Social Worker / Local Recruitment

Background

Equality for Peace and Development Organization (EPDO) is an Afghan non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 2010 to empower women and youth at the community and policy level in Afghanistan. EPDO envisions Afghanistan as a peaceful, prosperous, and welfare state where all Afghans enjoy equal rights without discrimination. Therefore, EPDO aims to increase the capacity of vulnerable groups, especially women and youth, to enable them to represent their needs in all aspects of development. EPDO focuses on various spectrums of peace, security, livelihood, and development in Afghanistan — ranging from the salient need for humanitarian assistance, economic empowerment, and continuous development processes, to long-term projects for sustainable peace.

Job Summary

The Social Worker is responsible for managing and facilitating community-level social work activities at the district level. This role is critical in ensuring the effective implementation of project activities, including community needs assessments, data collection, community mobilization, and awareness-raising. The Social Worker will serve as the primary liaison between the project team, vulnerable community members, and government. Key focus areas include the identification and selection of beneficiaries for vocational training, as well as providing frontline case management and facilitating safe referral pathways for women and girls in need of protection and livelihood services

Key Roles and Responsibilities

A. Community Mobilization & Coordination

·         Establish and maintain strong, trusting working relationships with target communities, community leaders, elders, and local government offices.

·         Facilitate regular coordination meetings between project staff, local authorities, and community members to ensure smooth, transparent, and culturally appropriate project implementation.

·         Organize and lead community awareness sessions and outreaches on topics such as children's rights, GBV prevention, and community resilience, utilizing Behavior Change Communication (BCC) models.

B. Assessment, Data Collection & Beneficiary Selection

·         Conduct thorough, participatory community needs assessments to identify the most vulnerable women and girls.

·         Manage the transparent selection process for beneficiaries targeted for vocational skills training, case management, referral, and PSS services.

·         Ensure accurate, timely, and confidential data collection and documentation in line with project M&E frameworks and data protection policies.

C. Case Management & Referral Pathways

·         Identify vulnerable individuals requiring protection or specialized support and provide frontline psychosocial support and basic case management.

·         Identify, establish, and strengthen safe and effective referral mechanisms for survivors of GBV or those in need of legal, medical, or specialized protection services.

D. Reporting & Team Collaboration

·         Gather feedback from local leaders and beneficiaries regarding project activities and promptly share structured reports with the Project Team Leader.

·         Collaborate closely with the broader project team (including M&E, Case Manager, and admin and finance in charge officer) to ensure integrated and coordinated service delivery.

·         Perform any other related duties as assigned by the supervisor to support the overall objectives of the project.

Job Requirements:

·         Minimum High school graduation, preference will be given to Bachelor

·         Minimum 3 years work experience in related field 

·         Aware of the community’s good and bad practices including the context of working and adopting oneself to the community norms.

·         Experience in applying Behavior Change Communication models.

·         Fluency in oral and written communication in Pashto, including representation, liaison and negotiation skills.

Education:

·         Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Community Development, or a related field is strongly preferred.

·         Note: Candidates with a High School diploma and extensive, highly relevant field experience will be considered.

Experience:

·         Minimum of 3 years of professional work experience in social work, community mobilization, case management, or livelihood support, preferably within the humanitarian or development sector in Afghanistan.

·         Proven experience in applying Behavior Change Communication (BCC) models and facilitating community dialogues.

Knowledge & Skills:

·         Deep understanding of the local context, including community norms, cultural sensitivities, and good/bad practices, with the ability to adapt and navigate the working environment safely and respectfully.

·         Strong knowledge of GBV & PSEA guiding principles, case management protocols, and referral pathways.

·         Excellent representation, liaison, and negotiation skills, with the ability to build rapport with diverse stakeholders, including community members and government representatives.

Language:

Fluency in oral and written Pashto is required. (Proficiency in Dari and/or English is considered a strong asset).

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application (CV and Cover letter in one PDF file) by email to
admin@epdo-afg.org (mailto:admin@epdo-afg.org)
Please write the position title, VA# and Province in the subject line of your email otherwise your application will not be considered.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.