CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS has been working on behalf of Afghan communities since 2002. CRS supports anticipatory action and integrated emergency response, inclusive education, improved agricultural techniques and value chain strengthening, and other life‐enriching services to communities vulnerable to shocks and stresses. CRS is currently implementing programs with partners across provinces of Bamiyan, Ghor, Herat, Kunar, Samangan, Balkh, and Kabul, and is exploring additional expansion via an expanded local partnership and market system development approach.

Globally and in country CRS has invested significantly in anticipatory action and emergency programming, with a focus on supporting national and local organizations to respond efficiently to unfolding and protracted crises. CRS accompanies emergency support to disaster impacted communities through country-wide and localized approaches to maximize sustained impact, efficient use of resources, and increase the speed and access of response by prioritizing market driven solutions. This approach spans programmatic and operational support to all actors in response. CRS intends to expand and strengthen its capacity to catalyze outcomes at scale, through more intentional social behavior change-informed approaches, and through the engagement and coordination of other actors to influence expansion of activities, strategies, and outcomes.

CRS is seeking a qualified Safeguarding and Protection Technical Advisor I to provide safeguarding and protection technical assistance, guidance, and leadership to the Afghanistan Country Office (CO), including CRS staff and partners, supporting both programmatic and operational implementation of CRS’ Safeguarding Policy and Safe and Dignified Programming/Protection priorities. The Safeguarding and Protection TA will work closely with the Country Representative, Head of Operations, and Head of Programs to manage safeguarding and protection issues, including training CRS and partner staff on safeguarding, conducting safeguarding assessments of partner organizations, and supporting partners to implement safeguarding improvement plans. S/he will ensure that safeguarding, protection, equity, safe and dignified programming principles are mainstreamed into CRS and partner’s operations and programs, including integrating these into recruitment and retention practices.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

CP SG and SDP related tasks:

• Serve as a technical resource in the CO for safeguarding and Safe and Dignified Programming/protection mainstreaming, supporting cross-departmental prioritization, and providing regular updates on CRS  lessons learned, and best practices.
• Provide tools and technical support to Program Managers for awareness raising of program participants and communities of intervention on their rights, CRS’ Code of Conduct & Ethics, reporting expectations, and related safeguarding information.
• Maintain up-to-date Essential Service Mapping and referral pathways at country and project levels, and support design and monitoring of functional, safe, and accessible Feedback and Complaint Response Mechanisms.
• Support, coordinate, and train in-country CRS and partner Safeguarding Focal Points and project frontline staff on identifying, receiving, and escalating safeguarding and protection reports, concerns and suspicions and provide tools and technical guidance to Program leaders to raise awareness among program participants and target communities.
• Support the implementation of Common Humanitarian Standards (CHS) action plans for safeguarding and protection, identifying and addressing barriers to compliance, and actively participate in in-country Protection networks and cluster forums to ensure staff are informed of resources.
• Support capacity strengthening in safeguarding, protection, and gender equity programming for staff and partners by developing learning and training strategies/agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and providing coaching.
• Strengthen safeguarding systems and community engagement by maintaining and reviewing updated referral pathways and Essential Service Mapping, supporting design and monitoring of Feedback and Complaint Response Mechanisms, and ensuring safe, accessible, effective reporting and referral channels for all, with particular attention to vulnerable groups. Includes implementation and management of CRS’ hotline and use of YouTrack.
• Collect and analyze program data, capture and share lessons learned and best practices to facilitate improvements in decision-making and contribute to safeguarding, protection learning agendas.
• Contribute to maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations, research; participate in forums around safeguarding, protection, to share best practices and promote CRS’ work.
• Contribute to the implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in safeguarding, protection, and equity that engage partners, donors, and governments, helping ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
• Provide safeguarding and protection technical solutions to CRS teams, remotely and on-site, to support application of standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E, ensuring high-quality implementation of CRS’ Safeguarding Policy.
• Review project design to ensure minimum requirements for safeguarding, safe and dignified principles, protection, are included, such as risk assessments, mitigation measures, functional Feedback and Complaint Response Mechanisms, staffing, and budget allocations.
• Lead contextualization and adaptation of mandatory online training and orientations for staff (CRS and partners) and affiliates with low literacy levels or limited access to online platforms.
• Conduct training and learning activities, including for project frontline staff (CRS and partners), to promote understanding, acceptance, and implementation of CRS’ safeguarding policy, and to build capacity in identifying, receiving, and escalating safeguarding reports, suspicions, and concerns.
• Plan, facilitate, and coordinate safeguarding and protection risk assessments, including Do No Harm analyses, during design/start-up and implementation to ensure safe and dignified programming.
• Participate in the bimonthly safe and dignified programming Community of Practice.
• Ensure close collaboration with the Human Resources team during the hiring process to ensure recruitment of staff who exhibit CRS behaviors and competencies.
• Serve as a first point of contact for safeguarding reports and concerns from colleagues by receiving and logging all reports and allegations in EthicsPoint, triaging initial safeguarding or protection-related queries, ensuring confidentiality throughout the process, and promptly referring cases to the appropriate personnel; Support survivors by facilitating immediate assistance, connecting them to appropriate support services, and ensuring follow-up actions align with safeguarding procedures to protect their safety and dignity.
• Conduct and support survivor-centered investigations into allegations of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment against a program participant, community member, and staff or affiliates, allegedly perpetrated by CRS Team Members or Associates

