UN Women: Program Coordinator – Home-Based with Travel to Afghanistan (International Consultant) – Apply Before 22 May 2025
Location: Home-Based with travel to Kabul, Afghanistan
Contract Duration: 6 months
Job Schedule: Full-time
Function: Humanitarian Action
Education: Master’s Degree (minimum 2 years of relevant experience) or Bachelor’s Degree (minimum 4 years of experience)
Languages: Fluency in English required; Dari/Pashto is an asset
UN Women Background
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Working to eliminate discrimination and advance women’s rights globally, UN Women focuses on development, humanitarian response, human rights, and peace and security.
UN Women has operated in Afghanistan since 2002. The country faces one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises, marked by prolonged conflict, poverty, economic instability, and climate-related disasters. According to the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan, over 24.4 million Afghans, more than half the population, are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 55% facing critical levels of food insecurity.
Women and girls in Afghanistan face heightened vulnerability under these conditions, particularly following the Taliban’s return to power, which has severely impacted the protection of their rights. UN Women Afghanistan addresses these challenges through its programming across four key thematic areas:
- Women, Peace and Security & Humanitarian Action
- Ending Violence Against Women
- Women’s Economic Empowerment
- Women’s Leadership and Participation
The Country Office operates through five Sub-Offices (Balkh, Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar, and Nangarhar) and engages in several inter-agency initiatives, including the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA). UN Women plays a pivotal role in promoting gender-responsive humanitarian action and coordinating with partners across sectors.
Position Summary
The Program Coordinator will provide strategic oversight and coordination support to UN Women’s humanitarian programming in Afghanistan. This includes leading inter-agency collaboration, ensuring the gender-responsiveness of humanitarian initiatives, and supporting project implementation and reporting. The role is home-based, with an initial four-week mission to Kabul for onboarding and in-person coordination. Additional travel may be required based on project needs.
Key Responsibilities
1. Coordination and Partnership Management
- Facilitate coordination with UN agencies and partners, including IOM, UNOPS, STFA Twinning Project, AWAAZ, AHF, and others.
- Strengthen collaboration with humanitarian clusters, NGOs, and donors.
- Represent UN Women in coordination meetings and inter-agency forums.
2. Strategic Planning and Implementation
- Align projects with UN Women’s Humanitarian Response Strategy (2022–2025) and the Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan.
- Monitor project timelines and support adaptive management.
- Ensure strategic integration of gender considerations in all initiatives.
3. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
- Support partners in applying Results-Based Management (RBM) approaches.
- Oversee indicator development, data collection, and project tracking.
- Prepare donor reports, situation updates, and policy briefs.
- Ensure compliance with donor accountability and reporting requirements.
4. Capacity Building and Technical Support
- Provide gender expertise and technical guidance to partners and stakeholders.
- Organize training sessions on gender-sensitive humanitarian response and coordination.
- Contribute to the creation of knowledge and advocacy materials.
- Support quality assurance across all humanitarian programming.
Workplace and Travel
This consultancy is full-time and home-based. An initial four-week mission to Kabul, Afghanistan, will be required for orientation, coordination, and administrative setup. The consultant is expected to maintain working hours aligned with Afghanistan’s local schedule: Sunday to Thursday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Kabul time).
Qualifications
Education and Certifications
- Master’s degree in social sciences, international development, gender studies, or a related field.
- A Bachelor’s degree with two additional years of experience may be accepted.
- Certification in project/program management is an asset.
Experience
- Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in development program implementation, coordination, M&E, and donor reporting (or 4 years with a Bachelor’s degree).
- Experience in humanitarian settings and understanding of coordination mechanisms is preferred.
- Familiarity with Afghanistan’s humanitarian landscape and experience working with UN agencies, donors, or NGOs is a plus.
Languages
- Fluency in English is required.
- Knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto is an advantage.
Competencies
Core Values
- Integrity
- Professionalism
- Respect for Diversity
Core Competencies
- Gender awareness and sensitivity
- Effective communication and collaboration
- Accountability and problem-solving
Functional Competencies
- Coordination and facilitation
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving
- Advocacy and stakeholder engagement
- Resilience and adaptability in complex contexts
Diversity and Inclusion
UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Recruitment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs. All candidates, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, disability, or nationality, are encouraged to apply.
Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities are available upon request.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the UN Women Careers Portal by May 22, 2025 (01:59 AM). Ensure all sections of the application are complete, including education and employment history. Incomplete applications may be disqualified.
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