Disability Inclusion / Livelihoods Officer

Afghanistan Rehabilitation and Growth Organization (ARGO) is a non-profit, non-governmental, and non-political and development-oriented organization established on February 6, 2020 and registered with the Directorate of Non-Governmental Organizations, Ministry of Economy, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan Rehabilitation and Growth Organization, with a broad vision is committed to rehabilitate Afghanistan through providing services in education, health, peace building, capacity building, women and youths empowerment, human rights, child protection, social and welfare, and environment protection strata. The Organization is headquartered in Kabul, and with a wide access to all over the country, is able to cover activities and provide services in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Disability Inclusion / Livelihoods Officer will be responsible for coordinating and facilitating the implementation of disability-inclusive livelihood development activities at the assigned district level under the PEWASTOON: Social Protection, Inclusion and Social Cohesion for Resilient Communities in Afghanistan project.

The position will focus on promoting the economic empowerment, independence, and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities through inclusive vocational skills development, individualized livelihood planning, community engagement, and continuous beneficiary support.

The officer will work closely with persons with disabilities, their families, community representatives, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), vocational trainers, local authorities, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that project interventions are accessible, responsive to individual needs, and aligned with community priorities and local market opportunities.

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate practical experience in disability-inclusive programming, livelihood skills development, community-level implementation, and coordination, with strong interpersonal, organizational, problem-solving, and reporting skills.

Main Responsibilities

1. Disability-Inclusive Beneficiary Assessment

·         Asses and Coordinate with OPDs, community representatives, and local authorities to ensure transparent and inclusive beneficiary assessment for the assistive devices.

·         Conduct household visits and individual assessments to identify beneficiaries' abilities, skills, interests, livelihood aspirations, and support needs.

·         Maintain disaggregated beneficiary records and identify accessibility barriers and reasonable accommodation requirements.

2. Individual Livelihood Planning and Skills Development

·         Develop Individual Livelihood Development Plans (ILDPs) based on beneficiaries' capacities, interests, and market opportunities.

·         Coordinate with trainers to ensure accessible, inclusive, and practical training.

·         Monitor attendance/access, learning progress, and the provision of necessary accommodations.

3. Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Development

·         Facilitate entrepreneurship and financial literacy sessions, including basic business planning, budgeting, bookkeeping, marketing, and financial management.

·         Support beneficiaries in identifying business opportunities and establishing income-generating activities.

·         Coordinate the distribution of livelihood starter kits and provide follow-up support to promote their effective use and sustainability.

·         Facilitate linkages with local markets, customers, and relevant service providers.

4. Disability Inclusion and Community Engagement

·         Promote the dignity, independence, participation, and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities.

·         Conduct community awareness sessions on disability rights, inclusion, accessibility, and non-discrimination.

·         Engage families, community leaders, OPDs, and other stakeholders to address stigma and social barriers.

·         Ensure equitable participation of women with disabilities and other marginalized groups.

5. Coordination, Monitoring and Reporting

·         Coordinate regularly with the Project Manager, project team, trainers, OPDs, local authorities, and other stakeholders.

·         Conduct field visits to monitor training quality, beneficiary participation, and livelihood progress.

·         Maintain accurate beneficiary, assessment, training, and starter kit distribution records.

·         Document feedback, challenges, success stories, and lessons learned, and submit timely activity and field reports.

6. Safeguarding, Accountability and Compliance

·         Ensure adherence to disability inclusion, gender equality, LNOB, DNH, and AAP principles.

·         Promote awareness of safeguarding, PSEAH, and accessible feedback and complaint mechanisms.

·         Maintain beneficiary confidentiality and data protection, and promptly report safeguarding concerns through established channels.

Qualifications & Requirements

1. Educational Qualification

·         Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Rehabilitation Sciences, Special Education, or a related field.

2. Professional Experience

·         Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in designing, developing, organizing, or delivering livelihood skills training and vocational development programmes for persons with disabilities.

·         Demonstrated experience working directly with persons with different types of disabilities and promoting their participation in livelihood and economic empowerment initiatives.

·         Practical experience in beneficiary identification, needs assessment, community mobilization, and facilitating inclusive training activities.

·         Experience in coordinating vocational training, monitoring training progress, and supporting beneficiaries in developing sustainable income-generating activities.

3. Language Requirements

·         Fluency in Pashto and Dari is required.

·         Working knowledge of English is an advantage.

4. Other Skills and Competencies

·         Good understanding of disability inclusion, accessibility, reasonable accommodation, and the barriers faced by persons with disabilities.

·         Strong communication, interpersonal, facilitation, and community engagement skills.

·         Ability to work effectively with persons with physical, sensory, hearing, visual, and other disabilities.

·         Strong coordination and networking skills, particularly in working with community structures, OPDs, local authorities, and service providers.

·         Good organizational, documentation, problem-solving, and reporting skills.

·         Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver results within agreed timelines.

·         Willingness and ability to undertake regular field visits and community-level activities within the assigned district.

-          Candidates must be willing to undergo background and reference checks. Adherence to organizational ethics, including safeguarding and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards, will form an integral part of performance evaluations.

-          ARGO has a zero-tolerance policy with regard to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse is the responsibility of everyone, and all selected candidates will be required to comply with ARGO's safeguarding and PSEA policies at all times. Selected candidates will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks regarding their past conduct related to sexual exploitation and abuse and may be required to provide additional information during the selection process.

• Interested and qualified candidates should submit their updated CV along with a cover letter explaining their motivation for applying and highlighting their relevant qualifications, skills, and professional experience.
• To apply, please send your application/CV, specifying the position title and vacancy number in the email subject line, to hr@arg.org.af, with a copy to info@arg.org.af.
• Academic certificates, TIN forms, or references are not required at this stage. These documents will be requested from shortlisted candidates during the written test and interview process, where applicable.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in the written test and interview.
• Applicants should clearly indicate their preferred duty station (District 3 or District 4) in their application.

ARGO is an equal-opportunity organization and strongly encourages qualified women and persons with disabilities to apply.