Gender, Peace and Social Cohesion Specialist

Role summary Objective of the assignment : The Gender, Peace & Social Cohesion Officer will lead the implementation of gender-transformative and community-based interventions that strengthen social cohesion, peaceful coexistence, inclusive participation, and women's empowerment within target communities. The officer will facilitate community dialogue, positive masculinity initiatives, behaviour and social norms change activities, women's leadership and empowerment sessions, youth engagement, and safeguarding interventions while ensuring that all project activities are conflict-sensitive, gender-responsive and disability inclusive. The position serves as the technical focal point for integrating gender equality, Women's Peace and Security (WPS), peaceful masculinity, prevention of gender-based violence (GBV), safeguarding and social cohesion across community-level activities implemented under the PEWASTOON project. Duties and responsibilities Key Responsibilities : A. Project Management, Training, Oversight, Monitoring and Reporting Develop detailed implementation plans, including Develop Gender Action Plan , activity schedules, training calendars, facilitation materials and Training of Trainers (ToT) packages, and deliver ToT sessions for Community Mobilizers, local facilitators, implementing partners and community volunteers. Provide day-to-day technical oversight, mentoring and coaching to Community Mobilizers, trainers and implementing partners to ensure high-quality, gender-responsive, conflict-sensitive and inclusive programme implementation. Conduct regular field monitoring and supportive supervision visits to assess implementation progress, training quality, safeguarding compliance, PSEA standards, and adherence to Do No Harm principles, recommending corrective actions where necessary. Coordinate closely with project teams, government counterparts, community leaders, civil society organizations, women's groups, youth groups and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation, collaboration and community ownership. Prepare high-quality weekly, monthly and quarterly technical and progress reports, documenting achievements, challenges, lessons learned, best practices, success stories and recommendations, while contributing to donor reporting, project reviews, evaluations and knowledge management initiatives. Identify implementation risks and operational challenges, propose mitigation measures, and ensure timely communication of emerging issues to the Project Manager and Gender Specialist. B. Gender Equality and Social Norms Change Lead implementation of community-based gender equality and social cohesion interventions. Facilitate community dialogues on gender equality, women's rights, inclusion and peaceful coexistence. Conduct Positive Masculinity sessions engaging men, husbands, fathers, youth and community leaders. Promote equitable household decision-making and shared family responsibilities. Support implementation of behaviour change communication activities addressing harmful gender norms. Facilitate women-only empowerment sessions where culturally appropriate. Integrate Women's Peace and Security principles into community activities. B. Community Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion Facilitate inclusive community dialogue platforms bringing together returnees, host communities, IDPs, women, youth and persons with disabilities. Support participatory community action planning. Promote peaceful conflict resolution at community level. Support implementation of community cohesion initiatives. Facilitate joint community activities that strengthen trust and cooperation. Encourage women's meaningful participation in community decision making. Capacity building on Positive Masculinity and Family Engagement C. Safeguarding, PSEA and Do No Harm Ensure all activities comply with safeguarding standards. Integrate PSEA messages into community awareness. Maintain confidentiality when receiving sensitive disclosures. Support safe referral pathways. Monitor safeguarding risks during implementation. Apply conflict-sensitive and Do No Harm approaches throughout project implementation. Expected Deliverables Deliverables Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Project implementation plans, Gender Action Plans, training calendars and ToT packages developed and implemented Annual/quarterly implementation plans, Gender Action Plans, ToT packages and training materials developed and approved; activities implemented according to approved workplans. Capacity building and technical oversight provided to Community Mobilizers, implementing partners and community facilitators Community Mobilizers, implementing partners and facilitators trained, mentored and supervised; improved quality of programme delivery demonstrated through field monitoring and assessments. Field monitoring, supportive supervision and quality assurance conducted Regular monitoring visits completed; monitoring reports submitted with action points; safeguarding, PSEA and Do No Harm compliance verified across project activities. Gender equality, positive masculinity and social norms change interventions implemented Community dialogue sessions, positive masculinity sessions, women's empowerment sessions and behaviour change activities delivered according to project targets; evidence of increased community participation and positive behaviour change documented. Community peacebuilding and social cohesion initiatives facilitated Community dialogue platforms established and functioning; participatory community action plans developed; joint community initiatives implemented; women's, youth's, returnees' and persons with disabilities' participation increased in community decision-making processes. Safeguarding, PSEA and Do No Harm integrated across all interventions 100% of project activities comply with safeguarding and PSEA minimum standards; awareness sessions conducted; referral pathways operational; safeguarding risks identified and mitigated in a timely manner. Stakeholder coordination and partnership strengthened Effective coordination maintained with government counterparts, community leaders, civil society organizations, women's groups, youth groups and implementing partners; coordination meetings and joint planning activities conducted regularly. High-quality technical reports, donor inputs and knowledge products submitted Weekly, monthly and quarterly reports submitted on time; donor reporting inputs provided; success stories, case studies, lessons learned and best practices documented and shared. Project risks identified and managed proactively Risk register regularly updated; implementation challenges identified early; mitigation measures implemented and reported to Project Manager and Gender Specialist. Project monitoring data and documentation maintained Accurate activity records, beneficiary database and sex-, age- and disability-disaggregated data maintained; project indicators regularly updated and verified. Job requirements Key Competencies Criteria Required Qualifications Preferred Education Bachelor's degree in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Education or related field Master's degree Experience Minimum 3–5 years of experience in gender equality, women's empowerment, peacebuilding, community mobilization or social cohesion programmes UN or NGO experience Technical Skills Gender mainstreaming, facilitation, behaviour change communication, community engagement, conflict sensitivity Positive Masculinity programming, WPS Competencies Excellent facilitation, communication, coaching and interpersonal skills Experience in Afghanistan community programming Safeguarding Knowledge of PSEA, GBV referral pathways and safeguarding principles UN safeguarding experience Language Fluent in Dari and/or Pashto. Basic English required. Strong written English Institutional arrangement: The Project Officer works under the Project Manager while technical reporting matrix to Gender and PSEA Specialist. Payment: Monthly bases Travel Cost and DSA : Salary is inclusive of DSA and Travel Cost Duration of the assignment : 12 Months Duty station: Kabul Language Requirements : Proficiency in written and spoken English and fluency in local languages, Pashto and Dari is required.