Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Afghanistan is one of the world’s most complex emergencies, and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Afghan people are grappling with the impact of conflict, poverty, economic decline, and natural disasters. According to the 2026 Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), an estimated 21.9 million people - approximately 45% of the population - require humanitarian assistance. Women and girls are disproportionately affected due to systematic human rights restrictions that curtail their movement and access to essential services.

UN Women has been in Afghanistan for two decades. UN Women’s programming approach is informed by analysis of the political, economic and humanitarian situation, risks to and capacities of partner organizations, and needs of Afghan women and girls. Currently, UN Women Afghanistan operates through its main office in Kabul and five sub-offices in Balkh, Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar, and Nangarhar. The office focuses on five key programme priorities: (1) Integrated Programming and Localization; (2) Women’s movement building through core grant-making; (3) Policy and Research; (4) Economic Resilience and Private Sector; and (5) Coordination, Access and Humanitarian/Emergency Response.

Under the Coordination, Access and Humanitarian/Emergency Response Unit, the Afghanistan Country Office is seeking support on the delivery of projects under the priorities of humanitarian/emergency response, primarily focused on providing technical, coordination, and administrative support to enhance the office’s capacity to respond to crises in a swift and coordinated manner.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the GIHA Coordination and Access Specialist, the Programme Specialist will focus their support on coordination both within UN Women and with aid actors.  

The Programme Specialist will work in close collaboration with UN Women’s unit working focusing on Integrated Programming and Localization, UN Women’s sub-offices, representatives of aid actors and partners, in particular Women-Led Organizations, and relevant co-chairs of Afghanistan’s aid architecture platforms, in particular the Gender Coordination Group.

The Programme Specialist will be home-based with missions to Kabul to facilitate in-person coordination with stakeholders, and other related tasks outlined in the Terms of Reference.

III. Scope of Work

1- Provide capacity building support to the country office teams and partners on humanitarian programming, specifically on emergency humanitarian programming

• Provide technical support to country office and field offices in developing and strengthening emergency projects/ programmes;
• Implement and monitor humanitarian capacity building initiatives including at field level
• Provide technical support to teams on implementation of emergency programmes and projects.

2- Design, develop and implement programme strategies in the area of gender in humanitarian action in emergency response

• Design and formulate programme/ project proposals and initiatives on emergency response;
• Draft inputs to country strategy documents, briefs,  and other documents relating to UN Women’s contribution to humanitarian response and cluster coordination
• Finalize relevant documentation on donors and potential opportunities for resource mobilization;

3- Contribute to coordination with aid actors to foster coherence with other partners in the country

• Participate in meetings of aid coordination platforms to ensure UN Women’s contribution to the coordinated emergency response;
• Build and maintain close liaisons with relevant donors and other actors supporting efforts towards emergency humanitarian action, as delegated;
• Coordinate with UN Women’s partners and service providers with regards to the implementation of UN Women’s emergency response;
• Contribute inputs to updates and briefs on emergency response to be used by stakeholders, CO and HQ;

4- Contribute to overall functions of humanitarian emergency programming

• Support with the implementation of Anticipatory Action programming if forecasts reach the agreed trigger threshold;
• Write quarterly reports and donor reports, focusing on impact results, outcomes and outputs;
• Monitoring programme/project implementation and finances using results-based management tools;
• Develop and review background documents, briefs and presentations related to humanitarian programming;
• Identify best practices and lessons learned to guide programme improvements and strategy planning;
• Coordinate across portfolios to facilitate complementarity and coherence;

1. Transitional management

• Provide backstopping support to the integrated programming partnerships and project implementations to ensure fulfillment of donor commitments for humanitarian projects currently closing
• Support the closure of humanitarian projects and partnerships;
• Support programme partner selection processes for relevant integrated programming partners;

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the organization.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

• Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Good knowledge of Results Based Management
• Strong understanding of administrative and financial procedures within the UN system.
• Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations
• Good knowledge of gender equality in humanitarian action and/or disaster risk reduction

V. Minimum Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field is required
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage

Experience:

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience at the national or international level in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian and development projects is required. 
• Experience working in humanitarian settings and understanding of humanitarian coordination mechanisms is required. 
• Experience implementing gender in humanitarian action and emergency response projects is an desirable 
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work interpedently and drive internal processes forward is desirable.  
• Experience working with women led and local organizations is desirable.
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.