Project Manager (Female) (Re Announced)

The Organization for Humanitarian Assistance (OHA) is a non-profit, non-governmental, and non-political organization based in Afghanistan, founded on January 12, 1994. As a cooperative partner of the United Nations and various international organizations, OHA focuses on implementing developmental and humanitarian projects primarily in the southern region of Afghanistan.

OHA is dedicated to advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs) while upholding key humanitarian principles, including participation, transparency, and accountability. Its mission is to alleviate suffering, raise awareness, and empower individuals to achieve self-employment and self-sufficiency at the village, district, and city levels. This approach aims to enhance both rural and urban economies and livelihoods through collaboration with donors and local communities.

The organization operates in several key areas, including:

• Irrigation: Developing canals, culverts, bridges, and flood protection systems.
• Education: Establishing schools, promoting literacy, and conducting awareness campaigns.
• Road Infrastructure: Constructing and enhancing road networks.
• Capacity Building: Providing management training and vocational education.
• Drinking Water: Drilling wells and expanding water supply systems.
• Health Systems: Building healthcare infrastructure.
• Humanitarian Assistance: Offering support during both natural and man-made disasters.

Through these initiatives, OHA works to foster community resilience and improve the overall quality of life for individuals across Afghanistan.

Position Summary

The Project Manager will lead, coordinate, and oversee the implementation of the project establishing and operationalizing two Women Empowerment Hubs (WEHs) in Kandahar Province. This role is responsible for strategic planning, team supervision, donor coordination, compliance with UN Women standards, reporting, and ensuring high-quality delivery of empowerment, livelihood, psychosocial, and community engagement activities. The Project Manager will ensure the WEHs operate as safe, accessible, and well-managed spaces that contribute to women’s socio-economic empowerment and wellbeing.

2. Duties and Responsibilities:-

• Lead the overall planning, implementation, and monitoring of project activities across both WEH locations.
• Develop detailed project work plans, activity schedules, and implementation frameworks.
• Ensure all activities align with the project log-frame, donor requirements, and OHA policies.
• Supervise and support WEH Coordinators, Livelihood Specialists, Health Specialists, Community Mobilizers, Field Monitors, and support staff.
• Ensure strong internal coordination among project teams for smooth and synchronized operations.

• Ensure the WEHs deliver high-quality and relevant services including skills training, livelihood support, psychosocial services, community awareness, and empowerment initiatives.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor operations, evaluate progress, and identify gaps or risks.
• Lead the development of strategies to enhance women’s participation, empowerment outcomes, and learning results.
• Promote a safe, women-friendly, and culturally appropriate environment in all hub activities.

• Manage project budgets, ensure cost-effective use of resources, and compliance with financial guidelines.
• Prepare budget forecasts, cash requests, and expenditure plans.
• Track expenditures and ensure alignment with the approved budget.
• Coordinate timely procurement and distribution of materials, equipment, and supplies for WEHs.

• Serve as the primary focal point for UN Women, government authorities, community leaders, and partner organizations.
• Participate in coordination meetings, donor updates, and stakeholder consultations.
• Build positive relationships with local authorities, vocational institutes, health facilities, and private-sector partners.
• Ensure transparent communication and collaborative relationships with community stakeholders.

• Work closely with the MEAL Officer to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning across WEHs.
• Oversee data collection, assessments, baseline/endline surveys, and quality assurance of reports.
• Prepare accurate and timely weekly, monthly, quarterly, and donor reports.
• Document best practices, challenges, success stories, and lessons learned.
• Ensure compliance with UN Women’s reporting templates, indicators, and documentation standards.

• Ensure WEHs operate in compliance with safeguarding, protection, and confidentiality policies.
• Promote safe programming approaches that protect women and respect local cultural norms.
• Identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and ensure staff understanding of safety protocols.
• Oversee implementation of accountability mechanisms, including complaint/feedback systems.

• Provide supportive supervision, mentoring, and performance management for project staff.
• Conduct regular team meetings, planning sessions, and capacity-building workshops.
• Identify staff development needs and coordinate relevant training opportunities.
• Ensure a positive, collaborative, and ethical work environment.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Business/Public Administration, or related field.
• Master’s degree is an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in project management within NGOs/INGOs or UN-funded projects.
• Strong experience working on women’s empowerment, livelihoods, protection, or community development programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing field teams and multi-component projects.
• Experience in budget management, donor compliance, and reporting for UN agencies is highly preferred.
• Prior work experience in Kandahar or southern Afghanistan is an asset.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and team management abilities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Sound knowledge of gender equality, women’s rights, and empowerment frameworks.
• Strong planning, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• High proficiency in report writing and project documentation.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Fluency in Pashto required; Dari and English are assets.
• Solid computer skills (MS Office Suite).

4. Key Attributes

• Respectful, culturally sensitive, and committed to women’s empowerment.
• High integrity, ethics, and professionalism.
• Strong decision-making abilities and ownership over project outcomes.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing project needs and contexts.
• Ability to build trust with communities, women participants, and stakeholders.

5. Working Conditions

• Primarily based in Kandahar with frequent travel to the two WEH locations.
• Regular interaction with women participants, community leaders, staff, and OHA senior management.
• Must adhere to OHA’s safety, security, safeguarding, and risk management protocols.
• Occasional travel to Kabul for coordination and reporting may be required.

To apply for this position, please use OHA's online recruitment system. You can access the application by clicking the link below or by copying the link into a new tab and following the provided instructions to complete your application.

Link:  http://69.197.177.211/Vacancy/VacancyList_Description?_id=18