Job Description:

Overview:

The Field Coordination Officer is responsible for ensuring cohesive and consistent implementation of project activities across all target provinces. This role entails traveling to various field sites to provide oversight, support, and coordination for provincial teams (PCMs, DCMs, Master Trainers, Facilitators). The Field Coordination Officer verifies that the project’s approaches and standards are being maintained on the ground, troubleshoots operational issues, and facilitates communication and learning between provinces. By having a bird’s-eye view of field operations, this officer helps the project adapt and improve in real time, and ensures that successes are replicated and challenges addressed uniformly.

Key Responsibilities:

Cross-Provincial Coordination: Act as the connecting link between the central office and all provincial implementation sites. Ensure that each Provincial Community Mobilizer and provincial team has the information, resources, and guidance needed to execute activities on schedule. Communicate any changes in plans or new directives from Kabul to all provinces promptly and consistently.

Field Supervision and Support: Travel regularly to the field (each target province on a rotation or as needed). During visits, work alongside provincial staff to monitor class operations, attend community meetings, and meet with local stakeholders. Provide hands-on support or mentoring to provincial teams; for example, help a PCM plan an upcoming enrollment drive or accompany a DCM on village visits to model effective community engagement techniques.

Standardization of Practices: Ensure that best practices and standard operating procedures are followed similarly in all provinces. For instance, verify that teaching and learning materials are being distributed and used properly in every province (Annex 1_Terms of Reference .docx), that Village Literacy Committees are formed everywhere as intended, and that data collection processes (like using Kobo forms) are uniformly understood and implemented. If one province has an effective method (e.g., a successful strategy to reduce female dropout), document it and encourage its adoption in other provinces.

Logistical Coordination: Assist in the planning and execution of large-scale field activities that might need central coordination, such as distribution of a large batch of toolkits or organizing simultaneous training workshops in multiple provinces. Ensure that logistics (transportation of materials, scheduling of central trainers) are well-coordinated and contingency plans are in place for remote areas.

Monitoring & Verification: Conduct spot-checks and verification of field reports. Randomly verify the numbers reported by field staff – e.g., drop in to a class unannounced to count learners and compare with reported attendance, or cross-check that learners on the lists indeed exist and meet criteria by speaking with community members. Verify that assets and resources delivered to provinces (like generators, textbooks, sewing machines) are present and in use at the field sites they were assigned.

Troubleshooting: Identify operational bottlenecks or issues that provincial teams may be hesitant or unable to solve alone. This could include things like delays in salary payments reaching a province, difficulties with local authorities, or security constraints affecting class schedules. Work to solve these issues by coordinating with the Kabul office (e.g., expediting funds, engaging higher-level authorities, adjusting plans). Elevate critical problems to the Program Manager with recommended solutions.

Capacity Building: Where gaps are observed in field staff capacity, provide on-the-spot training or refresher guidance. For example, if a DCM is struggling with data reporting, coach them in the field; if a Master Trainer needs support to handle a mixed-gender training, assist and guide. Identify any training needs that require additional resources and report back so that formal trainings can be arranged if needed.

Stakeholder Engagement: On behalf of the project, meet with provincial and district officials during field travel to maintain good relationships. Ensure local government and community leaders in various provinces feel heard and involved. Gather their feedback on the project’s implementation and share it with the Kabul team for adaptive management.

Reporting: After each field visit, prepare a field visit report detailing observations, any discrepancies or issues found, actions taken on the spot, and recommendations for follow-up (Annex 1_Terms of Reference .docx). Summarize common trends across provinces in a periodic report (for example, a quarterly field coordination summary) to inform the Program Manager of overall field conditions and performance.

Safety and Security Compliance: Monitor the security situation during field trips and ensure that field teams are following safety protocols. Update the Program Manager about any security developments that could impact operations (e.g., need to relocate classes, change travel routes). Adjust field visit plans dynamically in case of security or weather emergencies, prioritizing staff safety.

End-of-Project Coordination: Towards the end of the project, coordinate the winding down of field activities, such as the collection of final data, closure of classes, and any events or ceremonies. Ensure each province completes its deliverables (final tests, community meetings, asset handovers) and that this is uniformly achieved before the project closes.

