Meet Abdul Rahman Shinwari, a WASH Community Mobiliser in Afghanistan. Known for rallying coworkers and communities with enthusiasm, he was nominated by his colleagues for his leadership and dynamic approach, earning him recognition as an ambassador of our Engage value.
His ability to connect with others and inspire action reflects both his professional skills and his personal drive to serve and engage with communities in meaningful ways.
The business of humanitarianism
“I have an MBA degree and an academic background in business, which gave me strong skills in management, communication, coordination and conflict resolution. Despite this background, I’ve always been passionate about helping people,” explains Abdul on how he ended up in the humanitarian sector.
Instead of taking an illustrious business career further, things took a different turn – he started volunteering with local community initiatives before turning to humanitarianism full time.
“My special interest in community resilience and public service led me to join the International Medical Corps (IMC) as a Community Mobiliser. Further professional development led me to join CTG, where I am now working as a WASH Community Mobiliser supporting the most vulnerable of people.”
Abdul engages with communities in Afghanistan.
Embodying engagement every day
As a WASH Community Mobiliser, Abdul’s typical workday is all about engagement: directly with communities, with team members, with clients. “I start by coordinating with team members, reviewing activity plans, and ensuring materials are ready for the day,” he says. “I spend most of the day in the field – conducting hygiene promotion sessions, meeting community leaders. Every day is different, but the goal remains the same: to ensure communities have access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.”
This mirrors CTG’s definition of the Engage value. To engage means to participate, to get involved. We believe that when we engage, we create a ripple effect. Doing our part well improves lives, strengthens teams, and builds trust.
“All my work is based on engagement: engaging colleagues, engaging community, engaging partners organisation,” he continues. “This is the basis of providing services to people at the right time with the best quantity and quality.” Abdul brings this value to life every day. His nominations frequently referenced his ongoing encouragement of open communication within his team, and how he respects cultural sensitivities and creates space for everyone’s voice.
As he explains, he encourages engagement by opening communication with community members and team members: “I focus on accountability in each task, following up on commitments. I also take care that complaint and feedback mechanisms are accessible to the community so they feel they can participate openly.”
All my work is based on engagement: engaging colleagues, engaging community, engaging partners organisation.
Abdul was nominated for his enthusiastic approach to his work.
All-round EPIC in Afghanistan
The rest of the EPIC values are also more than guiding words for Abdul – they shape how he approaches his work each day. To Pioneer means being flexible and taking initiative, always looking for creative ways to overcome challenges and resolve conflicts. Improve is about continuous learning, building his own capacity and that of his colleagues so they can better serve the most vulnerable communities.
And, at the heart of it all is Care – treating every individual with respect, compassion, and dignity. Together, these values keep him motivated, accountable, and focused on making a meaningful impact.
His advice for other humanitarians? “Engage your team and community daily in a way that adheres to company rules and regulations. Be respectful honest and committed.”
Would you like to know more about our EPIC culture? Click here.