Overview
Provides strategic leadership and technical expertise to advance UNFPA Afghanistan’s reproductive health (RH) and family planning (FP) portfolio. The role leads programme design, implementation oversight, technical quality assurance, and policy engagement to end preventable maternal deaths and unmet need for family planning.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and implementation of the RH/FP strategy.
- Ensure alignment with the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2026–2029, UNSFA, HRP and national health priorities.
- Ensure integrated SRH/FP programming for humanitarian and basic human needs.
- 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.
- Provide technical leadership on maternal health, EmONC, midwifery, family planning, and integrated SRH services.
- Strengthen quality of care standards and adherence to WHO and UNFPA norms and guidelines.
- 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.
- Support institutional capacity building of health local and service providers.
- Contribute to strengthening RH commodity security and supply chain management systems.
- Promote sustainable financing approaches and resource mobilization for RH/FP services.
- Support integration of RH/FP services into primary health care systems.
- Advance digital health and data innovations.
- Oversee the day-to-day management of the Reproductive Health unit.
- Ensure sound Implementing Partner management, workplan management, financial management, and monitoring of expenditures.
- Supervise programme staff and consultants.
- Ensure safe and secure programme implementation.
- Establish appropriate monitoring and oversight systems.
- 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.
- Contribute to joint UN programming and pooled funding mechanisms.
- Represent UNFPA in inter-agency health coordination platforms and working groups.
- Document good practices and lessons learned.
- Build capacity of local and implementing partners.
- Promote innovation and evidence-based programming.
- Prepare analytical reports and strategic briefs.
Required 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.
Qualifications
Advanced university degree in public health, medicine, reproductive health, health policy, health systems management or related field is required.
