ACBAR

CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work are accomplished through programs of anticipatory action, emergency response, social services, agricultural livelihoods, and natural resource management.

Background:

CRS has been working on behalf of Afghan communities since 2002. CRS supports anticipatory action and integrated emergency response, inclusive education, improved agricultural techniques and value chain strengthening, and other life‐enriching services to communities vulnerable to shocks and stresses.

CRS is currently implementing programs with partners across provinces of Bamiyan, Ghor, Herat, Kunar, Samangan, Balkh, and Kabul, and is exploring additional expansion via an expanded local partnership and market system development approach.

Globally and in country CRS has invested significantly in anticipatory action and emergency programming, with a focus on supporting national and local organizations to respond efficiently to unfolding and protracted crises. CRS accompanies emergency support to disaster impacted communities through country-wide and localized approaches to maximize sustained impact, efficient use of resources, and increase the speed and access of response by prioritizing market driven solutions. This approach spans programmatic and operational support to all actors in response livelihoods.

As Senior Project Officer for Emergency Partnerships (Programs), you will facilitate the achievement of project objectives by building strong relationships with local and national partners across the country, providing programmatic technical guidance to emergency response activities (design and implementation), in advancing CRS’ work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the partner activities for which you are responsible apply best practices in emergency programs and constantly works towards improving the impact of their benefits to those we serve. Your focus will be on implementing partner identification, relationship building, and technical support, with priority for programmatic capacity on emergency programs.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

Partnership Management:

• Contribute to the identification, mapping, and engagement of potential implementing partners.
• Take part in regular coordination meetings with other implementing NGOs/Government agencies and institutions to better identify potential implementing partners.
• Demonstrate trust and mutual respect when engaging, assessing and strengthening partner capacity, acting as a convener.
• Support development and adoption of a common language around partnership, and capacity strengthening among CRS and partner staff.
• Contribute to maintaining strong and effective relationships between CRS and partners, by the consistent application of CRS Partnership Principles and other relevant tools.
• Contribute to creating an environment where colleagues have the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to work collaboratively and effectively with local partners and authorities.
• Contribute to design and application of specific methodologies, including partnership reflections and scorecards, designed to ensure the appropriateness and quality of the partnerships.
• Assist in institutional strengthening and accompaniment approaches that respond to organizational weaknesses (in CRS and partners).
• Contribute to identifying partnership and capacity strengthening opportunities for improvement across organizational systems and how they impact program quality and service delivery.

Emergency Response:

• Support the planning and detailed design of integrated emergency project activities and set high quality performance targets ensuring adherence to technical standards, best practices and donor guidelines. Provide orientation to partners on donor requirements.
• Contribute to use of appropriate project management tools to plan, review and track progress on project implementation as well as on the utilization of project resources.
• Contribute to programmatic assistance to partner activities within CRS’ emergency portfolio including tool review and trouble shooting.
• Closely monitor emergency events in country (humanitarian situation, security context, overall operating environment etc.), to identify other potential program areas and partners for CRS.
• Accompany programmatic work of emergency partner teams during preparatory visits, assessments, technical requirements, selection of external entities in support of the grant/project and ensuring compliance with CRS agreements and with statutory and technical legislation issued by appropriate authorities.
• Ensure timely and quality preparation of donor project narrative reports, quarterly performance indicator tracking tables, baseline and final evaluation reports, as well as other reports needed/required by the local government, donors, the region or headquarters as per reporting schedule. Support partners with MEAL set up and design, and facilitation of after-action reviews.

• Bachelor's Degree required. Degree in International Relations, emergency management, agriculture, business, or a similar field would be a plus.
• Minimum of 4 years of work experience in emergency context, with a significant focus on high quality design and MEAL for emergency programs including partnerships building for an NGO (international or local). Experience in inclusion of particularly vulnerable groups a plus.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneDrive, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Very strong interpersonal, communication, representation, and networking skills.
• Firm understanding of approaches for partnership with local organizations and authorities.
• Knowledge of approaches for capacity building, including training and mentoring as well as developing training materials.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in  a range of emergency programming modalities including three or more of the following: multi-purpose cash assistance, food, shelter, WASH, health, protection, or non-food items.
• Ability to think creatively, solve complex problems and operate independently with limited supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in diverse areas of Afghanistan where CRS does not have an existing footprint.
• Knowledge and relationships with several local and national NGOs or community based organizations a plus.
• Experience in communications a plus.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:  

• Internal: Head of Programs, CRS Technical Advisors, Emergency and Early Recovery Coordinator, SPO Emergency Partnerships (Operations)
• External: local partner organizations, government representatives, project participants and community leaders

Required Languages – Fluency in English required. Working proficiency in either Dari or Pashtu required.

Travel – Role based in Kabul with potential for up to 25 % travel to emergency affected areas where and CRS or local partner have presence or may expand to.

CRS is committed to providing daily allowances for mahrams who accompany female staff on day trips to the field, and per diem and accommodation for mahrams who accompany female staff on work-related trips that require overnight stays.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results. 

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. 
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.  

CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Protection Acknowledgment: CRS prohibits all forms of abuse and exploitation towards children and vulnerable adults. As a professional candidate, you commit to adhering to the Agency’s policy on protection, rights and dignity of children and vulnerable adults and to safeguard them from abuse and exploitation as defined in CRS’ Safeguarding Policy

Applications comprise a one-page cover letter to explain your interest and suitability for the post and your CV. Please do not attach your education documents and work certificates unless requested.

Dear Applicants!

The process of submitting a CV/Application has been changed to the online system. Therefore, interested candidates are encouraged to apply using the link provided below. Applications sent to any other email address or location will not be considered. Please ensure to rename your application file according to your name entered on the first page of the application forms.

Interested candidates can submit their applications by clicking on this link.

Please note that applications received after the closing date (i.e., January 17^th, 2026), will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for tests and interviews.

Using above link