Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. UNFPA is committed to achieving gender balance and fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce.

The Position:

The Programme Specialist, Reproductive Health / Family Planning provides strategic leadership and technical expertise to advance UNFPA Afghanistan’s reproductive health (RH) and family planning (FP) portfolio in alignment with the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2026–2029.

The incumbent leads programme design, implementation oversight, technical quality assurance and policy engagement to accelerate progress toward:

• Ending preventable maternal deaths
• Ending unmet need for family planning

The position ensures continuity of life-saving RH/FP services while strengthening health systems resilience, supply chain sustainability and community-based service delivery models.

The position reports directly to the Deputy Representative and supervises relevant programme staff.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. 

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

To provide strategic leadership, policy guidance and technical oversight for the reproductive health and family planning portfolio in Afghanistan, ensuring high-quality, rights-based and resilient service delivery aligned with the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2026–2029.

You would be responsible for:

Strategic Leadership and Programme Direction

• Lead the development and implementation of the RH/FP strategy within the Country Programme.
• Ensure alignment with the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2026–2029, UNSFA, HRP and national health priorities.
• Ensure an integrated SRH/FP programming to accommodate both the  humanitarian and basic human needs (BHN) needs to ensure service continuity and sustainability.
• Promote gender-responsive, equity-based and rights-based programming.
• Provide strategic advice to senior management on reproductive health policy and programming.
• Identify bottlenecks in Reproductive Health program implementation and devise strategies to address them, strengthening the humanitarian-development nexus.

Technical Oversight and Quality Assurance

• Provide technical leadership on maternal health, emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC), midwifery, family planning, and integrated SRH services.
• Strengthen quality of care standards and adherence to WHO and UNFPA norms and guidelines relating to comprehensive RH/FP services.
• Support development and implementation of national guidelines, protocols and standards on SRH/FP.
• Strengthen monitoring systems and use of data for decision-making.
• Provide strategic and technical guidance on multi-sectoral Reproductive Health programming, ensuring integration with other relevant sectors at the country level. 

Health Systems Strengthening and Sustainability

• Support institutional capacity building of health local and service providers.
• Contribute in strengthening RH commodity security and supply chain management systems in close coordination with Supply Chain Management units.
• Promote sustainable financing approaches and resource mobilization for RH/FP services.
• Support integration of RH/FP services into primary health care systems, and sustainability of the FHH flagship intervention.
• Advance digital health and data innovations where feasible.

Programme management and implementation oversight

• Oversee the day-to-day management of the Reproductive Health unit ensuring effective RH/FP programme delivery and implementation compliance.
• Ensure sound Implementing Partner management, workplan management, financial management, monitoring of expenditures of SRH/FP programme and adherence to UNFPA policies and procedures in coordination with operations colleagues.
• Supervise programme staff and consultants including Programme Associate in the unit; provide mentoring, performance management and capacity development support.
• Ensure safe and secure programme implementation in coordination with the field/Area offices.
• Establish appropriate monitoring and oversight systems to track programme implementation, partner performance and commodity distribution (for Bulk supplies relating to the Basic Human Needs).

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

• Develop strategic partnerships with local authorities, NGOs, UN agencies and donors.
• Support preparation of high-quality proposals and concept notes.
• Advocate for reproductive health and rights, and access to services in policy forums.
• Contribute to joint UN programming and pooled funding mechanisms.
• Represent UNFPA in inter-agency health coordination platforms and working groups. 

Knowledge Management and Capacity Development

• Document good practices and lessons learned in RH/FP programming.
• Build capacity of local and implementing partners.
• Promote innovation and evidence-based programming.
• Prepare analytical reports and strategic briefs.

Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor or designated authority.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:

Advanced university degree in public health, medicine, reproductive health, health policy, health systems management or related field is required.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in reproductive health and family planning programming is required.
• Demonstrated experience in maternal health, EmONC, midwifery and FP programme management is required.
• Experience in humanitarian settings and implementation of MISP is required.
• Proven expertise in health systems strengthening and quality assurance is required.
• Experience in RH commodity security and supply chain systems is required.
• Strong experience in donor engagement and proposal development is required.
• Experience in fragile or conflict-affected settings is highly desirable.
• Experience within the UN system is an asset.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
• Embracing cultural diversity
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results
• Being accountable
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen
• Thinking analytically and strategically
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results based programmes
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for resource mobilization

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus
• Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders
• Leading, developing and empowering people/ creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.