Communication and Outreach Officer

Job Summary The Youth-Led Community Climate Action and Environmental Resilience in Kabul and Balkh Provinces of Afghanistan project will be implemented in Kabul and Balkh. Its integrated portfolio includes school and household waste management, plastic reduction, rainwater harvesting, participatory climate-risk mapping, community-led micro-projects, tree planting and protection, bio-briquette training and kits for 50 women, support for four youth innovations, university collaboration, ALCOY, MEAL/accountability, and donor reporting. Job Requirements 1. Key Responsibilities 1.1 Project-Specific Responsibilities Ø Prepare and implement a project communication, visibility, advocacy, and outreach plan for Kabul and Balkh, including audience profiles, key messages, channels, approvals, risk controls, and a content calendar. Ø Lead communication support for waste and plastic-reduction campaigns, rainwater harvesting, climate-risk mapping, community micro-projects, tree planting, women’s bio-briquette activities, youth innovations, university collaboration, and ALCOY. Ø Coordinate professional outreach with relevant line ministries, local authorities, schools, universities, communities, youth and women’s networks, civil society, media, and other stakeholders. Ø Produce accurate multilingual content, social-media materials, press notes, event materials, stories of change, photographs, videos, presentations, and donor-visibility products with documented informed consent. Ø Track reach, participation, engagement, feedback, media coverage, and digital analytics; use evidence to refine outreach and report results. Ø Apply safeguarding, data-protection, copyright, branding, approval, conflict-sensitivity, and reputational-risk controls to all public content. 1.2 Functional Responsibilities Ø Develop and implement project and organizational communication and outreach plans aligned with SWOE’s mission, target audiences, donor visibility conditions, and approved messaging. Ø Produce high-quality content for reports, websites, social media, newsletters, press materials, campaigns, presentations, and knowledge products in appropriate languages and formats. Ø Plan and facilitate environmental awareness campaigns, community outreach, youth engagement, consultations, media events, and public-information activities. Ø Collect human-interest stories, quotations, photographs, video, and other evidence only with informed consent and with special safeguards for children, survivors, and at-risk individuals. Ø Maintain consistent organizational identity, editorial quality, factual accuracy, accessible language, copyright compliance, and correct donor/partner acknowledgement. Ø Build and maintain constructive relationships with media, civil society, youth networks, educational institutions, communities, and relevant public-information counterparts. Ø Monitor media and digital engagement, analyze audience reach and feedback, and use findings to improve communication strategies and counter harmful misinformation through verified, non-partisan content. Ø Support crisis and risk communication under authorized protocols; refer sensitive, political, security, safeguarding, or reputational matters to senior management before publication. Ø Maintain an organized, consent-based archive of communication assets, media contacts, approvals, publications, and outreach evidence. Ø Train staff and volunteers on key messages, communication protocols, responsible storytelling, digital safety, and public representation of SWOE. 1.3 Coordination, Reporting and Learning Ø Maintain effective working relationships with relevant internal functions and authorize external stakeholders. Ø Provide accurate and timely inputs to monthly, quarterly, annual, donor, management, and ad hoc reports as relevant to the position. Ø Document implementation challenges, corrective actions, good practices, lessons learned, and recommendations for adaptive management and future programming. Ø Participate in planning, review, coordination, and learning meetings and follow through on assigned actions. 1.4 Safety, Security, Gender, Inclusion and Safeguarding Ø Comply with SWOE safety and security procedures and contribute actively to individual and team duty of care. Ø Integrate gender equality, youth participation, disability inclusion, cultural sensitivity, conflict sensitivity, and do-no-harm principles into assigned work. Ø Uphold the code of conduct and zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, child abuse, discrimination, retaliation, fraud, corruption, and conflicts of interest. Ø Protect confidential and personal information; obtain informed consent; and immediately report safeguarding, security, fraud, or serious environmental and social concerns through authorized channels. 2. Key Working Relationships Internal: Project Manager / Executive Director; project team; MEAL/accountability; finance and administration; human resources; safeguarding/security focal points; and senior management. External: relevant line ministries and local authorities, communities, schools, universities, youth and women’s groups, civil society, suppliers/service providers, media, donors, and partners, as appropriate to the role and delegated authority. 3. Qualifications and Experience Ø Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, social sciences, development studies, environmental communication, or a related field. Ø At least three years of relevant experience in communications, outreach, campaigns, media, advocacy, or community engagement. Ø Demonstrated ability to write and edit professional content and manage digital communication platforms. Ø Basic photography, video, graphic design, or content-production skills are an advantage. Ø Excellent Dari and/or Pashto and strong English writing and speaking skills. 4. Required Competencies Ø Strategic and audience-centered communication Ø Professional writing and editing Ø Ethical storytelling and informed consent Ø Public engagement and facilitation Ø Digital literacy and analytics Ø Creativity, judgement, and reputational awareness Ø Proven ability to analyze problems, identify practical solutions, and work effectively under changing field conditions. Ø Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant projects, financial, HR, communication, or data-management systems. 5. Languages Professional proficiency in written and spoken Dari and/or Pashto is required. Working proficiency in English is required for positions involving donor reporting, technical documentation, external communication, finance, HR, or project management. Fluency in all three languages is a strong advantage.