Expected Deliverables:

Field Visit Reports: Detailed reports for each province visit, submitted to the Program Manager within one week of return from the field. Each report should include: provinces/districts visited, classes observed (with findings on attendance, teaching quality, material usage), meetings held (with stakeholders or staff), identified issues, and corrective actions taken or suggested.

Issue Tracker Updates: A live tracker of field issues that the Field Coordination Officer maintains. By project end, this tracker should show issues identified across provinces and their resolution status. For example, if a shortage of textbooks was noted in a province and extra were sent, the tracker logs the date and resolution. This ensures 100% of significant field issues are addressed and none are left unresolved.

Material Distribution Verification: A report or matrix confirming that all key materials and kits have been delivered to each class in every province (Annex 1_Terms of Reference .docx). This can be a province-by-province checklist included in one of the periodic reports, confirming distribution completeness (with any gaps noted and a plan to fill them).

Best Practices & Lessons Document: Midway or by the end of the project, compile a short document highlighting best practices observed in certain provinces that could benefit others, as well as lessons learned from challenges. This can be shared with all provincial teams to improve performance in the latter half of the project and will also feed into the final project report.

Provincial Performance Overview: A bi-monthly summary report (every two months) that compares progress and performance metrics across all provinces. This could be a dashboard or narrative that flags which provinces are on track or lagging in various aspects (enrollment, completion rate, etc.) and why. It ensures the Program Manager has a clear view of where to allocate additional support.

Final Field Operations Report: As part of project closure, produce a final overview of field operations addressing how effectively the project was implemented across different regions. Include a section on how uniform the implementation was, variations that occurred and reasons (e.g., one province had a flood causing a pause), and overall conclusions on field coordination. This will complement the M&E Officer’s final data report with qualitative context.

Job Requirements:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Social Science, Public Administration, or a related field (Annex 1_Terms of Reference .docx). A Master’s degree can be an asset, but field experience is weighed heavily.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience in project coordination or management, specifically involving multi-site or field operations (Annex 1_Terms of Reference .docx). Out of these, at least 2 years should be in the education sector or community development sector in Afghanistan, supporting or supervising field teams. Experience working in remote or rural areas of Afghanistan is essential; direct experience in literacy or vocational training projects is a strong advantage.

Project Coordination Skills: Demonstrated ability to manage and synchronize activities in multiple locations. Experience in standardizing processes or implementing guidelines uniformly across different field sites.

Travel Readiness: Willingness and ability to travel frequently under varying conditions. The candidate should have a track record of successful field missions, and be comfortable with basic travel conditions (road travel, staying in provincial areas with limited facilities).

Leadership and Communication: Strong leadership qualities to influence and guide field staff who may not be direct reports. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively liaise with both local staff and community officials. Must be able to adjust communication style to different audiences (from local elders to UN officials if needed).

Problem-Solving: Resourceful and proactive in addressing field challenges. Able to make quick decisions on the ground and find creative solutions when faced with obstacles (e.g., rerouting supplies if a road is closed, negotiating with local power holders, etc.).

Technical Knowledge: Familiar with project management tools and approaches. Basic understanding of Monitoring & Evaluation to appreciate field data requirements. Should have a grasp of logistical aspects like supply chain and fleet management to coordinate distributions.

Language Skills: Fluent in English and Dari and/or Pashto (Annex 1_Terms of Reference .docx). Fluency in both local languages is highly preferred to communicate with all provincial teams and local stakeholders. Additional local dialects a plus.

Computer Skills: Proficient in email, MS Office, and capable of writing clear field reports. Ability to use or quickly learn data collection apps (like Kobo) and GPS mapping tools is helpful for field coordination.

Cultural Sensitivity: Experience working across different regions of Afghanistan, understanding tribal and cultural differences. Must show respect for local customs and adapt approaches accordingly to be effective in each area.

Teamwork: Collaborative attitude – works closely with the Kabul team (Program Manager, M&E, etc.) and values the input of field staff. Encourages a one-team mentality across central and field staff, bridging any gaps.

Submission Guideline:

Interested candidates should submit their applications (CV, Tazkera & Educational documents) by e-mail or in writing (marked confidential and clearly indicating on the sealed envelope the vacancy announcement number) to:

House# 10, Left Lane 02, Street 13, Wazir Akbar Khan, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Email address: hr@dwsso.org

Phone: 0799 149 513

Submission Email:

hr@dwsso.org