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 Area Coordinator (P4) provides strategic leadership and oversight of UNFPA’s programme implementation and operational presence in the designated Area Office. The incumbent ensures effective coordination, management and delivery of UNFPA programme activities and humanitarian interventions in the area of responsibility.

The Area Coordinator ensures that UNFPA-supported interventions addressing reproductive maternal health, gender-based violence, adolescents and youth, and population data are implemented effectively and in accordance with UNFPA policies and humanitarian principles.

The Area Coordinator represents UNFPA at the area level and ensures strong coordination with United Nations agencies, international and national partners, civil society organizations and humanitarian actors. The incumbent also provides management oversight of programme and operational functions of the Area Office.

The position reports directly to the Deputy Representative.

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:

The Area Coordinator provides strategic direction, programme oversight and operational management for UNFPA activities in the Area Office, ensuring effective implementation of programmes, both the Development (Basic Human needs) and humanitarian interventions aligned with the Country Office priorities.

The incumbent ensures strong coordination with partners and local and international actors, promotes integration of UNFPA mandated areas in regional planning and response efforts, and ensures sound management of programme delivery, resources and personnel in the Area Office.

You would be responsible for:

Area Leadership, Representation and Coordination

• Provide overall leadership and management of UNFPA’s Area Office and its programme and operational activities.
• Represent UNFPA in area-level coordination mechanisms, United Nations forums and other coordination platforms.
• Lead and advocate on UNFPA mandate priorities — including equitable access to maternal reproductive health services, Mental Health and Psychosocial counselling and addressing the needs of adolescents and Youth. 
• Conduct continuous political and environmental scanning and context analysis and provide regular updates to Country Office leadership on contextual developments and programmatic implications.
• Promote effective coordination among implementing partners to ensure coherent and complementary programme implementation.
• Ensure visibility and strategic positioning of UNFPA in the area of responsibility.

Programme Oversight and Implementation

• Oversee the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of UNFPA programmes within the Area Office.
• Ensure programme implementation is aligned with UNFPA policies, Country Programme Priorities, humanitarian principles and results-based management frameworks.
• Coordinate closely with Country Office programme units to ensure coherence between national priorities and area-level implementation.
• Monitor programme performance, identify implementation bottlenecks and propose solutions to enhance programme effectiveness and impact.
• Support the preparation of programme reports, situation analyses and contributions to integrated programme planning processes.
• Ensure effective monitoring of programme activities, implementing partner performance and distribution of programme commodities and supplies.

Partnerships, Advocacy and Resource Mobilization

• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with United Nations agencies, international and national non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and other stakeholders operating in the area.
• Promote UNFPA’s mandate priorities through advocacy, policy dialogue and engagement in coordination mechanisms.
• Identify opportunities for programme expansion and sustainability, contribute to the development of proposals and resource mobilization initiatives.
• Support the preparation of briefing notes, situation updates, communication materials and documentation of programme results and lessons learned.
• Facilitate collaboration and information sharing between partners to strengthen joint programming and integrated response.

Office Management and Operational Oversight

• Provide overall management of the Area Office, ensuring efficient and effective programme and operational support functions.
• Oversee financial management and monitor programme expenditures in coordination with the Country Office operations team.
• Ensure compliance with UNFPA policies, procedures and internal control mechanisms in the management of programme and operational activities.
• Supervise programme and operations personnel within the Area Office and provide guidance, mentoring and performance management.
• Ensure appropriate monitoring systems are in place to track programme implementation, partner performance and commodity distribution.
• Promote a safe, respectful and inclusive working environment within the Area Office.

Knowledge Management and Capacity Strengthening

• Promote documentation of programme achievements, best practices and lessons learned from field implementation.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing between the Area Office and Country Office to strengthen programme effectiveness.
• Support capacity strengthening of programme staff and implementing partners to enhance quality programme implementation.
• Promote accountability to affected populations, safeguarding principles and adherence to humanitarian standards.

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

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:

Advanced university degree in social sciences, public health, international development, humanitarian affairs, population studies, gender studies or other related fields is required.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in programme management, coordination or emergency operations are required.
• Demonstrated experience in managing field-based programmes in complex or fragile settings is required.
• Experience in leading multidisciplinary teams and overseeing programme implementation and operational management is required.
• Experience in humanitarian coordination mechanisms and working with international and national partners is required.
• Knowledge of results-based programme management and monitoring systems is desirable.
• Experience working in humanitarian or crisis contexts is highly desirable.
• Experience within the United Nations 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.