How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

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 that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, working to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all by ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal deaths, and ending violence and harmful practices against women and girls. UNFPA’s Strategic Plan (2022–2025) reaffirms its commitment to these three transformative results and aligns with the ICPD and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda.

Afghanistan continues to experience a fragile health system marked by inequitable access to essential health services, particularly for women and girls in rural and hard-to-reach areas. The situation is exacerbated by limited funding, shortage of skilled health professionals, insecurity, geographical barriers, and weak health infrastructure. Maternal morbidity and mortality remain high, compounded by poor maternal nutrition, limited access to quality reproductive health services, and insufficient integration of preventive and promotive interventions, including immunization.

In response, UNFPA seeks a highly experienced and dynamic professional to serve as Maternal Health and Nutrition Programme Specialist, providing strategic leadership to the Maternal and Reproductive Health (MRH) programme. The Specialist will play a managerial and coordination role, leading the design, implementation, oversight, and integration of maternal health, maternal nutrition, and related RMNCAH interventions across humanitarian and development programming, while strengthening collaboration with UN agencies, government counterparts, and partners.

The position will also lead the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-supported project in the southern region, ensuring high-quality implementation and strategic alignment with UNFPA’s national priorities.

You would be responsible for:

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative and direct supervision of the Assistant Representative, the Maternal Health and Nutrition Programme Specialist will function as a senior technical and managerial lead for the MRH Unit, supporting UNFPA Afghanistan to plan, coordinate, and lead maternal health interventions at national and sub-national levels.

1. Strategic Leadership and Programme Management

• Provide strategic leadership for the Maternal and Reproductive Health (MRH) programme within UNFPA Afghanistan, acting as a technical focal point and acting head of the MRH thematic portfolio.
• Lead the design, implementation, coordination, and monitoring of integrated maternal health and nutrition programmes within humanitarian and development contexts.
• Ensure alignment of MRH interventions with national health strategies, UNFPA Strategic Plan, and global RMNCAH priorities.
• Provide managerial oversight for MRH programming, ensuring quality, efficiency, accountability, and results-based implementation.

2. Programme Implementation and Technical Oversight

• Lead the implementation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-supported maternal health and related interventions in the southern region, ensuring effective delivery, reporting, and donor compliance.
• Oversee integrated programming covering maternal health, reproductive health, maternal nutrition, family planning, quality of care, and supportive service delivery models.
• Strengthen integration of maternal nutrition interventions within reproductive health and maternal health service platforms.
• Support the development, review, and operationalisation of national guidelines, protocols, and strategies related to maternal health and nutrition.
• Ensure the mainstreaming of maternal health considerations across UNFPA-supported programmes and emergency response initiatives.

3. Coordination and Partnership Building

• Lead coordination on MRH programming with relevant UN agencies, government ministries, donors, implementing partners, and technical working groups.
• Represent UNFPA in national and sub-national coordination platforms, including Health Cluster, Nutrition Cluster, and RMNCAH Technical Working Groups.
• Strengthen inter-agency collaboration to harmonise maternal health interventions and promote synergy across UN-supported programmes.
• Advocate for strengthened integration of maternal health and nutrition within broader health systems strengthening initiatives.

4. Monitoring, Reporting and Knowledge Management

• Oversee monitoring and evaluation of MRH programmes to ensure performance tracking, quality assurance, and evidence-based decision-making.
• Lead the preparation of programme reports, donor updates, strategic briefs, and performance documents related to maternal health and nutrition programming.
• Support knowledge management through documentation of best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches in maternal health programming.
• Contribute to proposal development and resource mobilisation efforts for MRH interventions.

5. Capacity Building and Technical Support

• Lead and support capacity-building initiatives for UNFPA staff, implementing partners, and health service providers, including community midwives and facility-based health personnel.
• Provide technical guidance to strengthen the quality of care in maternal health and nutrition services.
• Support the development of IEC and advocacy materials to promote maternal health and nutrition at the national and community levels.

6. Assessment and Planning

• Ensure MRH priorities are integrated into humanitarian and development assessments, including multi-agency initial rapid assessments and sectoral evaluations.
• Lead needs assessments and situational analysis related to maternal health and nutrition programming.

7. Other Responsibilities

• Perform any other related duties as assigned by the supervisor in support of the MRH programme leadership and strategic implementation.

Impact of Results / Deliverables

• Strengthened leadership and coordination of UNFPA’s MRH programme nationally.
• Effective implementation of the Gates Foundation-supported project in the southern region.
• Improved integration of maternal health and nutrition interventions across UNFPA programmes.
• Updated and operationalised Maternal Health and Nutrition Strategy.
• Enhanced capacity of health providers in maternal health and nutrition.
• Increased visibility of UNFPA’s MRH programming in national and humanitarian fora.
• High-quality reporting and knowledge products supporting innovation and learning.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Master degree or equivalent in Medicine, Nutrition, or Public Health.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Five years of qualifying experience; or a first-level university degree in combination with seven additional years of qualifying experience in strategic planning and management of maternal nutrition prevention and response interventions, as well as immunisation response, may be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Demonstrated networking and working experience with the key development partners and stakeholders.
• Knowledge and understanding of UN/UNFPA humanitarian/development programming and operations and about UN common programming principles, including human rights-based approach, gender equality and capacity development (experience with UNFPA is an asset).
• Excellent communication, facilitation and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated experience in working successfully as a member of the multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to self-manage, emotional intelligence, empathy, team spirit, conflict management as well as negotiating skills. 
• Practical experience facilitating and training of staff and partners, preferably in maternal nutrition.

Language:

• Fluency in Oral and written English is required
• Fluency in Oral and written Dari/Pashto is required.

Required Competencies

Core Competencies:

·       Achieving results;

·       Being accountable;

·       Developing and applying professional expertise/ business acumen.

·       Thinking analytically and strategically.

·       Working in terms/ managing ourselves and our relationships.

·       Communicating for impact.

 Functional Skill set:

·       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 result mobilisation.

Values:

·       Exemplifying integrity

·       Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system

·       Embracing cultural diversity

·       Embracing change

Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g, support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

 Office space, travel support, and equipment will be provided to enable the PSEAH Coordination Analyst to perform the duties outlined in the Terms of Reference.

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.