Livelihoods / Economic Participation Officer

About the role

Way of Hope to Life Organization (WHLO), a non-profit NGO active in Afghanistan since 2002, is recruiting a Livelihoods / Economic Participation Officer. The officer plans, coordinates and implements inclusive, market-oriented livelihood activities that promote economic participation, self-reliance and social cohesion among returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host community members. The role covers market and skills assessments, skills training, market linkages and small-scale enterprise support.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct light market and skills assessments to identify local economic opportunities, beneficiary skills, market demands and potential livelihood activities.
• Design and implement inclusive livelihood interventions such as skills training, market linkages and small-scale enterprise support.
• Facilitate mixed livelihood training groups and shared economic activities involving returnees, IDPs and host community members.
• Coordinate with local businesses, employers, training providers and other stakeholders to connect beneficiaries with skills, employment and markets.
• Support beneficiaries in developing practical livelihood plans and sustainable income-generating activities, with attention to gender, displacement status, disability and other vulnerabilities.
• Ensure activities are conflict-sensitive and inclusive, and coordinate with the Project Manager, Social Protection/Community Support Officer, MHPSS Officer and social mobilizers.
• Maintain records of activities, training and assessments, track participation data by displacement status, gender and disability, and monitor progress and recommend improvements.
• Prepare progress updates, activity reports and beneficiary statistics in line with project requirements and UNDP reporting standards, and contribute to work plans, monitoring tools and final reporting.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Business Administration, Development Studies or a related discipline.
• Two to three years of relevant experience in livelihoods programming, market linkages, economic inclusion or similar development activities.
• Practical experience in market and skills assessments and in coordinating with local economic stakeholders.
• Experience with vulnerable communities (returnees, IDPs, host communities) is an asset.
• Fluency in Pashto and Dari is required; working knowledge of English is required.

Required skills

• Planning, coordination, analysis and reporting skills, especially in market assessment and livelihood opportunity identification.
• Communication, facilitation and stakeholder engagement.
• Knowledge of inclusive programming, community engagement, conflict sensitivity and social cohesion principles.

Candidates apply by email with a CV and cover letter quoting the vacancy number as the subject; academic certificates are requested only at interview. Shortlisted candidates are invited to a written test and interview.