Project Coordinator

Saferworld is seeking to recruit a Project Coordinator. The Project Coordinator will support effective and efficient project and grant coordination with Saferworld staff and partners, supporting the achievement of programmatic and organisational goals, with a strong focus on Afghanistan within the Asia and MENA region. The role will focus on day-to-day relationship building and support to civil society partner organisations in difficult contexts, and is expected to require high levels of adaptability, flexibility and support to locally led approaches in the programme. The role will also have a strong focus on managing timelines, ensuring compliance with rules and regulations, and ensuring management and tracking of all supporting documentation.

Roles and responsibilities:

1. Project Planning, Implementation, and Coordination

• Coordinate the planning and implementation of programme activities in Afghanistan, particularly around financial support, flexible funding and emergency grants, working closely with the Afghanistan Programme Manager
• Support partners in the timely preparation and submission of quarterly and annual financial and narrative reports, ensuring reporting requirements are met
• Coordinate the collection and consolidation of programme activity trackers, working with partners to ensure information is complete and accurate to support programme planning, monitoring and reporting
• Support collection of documentation required for compliance processes and partnership agreements, ensuring documentation is complete and maintained in line with organisational requirements
• In close coordination with the programme team, organise and facilitate in person and online meetings, workshops and learning and exchange sessions with Saferworld teams, partners, and other CSO  representatives, across Afghanistan and regional locations 
• Undertake other programme-related responsibilities as assigned by the programme team.

2. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Provide ongoing support to partners and the programme team in assessing the extent to which initiatives are achieving planned or unintended results
• Support the timely submission of donor and organisational reports 
• Support the documentation of programme achievements, ‘success stories’ and lessons learned and other documented information to demonstrate the results and impact of programme activities
• Actively contribute to outcome harvesting and lesson learning
• Support and foster cross-learning and knowledge sharing between Saferworld’s teams, country programmes, partners and other stakeholders.

3. Funding and Financial Management

• Assist in identifying funding opportunities and represent Saferworld for advocacy and fundraising purposes as necessary
• Contribute to the development of new funding proposals and budgets
• Support fundraising colleagues by providing relevant data and documentation for donor due diligence processes 
• Support the monitoring of project work plans and budgets on a monthly basis to ensure effective utilisation of resources and optimum expenditure of funds
• Assist with forecasting and re-forecasting of funding, and support the preparation and submission of updated budget forecasts and amendments as required 
• Support the preparation of project expenditure requests and accounts for project expenditure in line with Saferworld's financial procedures; support the submission of payment requests and follow up on payments, including donor payment requests, consultant payments and partner disbursements; and coordinate timesheet reporting and allocation compliance across grants
• Support partners and Saferworld staff to meet financial reporting requirements and submit timely and accountable financial reports; and support the submission of donor reports in line with donor and organisational requirements
• Support the Finance team in ensuring partners adhere to Saferworld's financial policies and procedures, and work with country and finance teams to refine financial systems and procedures for grant management and compliance where required
• Support country and global finance teams with project audits, mainly by coordinating pre-audit activities, ensuring required documentation is complete and compliant, identifying potential compliance gaps, and recommending corrective actions where necessary
• Participate in monthly programme, funding and communications meetings, and support follow-up actions related to programme implementation

4. Grants Coordination and Administration

• Support ongoing monitoring of grant compliance by tracking contractual obligations, reporting schedules, donor conditions, and key compliance risks, escalating issues where appropriate
• Work with country focal points and global support staff to ensure systems, processes and workflows for grant management and compliance are in place including developing or updating them when required
• Work with country focal points and global support staff, as well as with the Grant Management Lead, Asia and MENA, to support the process of the grant set up for new contracts, working with relevant teams in the region and in London to ensure staff and partners are aware of their roles and responsibilities in relation to compliance, budgets and deadlines
• Support monthly grant management meetings with finance and project staff, including acting as rapporteur when needed, to ensure that finances are reconciled, and the project is on track with contracted obligations
• Maintain grant action trackers and follow up with programme, finance and partner teams to ensure agreed actions are completed within agreed timeframes.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date fundraising and grant management databases as new grants are agreed, and ensure that grants, contracts, donor communication and key milestones are accessible, accurate and complete
• Carry out updates of the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) database and other internal or external databases as required by the Grant Management Lead or the regional management team
• Participate in quarterly grant management discussions and contribute to strengthening organisational compliance and accountability by sharing lessons learned and good practices from projects across the Asia and MENA region.
• Participate in monthly check-ins with the Grants Management Lead and support the preparation of reports and analysis that strengthen organisational oversight, accountability, and decision making
• Maintaining Saferworld’s partner database in the region and liaise with Saferworld’s Advisory team to ensure Saferworld’s organisational data on partners is up to date
• Additional tasks to support regional grant management as required by the Regional Management Team

