Capacity Strengthening Specialist

The Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief and Development (ACBAR) is an independent forum founded in 1988 in response to the demand from NGOs working with Afghan refugees in Pakistan and across the border in Afghanistan to more efficiently coordinate assistance and delivery of services. With its main office in Kabul since 2002, and seven regional offices supporting our work across the country, ACBAR brings together more than 200 National and International NGOs working in all sectors of humanitarian assistance and development in Afghanistan. ACBAR’s strategic pillars of service to its members include coordination and information sharing, advocacy for enabling environments, and supporting capacity strengthening and organizational development for our members.  ACBAR has a mission to provide an efficient platform for members to carry out effective humanitarian, development, and peace building activities in Afghanistan. The members are the drive behind ACBAR, and their active participation is essential to ACBAR’s continued dynamism.

For more than ten years, ACBAR has supported its members with programs designed to raise the internal capacity of national and local NGO’s to successfully acquire and implement humanitarian and development programs.  Through the various “Twinning” programs that ACBAR has implemented, more than 100 NGO partners have received this support, with many going on to become strong, influential NGO leaders across the country.  But as the operating context and funding environment continues to change, ACBAR will transition our capacity strengthening program to a service-oriented model that builds off the knowledge and experience we have gained as an organization under past programs, while making our services accessible to more members and more fit-for-purpose in the current environment.

RESPONSIBILITY SUMMARY 
ACBAR is hiring a Capacity Strengthening (CS) Specialist to provide direct technical support to national and local NGO’s who request services from ACBAR’s Capacity Strengthening Support Services Team.  The CS Specialist will develop tailored support plans to assist NGOs to make improvements based upon specific organizational needs and goals.  The CS Specialist will be responsible to work with the NGO’s assigned to their case load, ensuring that they meet the goals of their support plan, demonstrate tangible improvements, make correction as needed when goals are not being met, and conduct follow up assessments to determine how well the capacity support program has been adopted and implemented by the organization.
ACBAR will hire the CS Specialist based upon four key categories of services we will offer to NGOs:
Program Development and Acquisition: The CS Specialist will support NGOs to improve their ability to design and develop new programs, as well as supporting their capacity to write new concept notes and proposals, develop proposal submissions, and engage with donors and funders. 
Program Management and Field-Level Implementation: The CS Specialist will support NGOs to improve the implementation of their programs, including developing and following work plans, supporting their ability to technically implement programs in the field, manage budgets, conducting regular monitoring, and provide timely reporting concerning their programs. 
Organizational and Operational Capacity: The CS Specialist will support organizations to improve their internal capacity, reviewing and improving current policies, procedures and structure to ensure their organization meets basic practices for operational performance in finance, HR, procurement, logistics, IT/data management, and other key operational areas. 
Accountability and Inclusion: The CS Specialist will support organizations to assess how their programs can better reflect the needs of the communities in which the work, particularly for affected populations, and to develop plans to improve how their activities can reach a greater number of people based on their needs.
ESSENTIAL TASKS AND DELIVERABLES
The CS Specialist will be required to fulfill the following tasks: 
Develop capacity strengthening support plans for assigned NGO’s who are part of their case load, assessing what needs the organization has based upon specific goals or identified gaps articulated by the organization.

Provide direct mentoring support to national and local NGO’s who request specific capacity strengthening support from ACBAR based upon the agreed upon support plan. 
Support the development and implementation of monitoring and assessment tools, as well as programmatic follow-up mechanisms, to assess the impact of project activities. 
Working closely with the MEAL team, conduct regular follow up and monitoring visits and engagement with NGOs to gauge the progress of implementing their support plans and to assess the impact of services offered. 
Travel to regional offices to support on capacity strengthening service delivery to local NGO’s not based in Kabul based upon the assigned caseload. 
Support the development of written reports, success stories and social media pieces that will provide timely updates to ACBAR members, donors, partners and the public on the effectiveness of the services provided. 
As requested, support training department activities at the national and sub-national level to ensure integration between capacity strengthening activities and the technical trainings provided to NGO staff members.
Support any other tasks assigned by the direct line manager or the Head of Programs to support the successful implementation of capacity strengthening activities within the program.

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited academic institution, preferably in humanitarian or development studies, training/education, and/or management or business, Master’s Degree preferred.
Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience leading and managing humanitarian or development programs with an international or national NGO. Specific expertise may be either in program implementation or program administration/operations.
The Capacity Strengthening Specialist shall possess demonstrated expertise in data management, digital transformation, and the development of Management Information Systems (MIS) for organizational functions, including Human Resources, Procurement, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), and general operations. The Specialist must be highly proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel and Access, including database development, automation, dashboards, reporting, and data analysis, and have proven experience utilizing and recommending appropriate free and premium online platforms, portals, applications, and digital tools to improve organizational efficiency, data quality, reporting, decision-making, and institutional performance. 
Specific Experience on at least one of the following:
Program Development and Acquisition: Minimum five years of experience developing new humanitarian and development programs, including experience writing new grant proposals and concept notes, developing key program documents for new programs, and proven experience working and engaging with institutional donors, the UN and other funding sources.
Program Management and Implementation: Minimum five years of experience managing projects at the field level, with proven success at completing project work plans, delivering sound and quality programs with community support, managing administrative requirements of grant implementation, and demonstrated experience monitoring, evaluating and reporting on program implementation. 
Organizational and Operational Capacity: Minimum five years of experience managing the internal operational departments of an NGO, with a background including previous work in finance, procurement, administration, etc., with experience in a senior management role preferred.  Additionally, the applicant should demonstrate proven experience developing quality internal procedures and policies of an NGO. 
Accountability and Inclusion: Minimum five years of experience leading accountability and inclusion for women, girls, people with disability and affected populations within NGO programs, as well as proven experience provide direct supporting engaging community leaders and other community stakeholders for successful program implementation.  Knowledge of AAP best practices is preferred.  

OTHER REQUIRED SKILLS:
Excellent writing and verbal skills in English, as well as in either Dari or Pashto. 
Demonstrated experience supporting national or local NGO partners to improve their capacity through your experience working for NGOs in a specific specialty. 
Proven experience developing program documents, operating procedures and manuals, work plans, progress reports, etc. necessary to successfully implement ongoing programs. 
Demonstrated ability to be a self-starter and ability to independently manage tasks.
Demonstrated to commitment to accountability, equity and inclusion in leading project teams and program implementation.
Ability and commitment to work well within a team, and willingness to provide support for tasks of other team members that may not fall directly within your job

If you possess the necessary qualifications and experience, we invite you to complete the form using the link provided below by November. 03, 2026.  Prepare your CV and cover letter as a single file before applying; you will have to attach them.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Notes:

Please be informed that the written test and interview will be conducted only in person.

Job Application Form Link: https://form.acbar.org/app/form?id=RuBNfQ