The Position:

The Humanitarian Access Specialist will be responsible for guiding UNFPA’s humanitarian access systems and protocols in line with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs and duty of care to ensure continuity in UNFPA’s health and protection services for women and girls.

You will report to the UNFPA Representative.

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:

You will work in a highly complex operating environment and be responsible for working with the different programme teams/thematic areas, to oversee humanitarian access for UNFPA’s humanitarian response, focused on meeting the health and protection needs of Afghan women and girls. You will support the country office management to make informed and strategic decisions related to humanitarian access, working in close collaboration with the Security Specialist, as well as Heads of Area Offices and thematic teams.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced university degree in Political Science, Conflict Management, Security Management or related disciplines.

Knowledge and Experience:

● At least 7 years of relevant progressively responsible experience in the field of humanitarian programmes, some of which should focus on humanitarian access.
● Experience in managing humanitarian access.
● Understanding of local context, dynamics and access limitations.
● Commitment to UNFPA’s mandate, including gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
● Understanding of humanitarian principles
● Practical and professional experience in the military, police or humanitarian work.
● Ability to deliver briefings and analysis.
● Demonstrated willingness and ability to travel to the field whenever necessary.
● Experience working in complex humanitarian contexts; experience in Afghanistan strongly preferred.

Languages:

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