Field Officer

People in Need (PIN) is a Czech organization established in 1992, currently working in around 40 countries on human rights and humanitarian aid. Globally, PIN is recognized as a leading actor in Education in Emergencies and actively contributes to international coordination mechanisms and humanitarian clusters, including education, food security, nutrition, shelter, and WASH. In Afghanistan, PIN has been operating since 2001, delivering humanitarian and development assistance to communities affected by conflict, economic crisis, and natural disasters. Over the years, PIN has established itself as a trusted and experienced actor, with strong acceptance among local communities, authorities, and stakeholders, enabling access to some of the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations. Throughout its presence in the country, PIN has supported over 850,000 people across multiple regions. The Organization has remained operational through periods of significant political and social change, continuing to provide life-saving and resilience-building assistance to more than 250,000 individuals in recent years. It works in key sectors including food security and livelihoods, education in emergencies, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and protection.

The Field Officer works under the direct supervision of the Project Manager/Senior field officer and is responsible for the effective implementation and monitoring of assigned humanitarian project activities in the field. The role involves direct engagement with communities, vulnerable households, local stakeholders, and district level authorities to support the timely delivery of project activities in accordance with approved work plans, SOPs, the Core Humanitarian Standard, and PIN quality standards.

The Field Officer is expected to be proactive, demonstrate initiative, and ensure that assigned tasks are completed efficiently and on time. The role includes conducting field assessments, supporting beneficiary identification and verification, monitoring distributions and other project activities, collecting and reporting accurate data, and identifying implementation challenges. Any issues, risks, or delays must be promptly reported to the Project Manager, with practical recommendations where appropriate.

As a member of the project team, the Field Officer contributes to achieving project objectives in line with the project's approach, methodology, and work plan. The position also promotes community participation, accountability to affected populations, gender and protection mainstreaming, and inclusive access to assistance, while representing PIN professionally and respectfully in all interactions with community members, authorities, and supported populations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Field Officer works under the direct supervision of the Project Manager/ Senior Field officer and supports the implementation of assigned project activities throughout all phases of the project cycle, including project preparation, area targeting and beneficiary selection, distribution preparation, implementation, monitoring, and project close-out. The Field Officer works closely with communities, vulnerable households, local stakeholders, and district-level authorities to facilitate the timely and effective delivery of project activities.

Throughout all phases of implementation, the Field Officer upholds PIN's quality standards and procedures, ensuring accountability to affected populations (AAP), compliance with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), protection and safeguarding, and the confidentiality and protection of community and beneficiary data. The Field Officer also supports inclusive community engagement, identifies implementation challenges, and promptly reports risks, concerns, and operational issues to the Project Manager.

A. Project Preparation, Planning and Data Collection Tools

·        Contribute to the preparation of field activity plans, schedules, and timelines in coordination with the Project Manager/Senior field officer and relevant project team members.

·        Implement assigned activities in accordance with the approved project work plan, implementation methodology, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and defined timelines established by PIN and the donor.

·        Monitor progress against agreed activity plans and deadlines, promptly report delays or deviations to the Project Manager, and propose practical corrective actions.

·        Participate in PIN induction, project briefings, and relevant training sessions to ensure a clear understanding of project objectives, implementation standards, and quality requirements.

·        Support the Project Manager in preparing assessment tools, materials, equipment, and other operational requirements before field activities commence.

·        Ensure a clear understanding of PIN's Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM), safeguarding standards, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) guidelines, and relevant reporting procedures.

·        Apply and comply with approved SOPs for beneficiary selection, distributions, community engagement, and other assigned project activities.

·        Ensure that assigned field activities are planned in advance, necessary arrangements are completed, and field teams understand their respective tasks and responsibilities.

·        Support the preparation and testing of assessment and data collection tools, including KoboToolbox forms, to ensure accuracy, completeness, and suitability before field deployment.

·        Review collected data for completeness, consistency, and accuracy, promptly addressing identified errors and reporting any significant data-quality concerns to the Project Manager. 

