Systems Development

Entrepreneurship Development

Entrepreneurship Development

Business Planning

Business Planning

Marketing and Sales

Marketing and Sales

Customer Service

Customer Service

Financial Literacy

Financial Literacy

Cooperative Management

Cooperative Management

Leadership Development

Leadership Development

Women's Empowerment

Women's Empowerment

Market Systems Development

Market Systems Development

• Organize workshops, exposure visits, and business networking events.
• Provide ongoing mentorship and coaching to beneficiaries.

Organize workshops, exposure visits, and business networking events.

Organize workshops, exposure visits, and business networking events.

Provide ongoing mentorship and coaching to beneficiaries.

Provide ongoing mentorship and coaching to beneficiaries.

5. Market Linkages and Private Sector Engagement

5. Market Linkages and Private Sector Engagement 5. Market Linkages and Private Sector Engagement 5. Market Linkages and Private Sector Engagement

• Facilitate market linkages between beneficiaries and local, regional, and national buyers.
• Establish relationships with traders, wholesalers, retailers, and private-sector actors.
• Support product branding, packaging, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Organize business-to-business meetings and market promotion events.
• Identify market opportunities and emerging value chains for beneficiaries.

Facilitate market linkages between beneficiaries and local, regional, and national buyers.

Facilitate market linkages between beneficiaries and local, regional, and national buyers.

Establish relationships with traders, wholesalers, retailers, and private-sector actors.

Establish relationships with traders, wholesalers, retailers, and private-sector actors.

Support product branding, packaging, and quality improvement initiatives.

Support product branding, packaging, and quality improvement initiatives.

Organize business-to-business meetings and market promotion events.

Organize business-to-business meetings and market promotion events.

Identify market opportunities and emerging value chains for beneficiaries.

Identify market opportunities and emerging value chains for beneficiaries.

6. Cooperative and Self-Help Group Development

6. Cooperative and Self-Help Group Development 6. Cooperative and Self-Help Group Development 6. Cooperative and Self-Help Group Development

• Facilitate the formation and strengthening of cooperatives and self-help groups.
• Support governance, leadership, and financial management systems of community groups.
• Assist groups in developing sustainability and business plans.
• Strengthen institutional capacities of community-based organizations.

Facilitate the formation and strengthening of cooperatives and self-help groups.

Facilitate the formation and strengthening of cooperatives and self-help groups.

Support governance, leadership, and financial management systems of community groups.

Support governance, leadership, and financial management systems of community groups.

Assist groups in developing sustainability and business plans.

Assist groups in developing sustainability and business plans.

Strengthen institutional capacities of community-based organizations.

Strengthen institutional capacities of community-based organizations.

7. Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Building

7. Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Building 7. Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Building 7. Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Building

• Coordinate with:
  • Chambers of Commerce
  • Financial institutions
  • Community leaders
  • Private-sector partners

Coordinate with:

• Chambers of Commerce
• Financial institutions
• Community leaders
• Private-sector partners

Coordinate with: Coordinate with:

• Chambers of Commerce
• Financial institutions
• Community leaders
• Private-sector partners

Chambers of Commerce

Chambers of Commerce

Financial institutions

Financial institutions

Community leaders

Community leaders

Private-sector partners

Private-sector partners

• Represent the organization in technical meetings, workshops, and coordination forums.
• Establish strategic partnerships that enhance project impact and sustainability.

Represent the organization in technical meetings, workshops, and coordination forums.

Represent the organization in technical meetings, workshops, and coordination forums.

Establish strategic partnerships that enhance project impact and sustainability.

Establish strategic partnerships that enhance project impact and sustainability.

8. Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Reporting

8. Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Reporting 8. Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Reporting 8. Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Reporting

• Conduct regular field monitoring visits.
• Track beneficiary progress against project indicators.
• Maintain accurate project records and databases.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual technical reports.
• Document lessons learned, success stories, and best practices.
• Support assessments, evaluations, and donor reporting requirements.

Conduct regular field monitoring visits.

Conduct regular field monitoring visits.

Track beneficiary progress against project indicators.

Track beneficiary progress against project indicators.

Maintain accurate project records and databases.

Maintain accurate project records and databases.

Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual technical reports.

Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual technical reports.

Document lessons learned, success stories, and best practices.

Document lessons learned, success stories, and best practices.

Support assessments, evaluations, and donor reporting requirements.

Support assessments, evaluations, and donor reporting requirements.

Education Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, or any other relevant field is required.

Education Requirements: Education Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, or any other relevant field is required.

