ActionAid is a non-governmental & non-profit international organization working towards achieving a world without poverty and injustice in more than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

ActionAid started its activities in Afghanistan in 2002 and was registered in Ministry of Economy of Afghanistan as non-governmental international organization “INGO”.

ActionAid-Afghanistan committed itself a long-term work with poor and excluded sections of the society through the Human Rights Based Development Approach, WASH, and livelihood programs in multiple provinces of Afghanistan.

Job Summary:

The Provincial Watershed and Climate Change Engineer (coordinator) are responsible for the sustainable management of land and water resources within a watershed area. Their work focuses on preventing soil erosion, improving water retention, and promoting conservation practices through the design and implementation of structures like check dams, contour bunds, and rainwater harvesting systems. They also analyze hydrological data and engage local communities to ensure long-term sustainability of watershed interventions.

In contrast, Watershed and Climate Change Engineer (Coordinator) focuses on the coordination with project stakeholder, reporting, survey, design, construction, and maintenance of irrigation infrastructure like check dam, canal, water shed. Their role includes developing irrigation networks, drip irrigation, check dam and establish committees for operation and maintenance of the project. They are also involved in water quality monitoring, hydraulic modeling, and ensuring compliance with safety and environmental standards. Both roles play a critical part in ensuring water resource sustainability, but while watershed engineers focus more on natural resource conservation, water engineers emphasize infrastructure and service delivery.

Job Responsibilities :

• conduct surveys, designs, and BoQ district engineers and for contract work packages of water shed irrigation projects.
• Ensuring adequate technical oversight, including assessing the impact of engineering interventions on habitats, is provided in site selection, survey, and feasibility of the proposed sub projects before finalization of the proposals.
• Carry out technical and feasibility studies and draw up blueprints that satisfy technical specifications with donor requirements.
• Support district engineers for Preparation of summary documents including (Survey, GIS Map, and design of sub projects etc.)
• Provide advice and resolve creatively any emerging problems/deficiency that happen during project implementation at a provincial or district level.
• Oversee and mentor technical staff and liaise technically with a variety of stakeholders at provincial level.
• Providing technical assistance to district engineers, contractors, and other technical staff from each stage of subproject during its implementation period. This includes support and oversight into procurement and financial issues.
• Assists water service providers to develop business continuity plans and build rapid disaster response capacity, including budgets, water safety plans, contingency plans, and personnel to manage proactively and respond to acute shocks and restore water services when strikes.
• Ensuring that the site plan, section, details, and all required maps are completed and prepared as per site condition. In this process, impact assessment of the project element on human and eco system to be considered.
• Contributes to project learning, working with Regional Teams to ensure that gaps in the evidence base are identified and that project learning and results are captured and shared with the broader project team and other stakeholders.
• Collaborates with the Gender Advisor to ensure that gender is meaningfully mainstreamed throughout water services activities.
• Timely monitoring must be done with proper reporting and recommendations.
• Check construction materials in the field before the implementation of the project.
• Reporting the project progress which is under construction to Line Manager and Project coordinator.
• Perform any other duties as required by the line manager.

Any other task assigned by line manager from time to time.

Education & Training:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degrees in civil engineering, Hydraulic and water supply degree will be preferred.  

Training certificates in Engineering software and design are strong assets for the role.

Experience 

• Minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience, including applied experience in Survey & Design of water and irrigation projects.
• Work experience with international / national organization is required and FCDO project is preferable.

Ability to work well with a range of stakeholders, including project -affected peoples, government officials, international and Donors

Technical Skills :

• Experience working with I/NGOs and world bank projects will be preferred.
• Excellent knowledge of community development and social environments.
• Excellent knowledge of design and visualizations software such as GIS, Auto CAD, Civil 3D, water Gems and software for design of irrigation projects or similar
• Proficiency in site layout, grading, utility design, erosion control, regulatory approvals etc.
• Proven management ability and strong interpersonal skills – team player.
•  Problem-solving skills.
•  Proficiency in the most common computer software, including word processing and excel spreadsheets.
•  Ability to deal with difficult, often frustrating work situations.
•  A willingness to live, travel and work in isolated and possibly dangerous locations.
•  Gender sensitivity.
•  Sensitivity to Islamic culture.
•  Commitment to support/develop project staff and rural communities' capacity.
•  Personal integrity and a sense of humor.
•  Knowledge of personal strengths and weaknesses.  

Knowledge of exit strategies and sustainability issues.

If you have the expertise to take on this exciting opportunity, please apply online by sending your CV and motivation cover letter to jobs.kabul@actionaid.org up to November 30, 2025. Please clearly indicate Watershed and Climate Change Engineer/Coordinator - Paktia-1180 in the subject of your email, otherwise, your application will not be considered.

ActionAid Afghanistan welcomes applications from all sections of the community and promotes diversity.  Although all applications will be considered on their individual merit, suitably qualified women candidates are especially encouraged to apply.  

Due to high volumes of applications received, we can only correspond with short-listed applicants. Should you not have received feedback on your application within two weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful. ActionAid Afghanistan will not consider unsolicited candidates from recruitment agencies. We reserve the right to withdraw any of our vacancies at any time. 

ActionAid is an equal opportunity employer.