Request For Aga Khan Foundation
Digital Freelancing & Income Generation Mentorship Program – EI
1. Background and Rationale
The Aga Khan Foundation–Afghanistan (AKF-A), under its Economic Inclusion and Resilience programming, aims to shift from saturated conventional vocational skills toward demand-driven digital livelihoods that enable access to global markets and remote income opportunities.
High unemployment limited local economic activity, and constrained labor markets have significantly reduced the effectiveness of traditional employable skills interventions. At the same time, freelancing and digital service provision offer scalable, geography-independent income pathways for 200 youth and women in Badakhshan, Takhar, Baghlan and Bamyan provinces.
AKF-A therefore seeks to engage a qualified service provider to deliver a practical, result-oriented digital mentorship program that goes beyond classroom training and ensures real market participation, live client engagement, and verified income generation.
2. Overall Objectives
To equip youth with practical, market-ready digital skills and enable sustainable income generation through real participation in remote product and service markets.
3. Specific Outcomes
By the end of the assignment:
• Beneficiaries actively operate freelancing service profiles on recognized digital platforms.
• Beneficiaries’ complete real client-based projects/tasks.
• At least 50% of trainees generate verifiable digital income (minimum USD 50).
• Beneficiaries demonstrate independent capacity to continue freelancing.
4. Scope of Services
The service provider shall be responsible for:
➢ Market-Driven Skill Selection
• Identify high-demand, scalable, not confined and Afghanistan executable digital freelancing skills (e.g., graphic design, digital marketing, content creation, web services, SEO, virtual assistance, data services, etc.) in close coordination with AKF-A and the TVET Authority.
• Provide justification based on global freelancing market demand.
• Close coordination with TVET Authority in curriculum development for the selected in- demand freelancing skills.
• Provide well equipped training facilities for each trainee based on the training curriculum.
➢ Practical Skills Training
• Deliver conceptual and hands-on training focused on real tools and service outputs.
• Minimum 50% of sessions must be practice-based in the real market.
➢ Live Freelancing Implementation session (MANDATORY)
Each trainee must:
• Create and operate at least one freelancing platform profile. More than one will be a plus.
• Develop a portfolio of services.
• Participate in live client bidding/service outreach.
➢ Mentorship & Coaching
• Regular freelancing labs (live bidding, client communication, portfolio building, hunting).
• Individual income earning and coaching sessions.
• Troubleshooting and performance guidance.
• Red and green flag consideration is a must.
➢ Income Generation Support
• Client acquisition strategies.
• Payment handling guidance.
• Quality control and client retention.
5. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Output KPIs:
Areas Indicators
Training 100% of trainees complete practical and theoretical training modules.
Platforms 100% of trainees are active, freelancing and online earning profiles.
Practice Beneficiary real service projects/tasks completed.
Mentorship Regular coaching sessions conducted.
Outcome KPIs:
Areas Indicators
Income Generation At least 50% of trainees earning minimum USD 50 or more before the end of the agreement with verifiable documentation.
Market Engagement At least 50% of trainees winning paid tasks.
Sustainability At least 50% of trainees continue online earning independently after the completion of training and mentorship.
Q&A At least 2 months of online support and troubleshooting for the students after graduation.
6. Verification Mechanisms
Income and performance will be verified through:
• Screenshots of freelancing platform dashboards.
• Transaction/payment records (Pioneer, platform earnings, etc.).
• Client contracts or task completion evidence.
• Random beneficiary income interviews.
• spot checks and audits.
7. Deliverables
• Inception report with skill selection & implementation plan.
• Practical training modules & schedules.
• Monthly performance reports including:
• Active profiles
• Projects completed by trainees
• Income earned
• Challenges and opportunities
• Mid-term review report.
• Final outcome report with verified income data.
• Video recordings of the complete training on-screen and off-screen in SSD-devices.
8. Timeline
• Total duration: 9 months
Phase Duration
Market assessment, curriculum development & availability of training facilities 1 month Practical training Skill training 3 months
Practical mentorship and start of earning 3 months
Project closure, reporting and online support Q&A 2 months
9. Qualification and Selection Criteria:
➢ Technical Proposal (70%)
• Proven experience in digital freelancing or remote income programs (min 3 years). 10%
• Evidence of past programs where participants generated real income. 05%
• Ability to navigate payment systems for Afghanistan. 10%
• Experience working with youth and women in fragile/low-connectivity environments. 05%
• Clear understanding of global freelancing market demand. 05%
• Practical, hands-on training methodology (80% practical / 20% theoretical). 10%
• Strategy for live freelancing implementation: profile, portfolio, client engagement. 10%
• Mentorship & coaching approach, including troubleshooting and ongoing support. 05%
• Monitoring, verification, and reporting plan (KPIs, outcome verification). 05%
• Team composition with qualified freelancers, trainers, and project managers. 05%
➢ Financial Proposal (20%)
• Cost realism & alignment with deliverables. 10%
• Acceptance of performance-based payment milestones. 05%
• Transparency and completeness of financial proposal. 05%
➢ Preferred / Added Value (10%)
• Diaspora or international mentor network. 02%
• Partnerships with global freelancers or agencies. 02%
• Proven success on Upwork/Fiverr agency accounts. 02%
• Existing client networks for live project opportunities. 02%
• Job placement pipelines or outsourcing channels. 02%
Application
Interested applicants should submit their Proposal to Jobs.afghanistan@akdn.org no later than 31st May 2026. Please contact Mr. Jana Gul Hanify Janagul.hanify@akdn.org or Jamal Nasir Yousufzai Jamal.nasir@akdn.org if you need further clarifications or any query on or before the deadline.
Important Notes:
• Please quote the Vacancy Number as the Subject of the e-mail when applying.
• Please submit a copy of business license along with the proposal.
• Only short-listed Firms will be contacted for further assessment.
The Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan (AKF- Afg) promotes a transparent and equitable recruitment process. We reiterate that all services related to job applications, including processing, seminars, and training programs, are provided free of charge.
Our official job announcements are posted on the ACBAR website (acbar.org/jobs). Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications through our designated email address: jobs.afghanistan@akdn.org. Each job vacancy is assigned a unique identification number for your reference and upon submitting your application, you will receive an automatic confirmation acknowledging its receipt, immediately.
AKF- Afg recruitment and selection process reflect our commitment to equal opportunity and protecting children and at-risk adults, beneficiaries, partners, community members and employees from safeguarding violations. AKF (Afg) participates in the Scheme for the disclosure of safeguarding-related misconduct within the humanitarian and development sector (Misconduct Disclosure Scheme). In line with this Scheme, AKF (Afg) will contact previous employers of job applicants to request information about any investigations or findings of misconduct concerning allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment (sexual misconduct) against the applicant, during or after their employment. AKF (Afg) further implements a range of procedures and vetting checks including criminal records disclosures to ensure everyone associated with AKF (Afg) is kept free from harm and abuse is prevented.
Protection from Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) is the responsibility of everyone, and all selected individuals will be required to always comply with AKF (Afg)s Safeguarding Policy.
By submitting the job application, the applicant confirms to have understood and consented to AKF (Afg) contacting the applicant’s prior employers, during AKF (Afg)’s recruitment process, to request any such information and maintain this information on file for Recruitment and Human Resources Management purposes.