B. Area Targeting, Vulnerability Assessment and Beneficiary Selection

·        Support the Project Manager/Field officer in area targeting and identification of eligible communities in coordination with relevant stakeholders, local authorities, community representatives, and technical staff.

·        Support the application of approved vulnerability criteria and beneficiary selection procedures in accordance with project objectives, donor requirements, and PIN's beneficiary selection SOP.

·        Engage with community structures and beneficiary selection committees to facilitate community participation, transparency, and acceptance of the selection process.

·        Conduct or support household visits, needs assessments, interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs) to identify eligible beneficiaries in accordance with the approved methodology.

·        Explain the selection criteria and process to community members in an accessible, transparent, and culturally appropriate manner.

·        Support enumerators in using KoboToolbox, including providing practical guidance on data collection forms and testing the beneficiary selection tool before field deployment.

·        Monitor data collection activities, check the quality and completeness of submitted records, and ensure that data are uploaded within the agreed timelines, preferably at the end of each working day where required by the project plan.

·        Review beneficiary lists against the approved eligibility criteria and available assessment data, and report discrepancies, duplication, potential exclusion, or other concerns to the Project Manager.

·        Maintain the confidentiality and security of beneficiary information in accordance with PIN's data protection policies and procedures.

·        Report complaints, concerns, or suspected interference in the beneficiary selection process through the appropriate reporting channels.

C. Field Activity Implementation and Coordination

·        Implement assigned project activities in accordance with the approved work plan, budget-related operational requirements, project methodology, donor commitments, and agreed implementation schedule.

·        Prepare weekly and daily field plans, as required, identifying planned activities, target locations, required resources, responsible personnel, and expected outputs.

·        Coordinate with the Project Manager, WASH Engineers, Hygiene Promoters, logistics staff, and other relevant team members to ensure that field activities are properly planned and implemented.

·        Communicate activity schedules, responsibilities, and relevant operational arrangements to community representatives, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders in advance.

·        Conduct regular field visits in accordance with the approved monitoring plan to verify implementation progress, activity quality, beneficiary participation, and compliance with project procedures.

·        Monitor assigned activities against planned targets and timelines, maintain accurate records of progress, and promptly report implementation gaps, delays, access constraints, or resource requirements.

·        Support WASH Engineers and Hygiene Promoters in facilitating community access, organizing field activities, coordinating with beneficiaries, and addressing routine operational challenges within the scope of the assigned role.

·        Ensure that project activities are implemented in accordance with approved technical guidance and instructions from the responsible technical staff.

·        Identify practical challenges affecting implementation and communicate them to the Project Manager with recommendations for corrective action.

·        Maintain regular communication with the Project Manager regarding daily progress, upcoming activities, field conditions, and support required to meet project deadlines.

D. Distribution of Assistance

·        Support the Project Manager and Logistics team in preparing distribution plans, beneficiary lists, distribution schedules, required materials, and distribution documentation.

·        Coordinate with selected beneficiaries and community representatives to communicate distribution dates, locations, eligibility requirements, and procedures for safely receiving assistance.

·        Support the preparation of distribution sites, ensuring appropriate access, organized beneficiary flow, and necessary health, safety, and protection measures.

·        Ensure that PIN's CFRM, safeguarding, and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) messages are clearly communicated and accessible to beneficiaries.

·        Participate in and monitor distributions in accordance with PIN's SOPs, Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), donor requirements, and approved distribution procedures.

·        Verify beneficiary identities and eligibility against approved distribution lists and ensure that assistance is recorded accurately and transparently.

·        Ensure that distribution records, attendance sheets, signatures or other required acknowledgements, and supporting documents are completed accurately and submitted within the required timeframe.

·        Observe the distribution process to identify access barriers, protection concerns, irregularities, or risks affecting beneficiaries, and report these promptly through the appropriate channels.

·        Respond to routine beneficiary questions and concerns respectfully and professionally, referring complaints and sensitive cases to the appropriate mechanism.

