At a Glance
- Tasks: Coordinate and manage projects to enhance Afghan girls' access to education.
- Company: Join Malala Fund, a global leader advocating for girls' education and equality.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hybrid work, generous paid time off, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the lives of girls while working in a supportive, diverse team.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in project coordination, fluency in Dari/Pashto, and strong advocacy skills required.
- Other info: Malala Fund values diversity and is committed to creating a safe, inclusive workplace.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 £ per year.
About Malala Fund
Registered in the U.K., U.S. Nigeria, and Pakistan, Malala Fund is working toward a world where all girls can learn and lead. Malala Fund advocates for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education. The girls we serve have high goals for themselves and we have high expectations for leaders who can help them. We invest in local education leaders and front-line organizations, the people who best understand girls in their communities in regions where most girls are missing out on secondary school. We give girls the tools they need to advocate for education and equality in their communities and a platform for the world to hear their voices. We believe girls should speak for themselves and tell leaders what they need to learn and achieve their potential.
About the position
The Project Officer, Afghanistan Initiative (Right to Education), will coordinate and manage project delivery across Malala Fund’s efforts to advance Afghan girls’ access to education and respond to the ongoing gender apartheid. This includes supporting advocacy planning and execution, managing partner and stakeholder relationships, delivering strategic convenings, and contributing to research and public engagement efforts. This is a delivery-focused role for a proactive, detail-oriented individual with strong project management capabilities, understanding of international advocacy, and deep familiarity with the Afghan context. The post holder will be expected to manage workstreams independently, ensure high-quality delivery of outputs, and identify opportunities to improve coordination across partners and Malala Fund teams. Fluency in Dari and/or Pashto is essential, as is experience working on Afghan women’s rights or education advocacy.
Location: London, UK/Hybrid - 1 year term
Responsibilities:
- Project Management and Delivery
- Lead coordination and implementation of activities under the Afghanistan Initiative, including high-level delegation visits, legal roundtables, strategy meetings, and public events.
- Manage timelines, deliverables, and budgets across advocacy, policy, and legal accountability workstreams to ensure alignment with initiative goals and organisational strategy.
- Support the Senior Director in driving the overall delivery of the Afghanistan Initiative, including coordinating internal processes, tracking key activities, and facilitating cross-team collaboration.
- Convene and manage the Afghanistan Initiative Working Group, ensuring internal alignment on priorities, strategy, and actions across policy, legal, communications, and programme teams.
- Provide logistical and administrative support for convenings, legal and policy meetings, and coalition-building efforts, ensuring smooth implementation and timely follow-up.
- Maintain project management systems and tools to track outputs, risks, milestones, and impact across the initiative.
- Support budget tracking and liaise with operations colleagues on contracts, grant deliverables, and procurement needs related to the initiative.
- Facilitate coordination between internal teams and external partners to deliver integrated, high-impact advocacy and accountability interventions.
- Contribute to the preparation of targeted advocacy materials (e.g. talking points, policy memos, internal analysis).
- Conduct desk research and media scans on relevant developments in Afghanistan and international forums (e.g. UN, EU, OIC).
- Translate findings and stakeholder insights into internal recommendations and briefings for senior leadership.
- Liaise with Malala Fund’s communications team to support visibility of the Afghanistan Initiative, particularly around key events or milestones.
- Assist in the drafting and translation (Dari/Pashto/English) of written materials including public statements, op-eds, and campaign content.
- Monitor public discourse and flag emerging narratives relevant to Malala Fund’s positioning on Afghanistan.
- Support due diligence, safeguarding, and data security processes for all stakeholder engagements and activities.
- Escalate potential political, security, or reputational risks to the Senior Director and maintain risk documentation.
Qualifications
Essential
- Typically 5+ years of experience in project coordination or officer-level roles in international advocacy, human rights, development, or policy settings.
- Fluency in Dari and/or Pashto; fluency in English is essential.
- Strong knowledge of Afghanistan’s political and social landscape, with particular attention to gender and education issues.
- Demonstrated project management skills with the ability to lead delivery across multiple partners and stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities under tight deadlines.
- Experience working with civil society organisations, multilateral bodies, and/or diaspora communities.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; experience drafting for both internal and external audiences.
- Occasional travel required.
Desirable
- Familiarity with international legal frameworks, gender apartheid advocacy, or multilateral accountability mechanisms.
