NATIONAL POST: Programme Specialist, Population and Data, Kabul, Afghanistan, NO-C

The Programme Specialist, Population and Data (PD) is a key position within the UNFPA Afghanistan Country Office. The position leads population research and data analysis to generate the evidence base required to address Afghanistan’s complex demographic challenges, including high fertility rates, a rapidly growing young population, widespread displacement, and significant data gaps resulting from decades of conflict and instability. The Programme Specialist oversees the design and implementation of population-related research initiatives, including surveys, censuses support, and demographic analyses, and ensures that data and findings are effectively translated into policy dialogue and programmatic action. The position contributes directly to UNFPA’s strategic objective of supporting evidence-based, rights-centred population policies in one of the world’s most challenging humanitarian and development contexts.

The position reports directly to the Deputy Representative.

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.

Working within the Afghanistan Country Office (CO) of UNFPA, and embedded in the Population & Data Unit, you will lead the design, coordination, and implementation of population research programmes that generate timely, high-quality, and sex-disaggregated demographic data to inform national policies, humanitarian response planning, and UNFPA’s programmatic priorities. In a context where reliable population data remains critically scarce due to the absence of a national census since 1979, your work will be central to UNFPA’s mission and Afghanistan’s broader development agenda.

You will build and maintain strategic partnerships with government counterparts, statistical institutions, UN agencies, academic institutions, and international NGOs operating in Afghanistan to foster a culture of data-driven decision-making and strengthen national capacities for population data collection and analysis. You will effectively influence diverse stakeholders to contribute to achieving UNFPA’s mandate in Afghanistan.

Advanced university degree in demography, population studies, statistics, social sciences, public health, or a related discipline is required.

Fluency in English and local language Dari and/or Pashto is required. Working knowledge of other UN languages would be an asset.

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.