·        Report distribution progress, actual outputs, discrepancies, and challenges to the Project Manager promptly, including at the end of each distribution day where required.

E. Community Engagement, Accountability, Protection and Inclusion

·        Engage respectfully with communities, beneficiaries, community leaders, and relevant local authorities throughout the project cycle.

·        Promote meaningful community participation in assessments, beneficiary selection, implementation, monitoring, and feedback processes.

·        Ensure that communities and beneficiaries understand the purpose of project activities, eligibility criteria, assistance entitlements, and available feedback and complaint channels.

·        Communicate PIN's CFRM procedures and ensure that beneficiaries know how to raise questions, provide feedback, or submit complaints safely and confidentially.

·        Apply gender and protection mainstreaming principles throughout assigned activities, promoting safe, dignified, and equitable access to assistance.

·        Consider the needs and barriers faced by women, children, older people, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups when planning and implementing field activities.

·        Identify and report safeguarding concerns, protection risks, potential exploitation or abuse, and other sensitive issues through PIN's established reporting mechanisms.

·        Respect confidentiality, informed consent, and data protection requirements when collecting, storing, sharing, or documenting information about beneficiaries.

·        Support conflict-sensitive community engagement and promptly report tensions, disputes, or concerns that may affect beneficiary selection, community acceptance, or project implementation.

F. Monitoring, Risk Management, Reporting and Compliance

·        Monitor assigned activities against approved work plans, indicators, targets, and implementation deadlines, ensuring that progress is documented accurately.

·        Prepare and submit daily, weekly, and monthly field updates, activity reports, beneficiary data, and supporting documentation as required by the Project Manager and project reporting schedule.

·        Provide timely and accurate information to support internal monitoring, donor reporting, progress reviews, and project performance assessments.

·        Identify implementation risks, operational constraints, community concerns, and potential delays, and report them promptly to the Project Manager.

·        Contribute field-level information to project risk assessments and risk registers, as requested, and follow up on agreed mitigation measures within the assigned responsibilities.

·        Report changes in the field context, security conditions, humanitarian needs, access constraints, and other developments that may affect implementation.

·        Comply with PIN's safety and security procedures and instructions, and immediately report security incidents, unsafe conditions, or other urgent concerns through established channels.

·        Ensure that activity records, beneficiary lists, attendance sheets, assessment forms, photographs, and other supporting documents are complete, accurate, properly filed, and submitted within established deadlines.

·        Take photographs or video footage for project documentation or communication purposes only when authorized, in accordance with PIN's communication and data protection policies, and after obtaining and documenting informed consent where required.

·        Follow PIN's internal policies, donor requirements, and applicable project procedures, promptly reporting suspected fraud, misconduct, irregularities, or non-compliance through the appropriate channels.

·        G. Project Close-Out, Handover and Documentation

·        Support the completion and verification of assigned activities within the approved project implementation period.

·        Follow the project close out plan and agreed deadlines to ensure that outstanding field activities, beneficiary records, supporting documents, and reporting requirements are completed on time.

·        Support the handover of completed activities, assets, or services to communities and relevant authorities, where applicable, in coordination with the Project Manager and technical staff.

·        Assist in documenting completed outputs, beneficiary feedback, implementation challenges, lessons learned, and outstanding follow-up actions.

·        Maintain complete, accurate, and well-organized hard-copy and electronic records of assigned project activities in accordance with PIN's filing and document management procedures.

·        Support the preparation of field documentation and information required for project evaluations, audits, donor verification, and other monitoring or accountability exercises.

·        Report outstanding issues and ensure that relevant records and pending actions are handed over to the responsible staff before the end of the assignment or project.

·        Participate in joint assessments or other field activities when requested by PIN to support humanitarian needs analysis, project development, and assistance to vulnerable populations.

H. Other Programme Support

·        Support coordination and follow up of partner activities when assigned by the Project Manager, including field monitoring, documentation review, and reporting of implementation progress and challenges.

·        Assist the Programme Unit in communicating with selected beneficiaries to ensure they understand how, when, and where to receive assistance safely and on time.

