Social Mobilisation Specialist / Social and Environmental Safeguard Specialist (Subject to donor approval)

About REHA:

Resilience, Environment, and Humanitarian Aid (REHA) is a national NGO registered with the Afghan Ministry of Economy, specializing in environmental protection, climate change, disaster risk reduction, and cross-cutting areas such as agriculture, livelihood support, and humanitarian assistance. REHA employs a balanced approach, combining “hard” interventions (e.g., infrastructure, resource management) with “soft” interventions (e.g., capacity building, advocacy) to address the needs of communities affected by climate and humanitarian crises.

REHA’s unique strengths include designing and implementing advocacy campaigns, conducting capacity-building training, performing risk and vulnerability assessments, developing policies, and raising awareness. These efforts are complemented by physical interventions and community empowerment and development initiatives aimed at building resilience against natural and man-made disasters, emergencies, and climate change impacts.

With over 20 years of expertise, REHA’s team excels in climate change governance, disaster risk management, and environmental protection, supported by strong capabilities in program management, organizational strengthening, and financial and operational oversight.

About the Project:

Project Name: Community-Based Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS)
REHA proposes a 12-month project under UNDP’s Afghanistan Community Resilience Programme to establish two inclusive, community-based Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in Bala Murghab and Qadis districts of Badghis Province. The project will strengthen local capacity to anticipate, communicate and respond to floods, droughts, earthquakes, landslides and other hazards through risk assessments, localized warning protocols, practical monitoring tools, preparedness plans and simulation drills. It will train 40 community representatives, including at least 30 percent women, and reach 400 people through awareness and drills. By linking community systems with district and provincial institutions, the project will reduce disaster risks, protect lives and livelihoods, and strengthen long-term community resilience.

Position Summary:

Subject to donor approval, the two Social Mobilisation Specialists / Social and Environmental Safeguard Specialists will lead inclusive community engagement and safeguard implementation for the Community-Based Multi-Hazard Early Warning System project in Bala Murghab and Qadis districts of Badghis Province. They will mobilize communities, support participatory assessments, facilitate the selection and training of community representatives, promote meaningful participation of women and vulnerable groups, support awareness and simulation drills, manage community feedback and grievance processes, and monitor environmental and social risks. The positions will report to the Team Lead / Project Manager and work closely with the DRR / EWS Specialists and local stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

1.        Community Entry, Mobilisation and Participation

·       Conduct community entry, stakeholder mapping, introductory meetings and inclusive consultations in coordination with district authorities, community leaders and project technical staff.

·       Mobilize women, men, youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to participate in risk assessments, preparedness planning, training, awareness and simulation drills.

·       Support transparent selection of 40 community representatives, including at least 30 percent women, and establish or strengthen representative community MHEWS structures and focal-point arrangements.

2.       Participatory Assessment and Community Planning

·       Facilitate household and community surveys, focus group discussions, participatory hazard mapping and vulnerability and capacity assessments in the target communities.

·       Document local knowledge, communication preferences, barriers to warning access, protection concerns, seasonal risks and the needs of vulnerable groups.

·       Support communities to prepare inclusive warning dissemination arrangements, evacuation plans, safe routes, assembly points and community roles and responsibilities.

3.       Environmental and Social Safeguards

·       Conduct and document environmental and social screening of project activities, monitoring tools, community events and any minor installation or site-related work.

·       Prepare, implement and monitor proportionate mitigation measures covering health and safety, accessibility, gender, child protection, conflict sensitivity, waste management and community impacts.

·       Ensure compliance with REHA and applicable UNDP environmental and social standards, safeguarding requirements, PSEA commitments and do-no-harm principles.

4.       Feedback, Grievance and Awareness Mechanisms

·       Establish and maintain accessible, confidential and gender-sensitive community feedback and grievance mechanisms and ensure timely referral, response and closure of cases.

·       Support development and delivery of culturally appropriate awareness materials and sessions that reach at least 400 people and explain hazards, warning messages and required actions.

·       Facilitate community participation in simulation drills, gather feedback from diverse groups and support corrective actions to improve inclusion and effectiveness.

5.       Monitoring, Coordination and Reporting

·       Monitor participation, inclusion, community satisfaction, safeguard compliance, grievance trends and the accessibility and reach of warning arrangements.

·       Coordinate with the Team Lead / Project Manager, DRR / EWS Specialists, local authorities, community structures, women’s groups and relevant service providers.

·       Maintain consultation records, survey data, attendance sheets, safeguard checklists, grievance logs, consent records, photos and regular field and progress reports.

Key Deliverables:

·       Inclusive community entry, stakeholder mapping, consultations and community MHEWS structures completed and documented.

·       Forty community representatives selected and engaged, including at least 30 percent women, with participation records maintained.

·       Participatory assessment, community planning, awareness and simulation drill activities facilitated, reaching at least 400 people.

·       Environmental and social screening, mitigation monitoring, safeguarding and accessible grievance mechanisms implemented and documented.

·       Regular social mobilisation, inclusion, safeguard, community feedback and field monitoring reports submitted with corrective actions.

·       Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, International Development, Sociology or another closely related discipline; a master’s degree is an advantage.

·       Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in surveys, social mobilisation and construction or implementation of community-based infrastructure in Afghanistan.

·       Seven or more years of directly relevant experience is strongly preferred.

·       Demonstrated knowledge of participatory community development, gender and social inclusion, environmental and social safeguards, grievance mechanisms, community-based preparedness and conflict-sensitive facilitation.

·       Relevant experience in the assigned province and demonstrated experience implementing UNDP- or other UN agency-funded projects; more than 5 years of such experience is preferred.

·       Strong facilitation, communication, field monitoring, documentation, data collection and report-writing skills, including the ability to work effectively with women and vulnerable groups.

·       Professional proficiency in English, Dari and Pashto is required.

• CV must be under 1MB; no certificates attached.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply via: https://forms.gle/U3buBYxaEJPz2R1Y8

REHA is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equality, transparency, environmental protection, and zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, corruption, and misconduct.

Submission Email: https://forms.gle/U3buBYxaEJPz2R1Y8