Background of organization

Afghanistan National Horticulture Development Organisation (ANHDO) is a national non-governmental, non-profit, and non-political organisation registered with the Ministry of Economy and established in April 2009. The development of ANHDO is part of the European Union's (EU) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock's (MAIL) long-term strategy for the development of horticulture sector in Afghanistan. Since then, ANHDO has developed into an important institution for horticulture development by comparing, among other things, skilled and experienced Afghan professional organisations in the horticulture sector. ANHDO is operating in close coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) based on a separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Hence, ANHDO is a cornerstone of the long-term strategy for the development of the horticulture sector in Afghanistan.

 ANHDO is currently looking for a Participatory Appraisal Senior Officer for its project "Promoting resilient and equitable recovery of agriculture and livelihoods in Afghan communities (PREVALE) in Takhar-Faryab, Paktika, Daikundi, and Samangan provinces, Afghanistan”, which is funded by FCDO.

Position Summary:
 

The senior Officer of Participatory Appraisal is crucial to ensuring inclusive, community led development within target communities. The core responsibility of senior Officer of Participatory Appraisal is to facilitate substantiate community inclusion through participatory appraisal approaches, such as PRA sessions, social mapping, transect walks, focus group discussions, and social gatherings. He will work closely with community members, particularly vulnerable groups, women, and youth, to foster ownership, inclusivity, and representation in project activities and decision-making processes.

By designing and implementing participatory exercises, the Senior Officer of Participatory Appraisal helps capture the local realities, priorities, and concerns that inform project planning and technical interventions. The senior Officer of Participatory Appraisal serves as a mentor and capacity builder by training local facilitators and community champions and promoting leadership and resilience within communities. He plays a crucial role in building trust through culturally sensitive engagement, ethical conduct, and effective communication.

Additionally, he regularly coordinates logistics for community activities, documents community insights, and provides regular updates and reports to the project teams. He serves as a vital link between communities and project stakeholders, ensuring that community voices are heard/reflected in project design, implementation, and evaluation. His work lays the groundwork for sustainable development by translating grassroots insights into actionable interventions rooted in local needs and perspectives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Organize PRA sessions, community mapping, transect walks, focus groups, and social gatherings in designated areas.
• Engage community members, especially vulnerable groups, women and youth to ensure inclusive participation and ownership.
• Ensure participatory processes are accessible and equitable, with 50% women participants where possible.
• Gather data through PRA tools, ensuring accuracy and cultural sensitivity; document findings for analysis.
• Bridge communities and project teams, ensuring community priorities inform project design and implementation.
• Support capacity development by training local facilitators and champions, fostering leadership and community resilience.
• Manage logistics for community meetings, workshops, and field activities.
• Prepare presentations for stakeholders and progress reports on community participation.
• Coordinate with the provincial mobilizer, program officer, and assistant to integrate community insights into reports.
• Monitor the effectiveness of participatory approaches and incorporate lessons learned.
• Identify local champions and support capacity development initiatives.
• Maintain ethical standards and cultural sensitivity during engagements.
• Host validation workshops and feedback sessions with community members.

• Education: A bachelor’s degree or higher in agriculture, community development, social sciences, or related fields is preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 3-5 years of field experience in participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and community engagement, particularly in rural or challenging environments.
• Skills: Excellent facilitation, interpersonal, and organisational skills; strong ability to engage diverse community groups; empathy, cultural sensitivity, and respect for local customs; effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Languages: Fluency in local languages spoken in the target areas; proficiency in English is desirable for reporting and documentation.
• Other: Demonstrated ability to work effectively in difficult or remote settings; dedicated to promoting inclusivity, gender equality, and community empowerment; ability to adapt approaches to different cultural contexts and ensure ethical standards are upheld

Please submit a CV, a cover letter explaining how your qualifications and experience meet the requirements of the position, the contact information of 3 professional references, and your salary history spanning the past 3 years.

Applications must include all requested documents and be sent to the following address: jobs@anhdo.org.af

Please clearly mention the vacancy number and job title in the subject line (Participatory Appraisal Senior Officer/ANHDO/25/006). Applications without subject lines will not be considered.

Note: Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.