·        Support coordination with other PIN teams and relevant stakeholders to facilitate smooth implementation and avoid unnecessary duplication of activities.

·        Participate in project meetings, field coordination meetings, assessments, and training sessions as required.

·        Perform other relevant duties assigned by the Project Manager that are consistent with the position's responsibilities and the needs of the project.

PIN COMPETENCY MODEL

PIN Competency Model is a framework used to define, assess, and develop the behaviours, skills, and attitudes expected from staff. It focuses on how people perform their work, not only on their technical knowledge.

Field Officer will be recruited, and subsequently evaluated, following the PIN competency areas here below, where the staff is expected to at least meet the expectations as outlined below:

1.      Personal integrity and values:

Demonstrates honesty, accountability, and consistency in actions and communication. Adheres to PIN’s values, policies, and ethical standards, addresses inappropriate conduct, and continuously reflects on and improves personal performance.

2.      Universal competencies

o   Communication: Communicates clearly and effectively, adapting messages to different audiences. Shares information in a timely manner, listens actively, encourages dialogue, and uses evidence to support decisions and recommendations.

o   Cooperation: Builds positive and inclusive working relationships, values diverse perspectives, and promotes teamwork. Shares knowledge, supports collaboration, and addresses conflicts constructively.

o   Resilience/coping with stress: Maintains composure and effectiveness under pressure. Manages stress constructively, remains solution-oriented, and adapts well to challenges and changing circumstances.

3.      Specific competencies

o   Problems and tasks solving approach: Analyses issues, identifies root causes, and makes informed decisions. Proactively solves problems, collaborates with others, and seeks practical improvements and innovative solutions.

o   Result Orientation: Takes ownership of objectives, delivers high-quality results, and continuously seeks opportunities to improve performance and outcomes.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum of 2 years of demonstrated experience implementing humanitarian responses in the country.
• Demonstrated experience working closely with local communities and various field level stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience conducting assessments using KoboToolbox, with strong attention to detail.
• Proven ability to identify and address implementation challenges.
• Demonstrated experience conducting distributions in accordance with humanitarian principles.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with local communities and, where relevant, mitigating community tensions.
• Demonstrated understanding and practical experience in gender and protection mainstreaming.
• Ability and confidence to travel to different locations across the province.
• Fluency in both Pashto and Dari.
• Practical working knowledge of English.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft.

Technical Skills

·        Strong understanding of humanitarian response principles, project implementation, and field level monitoring.

·        Ability to conduct needs assessments, collect and verify data using KoboToolbox, and maintain accurate records.

·        Knowledge of beneficiary identification, targeting, verification, and selection processes based on vulnerability criteria.

·        Demonstrated ability to organize and monitor distributions in line with humanitarian principles, accountability standards, and project procedures.

·        Ability to identify implementation challenges, assess field level risks, and recommend practical solutions.

·        Understanding of community engagement, stakeholder coordination, conflict sensitivity, and community-based approaches.

·        Knowledge of gender equality, protection mainstreaming, disability inclusion, and safeguarding in humanitarian programming.

·        Ability to monitor project activities against approved work plans, identify implementation gaps, and report progress.

·        Strong skills in data management, report writing, documentation, and follow-up on action points.

·        Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and other relevant Microsoft Office applications.

·        Understanding of accountability to affected populations (AAP), community feedback and response mechanisms (CFRM), and humanitarian standards.

Languages

·        Written and spoken English required.

·        Fluency in Pashto and Dari required.

·        Knowledge of Pashto preferred.

If you are interested in this position, send us your CV and short cover letter via our application form.
Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Local candidates are encouraged to apply. 

People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct and committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need involves. People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp). People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.
We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

To apply in Arghandab District, please use this link: https://career.peopleinneed.net/?pos=1215

To apply in Mezan District, please use this link:  https://career.peopleinneed.net/?pos=1214

To apply in Tarnak Jaldak District, please use this link: https://career.peopleinneed.net/?pos=1213