Key working relationships

• Colleagues in Programmes – Work with Afghanistan Country Manager, Programme Manager, Finance Manager, and wider team to ensure the programme is aligned with Saferworld’s strategy for Afghanistan and incorporates inputs from all colleagues; work closely with other country teams in Asia and MENA region to support regular inputs and grants coordination
• Colleagues in Funding – Jointly identify and respond to funding opportunities. Work closely to support high quality proposals
• Colleagues in Regional Management Team – Work closely with the Regional Management Team to support wider coordination
• Other grant managers in the Africa region and across Saferworld – work collaboratively to exchange learning on best practices in grant management
• Saferworld partners – This role requires direct and frequent coordination with Saferworld partners based in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the region
• External stakeholders – From time to time this role may communicate with external donors as part of donor stewardship, developing relationships, and donor reporting. This may also be required for other external stakeholders

Person Specific

1. Knowledge, qualifications and experience

• Strong experience of playing a coordination role within complex consortiums, project management arrangements, networks, or coalitions
• Demonstrable experience of coordinating projects and grants with local civil society organisations including project planning, grant management, compiling and monitoring budgets, narrative and financial reporting, preferably in an INGO setting (at least two years of experience)
• Good understanding of local and regional dynamics in Afghanistan, South and Central Asia, and the wider Asia region
• Familiarity with peacebuilding and/or international development issues
• Experience of working in an organisation that has a commitment to working in partnership or works closely with national civil society organisations and supporting locally led approaches to programme delivery
• Experience of working in a flexible and partner-led manner with local organisations and actors, with experience of adapting one’s own ways of working to respond to the needs and preferences of others
• Experience in developing and maintaining systematic and transparent records to keep track of projects and for accountability and auditing
• Experience of managing grants in compliance with institutional and other donor compliance
• Demonstrable ability to carry out administrative duties effectively
• Experience of managing and refining databases and extracting data for analytical purposes

2. Skills and abilities

• Fluency in Dari, Pashto, or at least one regional language is essential; fluency in English is also essential (written and spoken).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to condense complex information
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including experience of communicating effectively across cultures and with diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing
• Excellent organisational skills, accuracy and attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines
• Strong coordination and team-working skills applicable to a remote management arrangement
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, as the task requires
• Ability to negotiate and understand priorities of colleagues and partners, applying a problem-solving and supportive approach
• Ability to work proactively, on own initiative and well under pressure
• Ability to work in an independent and non-partisan manner, particularly in high-stress and highly politicised environments, appreciating gender, cultural and ethnic diversity

3. Personal qualities

• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Saferworld
• Commitment to working in solidarity with a range of different partner organisations in different contexts
• Commitment to and compliance with Saferworld’s safeguarding principles
• Commitment to respect and value equality and diversity, and understanding of how this applies to own area of work
• Commitment to anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices and to “shifting power” and decolonising principles
• Active listening and effective communication with colleagues working in diverse contexts
• Curiosity and energy for continual learning and problem-solving

4. Other Requirements

• There is a requirement for regular and frequent travel to Afghanistan and other countries in the Asia/MENA region, as well as additional locations.

Application Process

• Apply through our vacancy portal on our Saferworld Jobs website
• Upload your CV and a covering letter addressing the person specification and why you feel your experience matches the requirements of the role. •
• Closing date for applications: 30 July 2026 
• Interviews will be held week commencing 10 July 2026