PSPP related tasks:

• Implement the Partner Safeguarding rollout by conducting a mapping of partners, developing the CRS partner safeguarding annual workplan, organizing orientation sessions for senior partner staff, and coordinating partner safeguarding assessments as per Partner Safeguarding requirements, ensuring partners are timely assessed, submit improvement plans and follow up on their implementation.
• Lead partner capacity strengthening, including provision of templates and tools, online and face-to-face training, technical accompaniment; coordinate contributions from CRS (HR, MEAL, Investigation Focal Point) and adapt training materials with the Regional Safeguarding Advisor.
• Carry out follow-up visits within required timeframes and ensure all assessment documentation is securely stored and uploaded to Gateway.
• Organize regular meetings with key programs, risk & compliance, operations, and partnership staff to provide updates on the status, progress, and challenges of rolling out partner safeguarding procedure.
• Prepare and share regular progress reports on implementation of partner safeguarding procedures with supervisors, senior management team, partnership staff, and the Regional Safeguarding Advisor.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for partners and CRS country office staff regarding partner safeguarding procedures, providing technical resources, guidance, and support; coordinate all partner safeguarding activities with relevant CRS country office staff.

• High school diploma required. Bachelor’s degree strongly recommended. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of three years’ relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of two years’ relevant field-based experience in safeguarding and/or protection, or other related fields.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, protection, and gender technical principles and concepts. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach. Experience leading or supporting development of strategic or departmental plans, including implementation monitoring.
• Knowledge of capacity strengthening best practices. Experience designing and conducting training.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation and analysis preferred.
• Experience and skills in partnership, and a good understanding of partnership principles.
• Experience in conducting / supporting safeguarding investigations.
• Demonstrated ability to influence colleagues, in the absence of formal authority, to achieve time-bound plans or goals.

Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings
• Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment.
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Supervisory Responsibilities: Hotline Manager and possible partner safeguarding staff.

Key Working Relationships:  

• Internal: Country Representative; Head of Operations and operations team; Head of Programs and programs team, Human Resource team, Hotline Manager
• External: Project participants, community leaders and members, government agencies, other NGOs (national and international), and community-based organizations

Required Languages – Strong English, Dari and Pashtu – reading, writing, and oral communication skills.

Travel – The position will be based in Kabul with 30% travel. 

CRS is committed to providing daily allowances for mahrams who accompany female staff on day trips to the field, and per diem and accommodation for mahrams who accompany female staff on work-related trips that require overnight stays.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals.  These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – consistently takes responsibilities for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.  

CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Protection Acknowledgment: CRS prohibits all forms of abuse and exploitation towards children and vulnerable adults. As a professional candidate, you commit to adhering to the Agency’s policy on protection, rights and dignity of children and vulnerable adults and to safeguard them from abuse and exploitation as defined in CRS’ Safeguarding Policy

Applications comprise a one-page cover letter to explain your interest and suitability for the post and your CV. Please do not attach your education documents and work certificates unless requested.

Dear Applicants!

The process of submitting a CV/Application has been changed to the online system. Therefore, interested candidates are encouraged to apply using the link provided below. Applications sent to any other email address or location will not be considered. Please ensure to rename your application file according to your name entered on the first page of the application forms.

Interested candidates can submit their applications by clicking on this link.

Please note that applications received after the closing date (i.e., December 27^th, 2025), will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for tests and interviews.