- Experience supporting advocacy or communications campaigns, including digital or media components.
Why work at Malala Fund?
- Make an impact: Malala Fund works for a world where all girls can learn and lead.
- Great company culture: We are a collaborative, global team with offices in Washington, D.C., New York, London, Islamabad and Abuja. Our values inform our fun, welcoming work culture and the work we do for girls: We set ambitious goals, we dare to be brave, we seek and amplify diverse perspectives, we think creatively, we act with integrity.
- Flexible hybrid work models: Hybrid work options with one or two days in the office and a monthly stipend by country to support work from home expenses.
- Fully paid health, income protection and life benefits: Based on country and legal requirements.
- Retirement plan options: Based on country and legal requirements.
- Rest and relaxation: Generous paid time off and country-specific paid public holidays including sick leave and birthday leave.
- Paid parental leave: Generous paid parental leave.
- Employee assistance and mental health benefits.
- Give back: Get paid to volunteer in your community.
- Professional development and educational benefits: Annual company contribution towards professional development or higher education and free LinkedIn Learning access to 20,000+ online courses.
If fighting for girls’ education excites and inspires you, we might be the perfect fit! Malala Fund is an equal opportunity employer and inclusive organisation that welcomes applications from under-represented and intersectional groups including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities. We are seeking people with different backgrounds, cultures, ages, experiences and identities to provide a wide range of experience, ideas, views and insights into the strategy, policies, culture and ambitions of Malala Fund. Malala Fund is also committed to ensuring the safety of those involved in our work. Our first priority is protecting everyone who comes in direct or indirect contact with our organisation. Malala Fund has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and exploitation by any of our staff, representatives or partners. We commit to ensuring that those who work with Malala Fund or on our behalf are able to work in an environment that is free from harm. To this end, Malala Fund reserves the right to conduct background checks on prospective and current employees.
Project Officer, Afghanistan Initiative employer: Malala
Contact Detail:
Malala Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Officer, Afghanistan Initiative
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the current political and social landscape in Afghanistan, especially regarding gender and education issues. This knowledge will not only help you understand the context of the role but also enable you to engage in meaningful discussions during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals who have experience in international advocacy or human rights, particularly those focused on Afghan women's rights. Attend relevant events or webinars to connect with like-minded individuals and gain insights that could be beneficial for your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your project management skills by preparing examples of past projects where you successfully coordinated multiple stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you managed timelines, deliverables, and budgets, as this is crucial for the Project Officer role.
✨Tip Number 4
Brush up on your Dari and/or Pashto language skills, as fluency is essential for this position. Consider engaging in conversation practice or taking a refresher course to ensure you can communicate effectively in both languages.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Officer, Afghanistan Initiative
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities and qualifications for the Project Officer position. Tailor your application to highlight your relevant experience in project management, advocacy, and knowledge of the Afghan context.
Craft a Compelling CV: Your CV should clearly outline your 5+ years of experience in project coordination or similar roles. Emphasise your skills in managing multiple stakeholders and your familiarity with international advocacy, particularly in relation to gender and education issues.
Write a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for girls' education and how your background aligns with Malala Fund's mission. Be specific about your experiences that relate to the role, such as any work you've done with civil society organisations or advocacy campaigns.
Highlight Language Proficiency: Since fluency in Dari and/or Pashto is essential, make sure to prominently feature your language skills in both your CV and cover letter. If applicable, provide examples of how you've used these languages in professional settings.
How to prepare for a job interview at Malala
✨Understand the Mission
Before your interview, make sure you fully grasp Malala Fund's mission and values. Familiarise yourself with their work in advocating for girls' education, especially in Afghanistan. This will help you align your answers with their goals and demonstrate your passion for the cause.
✨Showcase Project Management Skills
Be prepared to discuss your project management experience in detail. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully coordinated projects, managed timelines, and worked with multiple stakeholders. This is crucial for the Project Officer role, so have concrete examples ready.
✨Demonstrate Cultural Awareness
Given the focus on Afghan girls' education, it's essential to show your understanding of the political and social landscape in Afghanistan. Discuss any relevant experiences or knowledge you have about gender issues and education advocacy in the region.
✨Prepare for Language Proficiency
Since fluency in Dari and/or Pashto is essential, be ready to demonstrate your language skills during the interview. You might be asked to translate a short passage or respond to questions in these languages, so practice beforehand to ensure you're comfortable.