Vacancies

Mentor

Department: AWAKE Project/IPPA

Reports to: Associate Director IPPA

Duty station: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

UCA and AWAKE Project Background

The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000 as a private, not-for-profit, secular university through an International Treaty signed by the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV; ratified by their respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. The Presidents are the Patrons of the University, and His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V is the Chancellor. UCA’s mission is to promote the social and economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain communities, by offering an internationally recognized standard of higher education and enabling the peoples of the region to preserve their rich cultural heritage as assets for the future. UCA is distinguished by its three schools: the undergraduate School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), the Graduate School of Development (GSD), and the School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE).

The Graduate School of Development has five divisions: the Institute of Public Policy and Administration (IPPA), the Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI), the Civil Society Initiative (CSI), the Cultural Heritage and Humanities Unit (CHHU), and the Aga Khan Humanities Project (AKHP). 

‘Accelerating Women’s Access to the Knowledge Economy’ (AWAKE) Project includes Component 3.3.1. Digital Training for Group C - Support High-Skilled Women to Access Online Opportunities led by GSD’s Institute for Public Policy and Administration (IPPA). 

Afghanistan's digital gender gap is a result of political unrest, limitations on women's movement, and cultural prejudices. Women's participation in traditional workforce occupations like teaching and nursing is hindered by this disparity. The Taliban's rule since 2021 has worsened this exclusion. Traditional gender roles and patriarchal customs have strengthened biases against women, making them more vulnerable during crises. The AWAKE project aims to address these obstacles by providing digital skills training to Afghani women. The project aims to empower women to advocate for their interests by providing access to information, media, education, and internet tools. The project also covers underprivileged, destitute female entrepreneurs and small business owners. By implementing focused digital interventions, the project aims to create new opportunities for women to successfully participate in the economy. 

Scope of Work and Expected Outputs

The Mentor will support Afghan women participating in the AWAKE online training programme, which includes four modules: Digital Marketing, Data Analytics, Cyber Security, and Digital Literacy and AI. The Mentor will work closely with participants to help them successfully complete the training and secure remote employment opportunities.

Key responsibilities

• Provide ongoing mentoring and career guidance to women enrolled in the AWAKE programme, with a focus on helping them identify and obtain suitable remote and online work opportunities.
• Organise and facilitate regular online group and individual meetings (e.g., via Zoom, MS Teams, or similar platforms) to monitor progress, address challenges, and motivate participants.
• Liaise with trainers of the four modules to understand course content, expectations, and assessment requirements, and use this information to better support participants’ learning.
• Support participants in developing practical employment skills, including online job search, CV and cover letter preparation, interview skills, and professional online communication.
• Build links with potential employers, platforms, and networks that offer remote work suitable for programme graduates and share these opportunities with participants.
• Track each participant’s progress in training and employment search, maintaining clear records of activities, challenges, and outcomes.
• Prepare and submit concise monthly reports on:

• participation in mentoring meetings
• skills and confidence development
• internship, freelance, or job placements obtained
• key challenges and recommendations for improvement.

• Contribute to the overall AWAKE project learning by sharing good practices, success stories, and lessons learned with the IPPA project team.

Mentor Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. Education, Business, IT, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or related discipline).
• At least 3 years’ experience working with adults or youth in mentoring, coaching, career guidance, training, or community development.
• Demonstrated experience supporting women’s economic empowerment or similar initiatives will be a strong asset.
• Good understanding of digital labor markets and remote work platforms (e.g. freelance marketplaces, online teaching, digital services).
• Strong digital skills, including confident use of online communication and collaboration tools (Zoom, MS Teams, Google Meet, email, messaging apps).
• Familiarity with basic digital skills and at least general awareness of fields such as digital marketing, data analytics, cyber security, and AI-supported tools.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and motivate women in challenging circumstances.
• Experience working in the Afghan context and sensitivity to cultural, social, and gender-related issues.

Duration and Timeline

• Tentative period: 15 January 2025 – 15 April 2026.
• Approximate workload: equivalent of 15 working days per training cycle, covering mentoring support across all four modules.
• Regular online availability for participants and the project team is expected, according to an agreed mentoring schedule.
• In case of successful performance and positive results, the contract may be extended in 2026.

Reporting and Coordination: The Consultant will report to the Principal Investigator and will work closely with rethe levant faculty team. Monthly narrative reports and simple tracking tables will be submitted according to the agreed schedule.

Authorship rights: UCA holds all authorship rights for all deliverables, and they cannot be used or reproduced without our permission. 

Payments: Payment will be made upon submission and approval of required deliverables and monthly reports, according to the terms set out in the contract. 

How to Apply: Please submit your application (cover letter, CV, and contact information of three references) on https://tinyurl.com/tcau8hxs by 07 January 2026.

Applications will be reviewed when received. Early applications are strongly encouraged. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  

Review other job vacancies at: https://ucentralasia.org/career-opportunities.