Area Coordinator/Reproductive Health (RH), Jalalabad, Afghanistan, P-4

The Area Coordinator – Reproductive Health (P-4) serves as UNFPA’s senior representative in the Eastern Region of Afghanistan, based in Jalalabad, and provides overall leadership, coordination and oversight of UNFPA programme implementation and partnerships in the region.The position combines the functions of Area Coordinator and Reproductive Health (RH) Specialist and is responsible for overseeing UNFPA Country Office priorities in Reproductive Health (RH), gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE) and youth programming at the sub-national level in both, humanitarian and basic needs.

In addition to area-level leadership, the incumbent provides senior level technical leadership and strategic guidance on Reproductive Health (RH) in close collaboration with the Reproductive Health Unit in Kabul for the Country Office. This is delivered through ensuring that support, risk mitigation and client-centered interventions are designed and implemented in accordance with global standards and contribute to UNFPA’s strategic priorities.

The position promotes integrated and nexus-oriented programming across humanitarian, Basic Human Needs and early recovery interventions, ensuring continuity of life-saving services for women, girls, young people and strengthening sub-national coordination mechanisms. 

The position reports directly to the Humanitarian Coordinator and provides supervision and technical oversight to programme staff in the Eastern Region. This position also works closely with the RH Unit in Kabul to enhance the synergies to position UNFPA as the UN’s SRHR Organisation.

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.

Under the supervision of the Humanitarian Coordinator, the Area Coordinator – Reproductive Health (RH) provides senior technical leadership and oversight of UNFPA programme implementation, partnerships and representation in the Eastern Region of Afghanistan. The position combines area-level programme leadership with specialized technical leadership on Reproductive Health (RH) for the Country Office. 

The incumbent ensures coordinated implementation of UNFPA interventions in reproductive health, GBV prevention and response, and adolescent and youth programming, while representing UNFPA in sub-national humanitarian and Basic Human Needs coordination mechanisms. The Area Coordinator also provides senior technical leadership and strategic guidance to strengthen GBV programming and integration across UNFPA intervention and humanitarian response frameworks.

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

Advanced university degree in medical sciences, public health, reproductive health, international development, humanitarian affairs or related field is required.

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

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

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 [link removed] to learn more.

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.