1. Key Responsibilities
1.1 Project-Specific Responsibilities
Ø Provide technical leadership for school and household waste management, plastic reduction, rainwater harvesting, participatory climate-risk mapping, community climate micro-projects, tree planting/protection, bio-briquette technology, and youth-led environmental innovation.
Ø Develop technically sound specifications, screening tools, environmental and social mitigation measures, training curricula, field protocols, maintenance guidance, and quality-verification criteria.
Ø Conduct baseline/site assessments and regular monitoring in Kabul and Balkh; verify ecological suitability, survival or functionality, safe use, community ownership, and sustainability of interventions.
Ø Train staff, teachers, students, households, women’s groups, youth, community actors, and partners using participatory and locally appropriate methods.
Ø Analyse environmental results and risks; provide corrective recommendations; and contribute verified technical data, lessons, case evidence, and recommendations to donor reports and knowledge products.
1.2 Functional Responsibilities
Ø Provide context-appropriate technical advice on climate adaptation and mitigation, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity, waste management, water and soil conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and environmental awareness, as relevant to the project.
Ø Conduct or support environmental assessments, baseline studies, site screening, field verification, consultations, and technical feasibility reviews using approved methodologies.
Ø Prepare technical designs, guidance notes, bills or specifications, training materials, field protocols, and environmental management measures within the officer’s professional competence.
Ø Screen proposed activities for environmental and social risks; develop proportionate mitigation actions; monitor compliance; and immediately escalate serious or unforeseen impacts.
Ø Ensure technical activities reflect do-no-harm, climate-risk, conflict-sensitivity, gender and inclusion, occupational safety, and local ecological knowledge.
Ø Train and coach staff, volunteers, community groups, schools, and partners on relevant environmental practices and support participatory environmental action.
Ø Establish and monitor technically sound indicators; verify environmental outputs and outcomes; analyse field data; and contribute evidence to reports and learning products.
Ø Liaise with relevant technical departments, academic institutions, specialists, community leaders, and environmental networks to support quality and coordination.
Ø Document lessons, case evidence, innovations, maintenance requirements, and sustainability arrangements for environmental interventions.
Ø Promote resource-efficient operations, including waste reduction, responsible purchasing, energy and water conservation, and low-impact events and field practices.
1.3 Coordination, Reporting and Learning
Ø Maintain effective working relationships with relevant internal functions and authorize external stakeholders.
Ø Provide accurate and timely inputs to monthly, quarterly, annual, donor, management, and ad hoc reports as relevant to the position.
Ø Document implementation challenges, corrective actions, good practices, lessons learned, and recommendations for adaptive management and future programming.
Ø Participate in planning, review, coordination, and learning meetings and follow through on assigned actions.
1.4 Safety, Security, Gender, Inclusion and Safeguarding
Ø Comply with SWOE safety and security procedures and contribute actively to individual and team duty of care.
Ø Integrate gender equality, youth participation, disability inclusion, cultural sensitivity, conflict sensitivity, and do-no-harm principles into assigned work.
Ø Uphold the code of conduct and zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, child abuse, discrimination, retaliation, fraud, corruption, and conflicts of interest.
Ø Protect confidential and personal information; obtain informed consent; and immediately report safeguarding, security, fraud, or serious environmental and social concerns through authorized channels.
2. Key Working Relationships
Internal: Project Manager; project team; MEAL/accountability; finance and administration; human resources; safeguarding/security focal points; and senior management. External: relevant line ministries and local authorities, communities, schools, universities, youth and women’s groups, civil society, suppliers/service providers, media, donors, and partners, as appropriate to the role and delegated authority.
3. Qualifications and Experience
Ø Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, climate change, forestry, natural-resource management, ecology, agriculture, water resources, environmental engineering, or a related field; a master’s degree is an advantage.
Ø At least three years of relevant technical and field experience in Afghanistan or a comparable fragile and climate-vulnerable context.
Ø Experience with environmental assessment/screening, community-based natural-resource management, environmental education, or climate-resilience programming.
Ø Ability to analyse environmental data and produce clear technical reports and practical recommendations.
Ø Proficiency in Dari and/or Pashto and working English.
4. Required Competencies
Ø Environmental analysis and technical accuracy
Ø Field assessment and problem solving
Ø Participatory facilitation
Ø Safeguards and risk awareness
Ø Evidence-based reporting
Ø Respect for local knowledge and ecological integrity
Ø Proven ability to analyse problems, identify practical solutions, and work effectively under changing field conditions.
Ø Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant project, financial, HR, communication, or data-management systems.