Professional Experience

Professional Experience Professional Experience

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in business development, livelihood programming, entrepreneurship development, women's economic empowerment, market systems development, or economic recovery projects.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering business development and financial literacy training programs.
• Proven experience supporting women-owned businesses, producer groups, self-help groups, cooperatives, and small enterprises.
• Experience working with NGOs, INGOs, UN Agencies, or donor-funded development projects.
• Experience in facilitating market linkages and private-sector engagement initiatives.
• Previous experience working in the Southeast Region is highly desirable. 

Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in business development, livelihood programming, entrepreneurship development, women's economic empowerment, market systems development, or economic recovery projects.

Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in business development, livelihood programming, entrepreneurship development, women's economic empowerment, market systems development, or economic recovery projects.

Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering business development and financial literacy training programs.

Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering business development and financial literacy training programs.

Proven experience supporting women-owned businesses, producer groups, self-help groups, cooperatives, and small enterprises.

Proven experience supporting women-owned businesses, producer groups, self-help groups, cooperatives, and small enterprises.

Experience working with NGOs, INGOs, UN Agencies, or donor-funded development projects.

Experience working with NGOs, INGOs, UN Agencies, or donor-funded development projects.

Experience in facilitating market linkages and private-sector engagement initiatives.

Experience in facilitating market linkages and private-sector engagement initiatives.

Previous experience working in the Southeast Region is highly desirable. 

Previous experience working in the Southeast Region is highly desirable. 

Required Skills and Competencies

Required Skills and Competencies Required Skills and Competencies Required Skills and Competencies

• Business Development and Entrepreneurship
• Women's Economic Empowerment
• Financial Literacy and Financial Inclusion
• Market Systems and Value Chain Development
• Training and Facilitation Skills
• Stakeholder Engagement and Networking
• Project Planning and Management
• Monitoring and Reporting
• Strong Communication and Presentation Skills
• Leadership and Team Management
• Problem Solving and Analytical Thinking
• Excellent Report Writing Skills.

Business Development and Entrepreneurship

Business Development and Entrepreneurship

Women's Economic Empowerment

Women's Economic Empowerment

Financial Literacy and Financial Inclusion

Financial Literacy and Financial Inclusion

Market Systems and Value Chain Development

Market Systems and Value Chain Development

Training and Facilitation Skills

Training and Facilitation Skills

Stakeholder Engagement and Networking

Stakeholder Engagement and Networking

Project Planning and Management

Project Planning and Management

Monitoring and Reporting

Monitoring and Reporting

Strong Communication and Presentation Skills

Strong Communication and Presentation Skills

Leadership and Team Management

Leadership and Team Management

Problem Solving and Analytical Thinking

Problem Solving and Analytical Thinking

Excellent Report Writing Skills.

Excellent Report Writing Skills.

Languages: Fluency in Pashto, Dari, and English (Required)

Languages: Languages: Fluency in Pashto, Dari, and English (Required)

Computer Skills: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook & Data Management and Reporting Tools.

Computer Skills: Computer Skills: Computer Skills: Microsoft Word , , Microsoft Excel , , Microsoft PowerPoint , , Microsoft Outlook & Data Management and Reporting Tools.

Applications that do not include the position name and vacancy number (APBHO-PK-GH-2026-01) in the email subject line will not be considered. Interested and qualified applicants should submit their resume, application form, and letter of interest as a single PDF file to jobs@apbho.org by June 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Please ensure the attachment size does not exceed 2 MB to avoid disqualification.

Applications that do not include the  position name and vacancy number (APBHO-PK-GH-2026-01) position name and vacancy number (APBHO-PK-GH-2026-01) in the email subject line will not be considered. Interested and qualified applicants should submit their resume, application form, and letter of interest as a single PDF file to  jobs@apbho.org jobs@apbho.org by June 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM June 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM . Please ensure the attachment size does not exceed  2 MB 2 MB to avoid disqualification.

Download link to the application form: Click here, https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1cpj7nD-_ctd2gKw8fAPrkUH1ILbIjkcC

Download link to the application form: Click here,  https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1cpj7nD-_ctd2gKw8fAPrkUH1ILbIjkcC https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1cpj7nD-_ctd2gKw8fAPrkUH1ILbIjkcC https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1cpj7nD-_ctd2gKw8fAPrkUH1ILbIjkcC https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1cpj7nD-_ctd2gKw8fAPrkUH1ILbIjkcC

Applications with insufficient, incomplete, and inconsistent information to make a determination will not be considered. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, due to the large number of applications, only those short-listed for written test and interview will be contacted. 

Applications with insufficient, incomplete, and inconsistent information to make a determination will not be considered. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, due to the large number of applications, only those short-listed for written test and interview will be contacted. 

APBHO is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, or physical or mental handicap.

APBHO is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, or physical or mental handicap.