Established in 1967, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) brings together human, financial and technical resources to address the challenges faced by the poorest and most marginalised communities in the world. Special emphasis is placed on investing in human potential, expanding opportunity and improving the overall quality of life. The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a non-denominational international development agency established in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan. Its mission is to develop and promote creative solutions to problems that impede social development, primarily in Asia and East Africa. Created as a private, non- profit foundation under Swiss law, it has branches and independent affiliates in 19 countries. AKF seeks to provide sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and ill health. In Afghanistan, AKF works with rural communities in mountainous, remote or resource poor areas to improve quality of life in the areas of natural resource management, market development, governance, education, and health.

Job Summary

• Recruiter: Agha Khan Foundation
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree
• Vacancies Number: 1
• Province: Kabul
• Gender: Both
• Experience:⁦ 7-8 Years
• Deadline: ⁦2026-09-22

The Project Manager – Agriculture and Food Security (PCIO) will have responsibilities that include:

Key Responsibilities & Operational Scope:

Project Leadership & Program Execution:

• Lead the implementation of Agriculture and Food Security (AFS) interventions under the ADB-funded CLDRM project across six target provinces (Kabul, Herat, Ghazni, Logar, Kunar, and Nuristan) via the Project Cluster Implementation Office (PCIO).
• Oversee the timely execution of core field activities, including Farmer Field Schools (FFS), capacity-building workshops, greenhouse construction across diverse agro-ecological zones, and livelihood asset distributions (such as poultry, livestock, seed packages, orchards, beekeeping, and dairy inputs).
• Provide strategic direction to seamlessly integrate community-led disaster risk management (CLDRM) principles into all agriculture and food security activities.
• Build strong coordination mechanisms with the National Program Office (NPO) AFS sector, implementation partners, local stakeholders, and communities to encourage knowledge-sharing and joint learning.
• Structure and establish provincial AFS technical teams, draft staff Terms of Reference (ToR), and participate in key recruitment processes.

Team Supervision & Operational Coordination:

• Manage team performance and daily coordination, ensuring all activities align with approved work plans, organizational strategies, and standard operating procedures.
• Support staff growth through continuous performance tracking, on-the-job coaching, and targeted capacity-building programs.
• Formulate Annual Work Plans (YPO) and offer technical guidance to provincial teams for smooth field-level execution.

Strategic Planning & Policy Engagement:

• Draft, review, and periodically refine a multi-year strategic plan for agriculture-based livelihoods and food security expansion across the six target provinces.
• Foster solid working relationships with relevant public authorities, including provincial Directorates and Ministries of Economy and Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL).
• Actively engage in policy forums and technical working groups organized by government institutions and civil society bodies.
• Track national and provincial policy developments related to rural development, delivering regular updates, policy briefs, and actionable recommendations to the National AFS leadership.
• Work closely with partner entities and Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) agencies to align community development priorities and strategic goals.

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships:

• Maintain active communication and transparent reporting with local authorities, community elders, donor agencies, and institutional partners.
• Organize and facilitate field visits for donors, government officials, and key stakeholders.
• Build strategic networks with local and international organizations working in community development and emergency response across target provinces.
• Conduct regular field visits to evaluate progress, mentor district teams, and gather direct community feedback.
• Strengthen community-based natural resource management and local agricultural production, ensuring target groups actively participate in planning, delivery, and review stages.

Gender Mainstreaming, Inclusion & Safeguarding:

• Embed gender equity, diversity, and social inclusion principles into all project phases—from team recruitment through implementation and monitoring.
• Drive equal access and active participation for women, men, and vulnerable groups in all agriculture-based economic activities.
• Strictly enforce AKF-A Child Safeguarding and Protection Policies, cultivating a safe environment across all project touchpoints.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL):

• Collaborate with MERL teams to maintain robust monitoring frameworks, converting field data into operational adjustments and strategic insights.
• Define technical indicators clearly and leverage routine monitoring data to refine ongoing intervention strategies.
• Engage provincial teams in identifying research needs grounded in local agricultural and food security realities.
• Establish a systematic process to capture, document, and scale innovative field practices and success stories.

Planning, Reporting & Compliance:

• Design monitoring tools and verification systems to evaluate project and partner performance against work plans, budgets, and contractual agreements.
• Consolidate, review, and finalize high-quality narrative and financial reports within established submission deadlines.
• Ensure strict compliance with ADB regulations, AKF procedures, and risk mitigation standards to maintain operational transparency.

Financial Control & Procurement Management:

• Oversee project budget execution alongside finance personnel to guarantee efficient, transparent resource allocation.
• Track national and provincial expenditure trends, maintaining alignment with approved budget allocations.
• Prepare and manage procurement schedules in strict compliance with donor policies and organizational guidelines.

Capacity Building & Process Optimization:

• Train provincial staff on donor guidelines, compliance standards, and modern project management methodologies.
• Establish clear performance objectives for PCIO and AFS staff, conducting routine reviews and providing direct technical backstopping.
• Facilitate custom professional development plans for provincial community development teams in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Execute all duties with full commitment to safeguarding standards, actively reporting any suspected or actual policy violations in line with organizational training.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Perform other relevant task-related duties as assigned by project leadership.

Job Requirment

Education & Professional Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Horticulture, Agronomy, or a related discipline from a recognized university.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience, including a strong track record of managing and leading large-scale Agriculture and Climate Resilience initiatives.
• At least 3 years of specific experience in a leadership, sectoral lead, or managerial capacity.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in advisory or senior management roles within large community-driven development (CDD) or rural development programs.
• Prior working experience across the target provinces of Kabul, Herat, Nuristan, Logar, Ghazni, and Kunar.
• Fluency in English, Dari, and Pashto, complemented by excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Required Core Competencies:

• Strong attention to detail with a high commitment to quality outcomes.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively across field locations in Afghanistan.
• Solid analytical, conceptual, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Proven team leadership skills, with the ability to mentor, inspire, and guide multidisciplinary staff.
• Sound understanding of project sustainability frameworks and exit strategies, particularly concerning government and community handovers.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage multi-ethnic teams from diverse backgrounds in a collaborative environment.
• Strong aptitude for coordinating effectively with remote field colleagues and distributed teams.

Submission Guideline

• Interested candidates are invited to submit their updated CV along with a cover letter to the following email address:

📩 Email: Jobs.afghanistan@akdn.org

Country

Afghanistan

City

Kabul

Submission Email

Jobs.afghanistan@akdn.org