Social protection community support officer

Way of Hope to Life Organization (WHLO) is a non-profit, non-political, and non-governmental organization founded by 2002 by a group of Afghan intellectuals and youth with a shared vision of creating meaningful empowerment and a brighter future for Afghan communities. WHLO is officially registered with the ministry of economy under registration number 480.

Over the 23 years, WHLO has successfully implemented more than 250 projects across Afghanistan in the areas of: Education, Health, Food Security & Livelihood, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Community Development.

WHLO strongly believes in human rights-based development, humanitarian cooperation, accountability, equality, and non-discrimination, guided by these values, WHLO has earned a reputation as a trusted implementing partner among local communities, government stakeholders’ international donors.

Job Summary:

The Social Protection / Community Support Officer will be responsible for identifying vulnerable individuals and households, coordinating beneficiary targeting and verification, and implementing community-based self-help and social protection initiatives. The officer will ensure that assistance is delivered through transparent, inclusive and flexible participation modalities, prioritizing returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), host community members, female-headed households and other vulnerable groups. The position will also support community engagement, grievance redress mechanisms (GRM) and coordination with relevant stakeholders to promote equitable access to assistance, strengthen community resilience and contribute to social cohesion.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

·         Conduct community-level assessments and support the identification of vulnerable individuals and households in accordance with approved project eligibility criteria.

·         Apply transparent, consistent and verifiable beneficiary targeting and verification procedures, prioritizing returnees, IDPs, host community members, female-headed households and other vulnerable groups.

·         Verify beneficiary information and maintain accurate records to ensure that assistance reaches eligible individuals and households.

·         Support the planning and implementation of community-based self-help and social protection initiatives in accordance with assessed community needs and the approved project workplan.

·         Facilitate inclusive and flexible participation modalities that enable vulnerable individuals and households to access project support without unnecessary barriers.

·         Clearly communicate eligibility criteria, participation requirements, conditions attached to community-based support and available assistance to targeted communities.

·         Establish, operationalize and maintain an accessible Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), ensuring that beneficiaries can raise concerns and provide feedback, including those with low literacy or limited mobility.

·         Receive, document, refer and follow up on beneficiary complaints and feedback in accordance with established GRM procedures and confidentiality requirements.

·         Conduct community awareness sessions on beneficiary selection, social protection support, accountability, PSEA and available complaint and feedback mechanisms.

·         Coordinate with community representatives, social mobilizers, local stakeholders and relevant project officers to facilitate community entry, beneficiary engagement and effective implementation of activities.

·         Promote conflict-sensitive, gender-responsive and do-no-harm approaches throughout targeting, verification and community support activities.

·         Ensure that beneficiary selection and assistance delivery do not contribute to exclusion, discrimination, tensions or perceived inequalities among returnees, IDPs and host community members.

·         Maintain updated beneficiary lists, targeting and verification records, attendance sheets, support distribution records and other required project documentation.

·         Ensure the confidentiality, security and appropriate handling of beneficiary information in accordance with project data-protection requirements.

·         Monitor implementation progress, identify operational challenges and report concerns or emerging risks to the Project Manager in a timely manner.

·         Prepare regular activity reports, beneficiary statistics and supporting documentation in accordance with project monitoring and reporting requirements.

·         Contribute to project workplans, monitoring activities, lessons learned and final reporting to support effective implementation and achievement of project objectives.

·         To carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects WHLO’s commitment to protecting children in accordance with the Child Safeguarding Policy.

Required Qualifications and Experiences: 

·         Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Economics or a related field.

·         Minimum three years of relevant experience in cash-based assistance, beneficiary targeting and verification, social safety net programming or community-based support.

·         Practical experience in beneficiary registration, eligibility assessment, household verification and community-level programme implementation.

·         Experience working with vulnerable populations, including returnees, IDPs, host communities and female-headed households, is an asset.

·         Knowledge of community engagement, accountability mechanisms, protection principles, conflict sensitivity and do-no-harm approaches.

·         Ability to maintain accurate beneficiary records, prepare reports and handle sensitive information confidentially.

Core competencies

·         Strong community engagement and interpersonal communication skills.

·         High standards of transparency, impartiality and accountability.

·         Good assessment, verification, documentation and reporting skills.

·         Ability to work effectively with vulnerable individuals and diverse community groups.

·         Commitment to inclusion, gender equality, safeguarding, PSEA and confidentiality.

·         Strong coordination, problem-solving and organizational skills.

·         Ability to identify and report implementation risks and community-level concerns.

·         Fluency in Pashto and Dari is required.

·         Working knowledge of English is required.

Application Procedures:

·         Interested qualified candidates should submit a full CV with a cover letter explaining their motivation in applying for the job and highlighting their relevant skills and experience;

·         Please quote the Vacancy Number as the Subject of the e-mail when applying

·         To apply online please send your application / CV and cover letter through EMAIL Jobs@whl.org.af

 no later than 07^th Nov 2026.

·         Academic certificates or references need not to be submitted at this time. These will be requested at the time of interview.

·         Only short-listed candidates will be invited for written test and interview.

Females are highly encouraged to apply.

 WHLO is committed to the highest ethical standards and to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful working environment. Our work is guided by the core values of Responsiveness, Equality, Impartiality, Social Justice, and Integrity.

 WHLO is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, abuse, sexual harassment, discrimination, and all forms of misconduct.

 Background, reference, and other appropriate pre-employment checks will be conducted as part of the recruitment process for the successful candidate.