About Vacancy:
Position: Representative
Deadline: 30-Dec-2025
Job Type: Full Time
Location: Kathmandu
Contract Duration: 1 year with possibility of extension
About Organization:
UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency working to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every young person has the opportunity to reach their full potential. The UNFPA Strategic Plan 2026–2029 outlines the organization’s response to an increasingly complex global context, serving as a roadmap for resilience, renewal, and impact. The plan is designed to accelerate the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
UNFPA’s mandate is driven by four interconnected outcomes: eliminating the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and responding to demographic change through evidence-based, rights-focused policies.
At a time when fundamental human rights are under threat, UNFPA seeks principled, ethical, and committed professionals who uphold international norms and standards and are prepared to defend them with conviction and integrity.
UNFPA is looking for candidates who can inspire change, deliver high-impact and sustainable results, and strengthen external relations, communications, partnerships, and resource mobilization in a rapidly evolving development and funding environment. Ideal candidates are transparent, accountable in managing entrusted resources, and fully dedicated to achieving excellence in programme delivery and results.
About Position:
The Representative leads a country office team in the design and implementation of a population and development and sexual and reproductive health country programme. Through alliances and partnerships with governments, UN and bilateral agencies, development partners, civil society, academia and the private sector, the programme aims to realize the 2030 Agenda in order to make a positive difference in the lives of millions of people; especially those furthest behind.
About Job:
Under the strategic direction of the Regional Director, you will lead the Country Team in designing and managing an innovative Country Programme of Cooperation focused on population and development and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including maternal health, family planning, gender equality, and adolescent and youth empowerment.
You will be accountable for the effective and timely implementation of the Country Programme, taking a leadership role in advancing the organization’s mandate and ensuring that sexual and reproductive health and rights are fully integrated into the broader national development agenda. Through close collaboration with government counterparts, UN Country Teams, strategic advocacy, and the delivery of high-quality programmes, ncluding in humanitarian and emergency contexts, you will represent UNFPA at the frontline of its operations, demonstrating both the relevance of its mandate and its capacity to deliver impactful results.
Your ultimate accountability lies with the people you serve, particularly the most vulnerable, excluded, and marginalized, and with the core causes you advance: human rights, sustainable development, and humanitarian assistance.
Key Responsibilities:
A. Strategic Direction, Planning, and Management
- Provide strategic leadership to position UNFPA on key national priorities, in alignment with global, regional, and national policies and strategies.
- Build and sustain strong institutional partnerships with government counterparts, civil society, private sector actors, UN agencies, bilateral partners, academia, and national and international organizations to advance UNFPA’s mandate.
- Promote UNFPA’s strategic role within the national development agenda and adapt engagement to the evolving aid and development landscape.
- Set priorities for the Country Office in line with UNFPA’s global and regional corporate strategies and commitments.
- Ensure the integration of sound policies, innovative programming tools, evidence-based knowledge, and good business practices into country operations.
- Lead and coordinate the development of a comprehensive humanitarian preparedness and response strategy for UNFPA at country level.
B. Management of Resources
- Provide effective leadership, supervision, and motivation to international and national staff, fostering a culture of empowerment, learning, and career development.
- Promote transparent performance management practices that recognize excellence, support professional growth, and address underperformance in a timely manner.
- Lead efforts to attract, develop, and retain high-performing and diverse talent within the Country Office.
- Set performance standards and clearly assign responsibilities in accordance with the Country Office Strategic Information System and results framework.
- Drive the development and implementation of a comprehensive resource mobilization and partnership strategy, including donor engagement, fund mobilization, and responsible utilization of financial resources.
- Ensure the safety, security, and wellbeing of personnel through full compliance with Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) and Minimum Operational Residential Security Standards (MORSS).
C. Programme Leadership and Representation
- Advise UNFPA senior management on country-level political, social, and programmatic issues.
- Lead the design and implementation of UNFPA’s country-level programmes and policy dialogue, including provision of technical support for capacity development and humanitarian interventions.
- Engage national stakeholders through strategic advocacy to strengthen ownership of UNFPA’s agenda and raise awareness of ICPD priorities within the broader SDG framework.
- Represent UNFPA in the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and the UN Humanitarian Country Team, and support the UN Resident Coordinator in advancing integrated development and humanitarian action.
- Contribute actively to UN reform efforts, including the humanitarian–development–peace nexus within the UN system at country level.
- Ensure UNFPA’s accountability and leadership within Flash Appeals and Humanitarian Response Plans, and contribute to the achievement of United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) results.
- Initiate and promote South–South cooperation and technical exchange opportunities with partner countries.
D. Programme Oversight and Coordination
- Lead the application of results-based management, monitoring, evaluation, and quality assurance frameworks across Country Office programmes.
- Ensure robust financial oversight and monitoring systems to maintain compliance with UNFPA policies, procedures, corporate standards, and audit requirements.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the Regional Director in line with organizational priorities and emerging needs.
Required Qualifications:
Education
- An advanced university degree in Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Demography, Gender Studies, International Relations, International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Management, or a related discipline.
Knowledge and Experience
- A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in public administration and international development, including at least 10 years of specialized experience in population and development, sexual and reproductive health and rights, or humanitarian programming at the international level.
- Demonstrated and up-to-date knowledge of population and development issues, sexual and reproductive health, and their integration within development and humanitarian agendas.
- Proven leadership capacity with a strong track record of guiding teams to deliver high-quality, measurable, and impactful results.
- Extensive experience in advocacy, policy dialogue, and engagement at both national and international levels.
- Demonstrated experience in media engagement, communications, and public information activities in collaboration with partners.
- Solid experience in international development, with strong alignment to UNFPA’s mandate and commitment to the principles and values of the United Nations.
- Field experience is mandatory; experience working in developing countries, humanitarian settings, or crisis contexts is considered a strong asset.
Language Requirements
- Full professional fluency in English is required.
- Working knowledge of another official United Nations language is considered an advantage.
Required Competencies:
Values
- Integrity: Exemplifying honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct in all actions.
- Commitment: Demonstrating dedication to UNFPA and the broader UN system.
- Cultural Diversity: Embracing and respecting diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences.
- Adaptability: Embracing change and innovation to achieve organizational objectives.
Core Competencies
- Achieving Results: Delivering high-quality, timely, and effective outcomes.
- Accountability: Taking responsibility for actions and decisions.
- Professional Expertise/Business Acumen: Applying specialized knowledge to achieve organizational objectives.
- Analytical and Strategic Thinking: Evaluating complex situations and making informed decisions.
- Teamwork and Relationship Management: Collaborating effectively with colleagues and stakeholders.
- Communication for Impact: Conveying information clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
Managerial Competencies
- Strategic Focus: Setting priorities and providing clear direction for the team.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Building and sustaining relationships with internal and external partners.
- Leadership and People Development: Empowering and motivating teams, fostering a performance-driven culture.
- Decision-Making and Judgment: Making timely, informed, and sound decisions.
UN Leadership Characteristics
- Norm-Based: Grounded in UN norms and standards.
- Principled: Defends standards without discrimination, fear, or favour.
- Inclusive: Engages all personnel and stakeholders.
- Accountable: Upholds responsibility for actions and results.
- Multi-Dimensional: Demonstrates versatility and adaptability.
- Transformational: Drives positive change and inspires innovation.
- Collaborative: Promotes teamwork and partnerships.
- Self-Applied: Models these behaviors personally and professionally.
Compensation and Benefits
- This position offers an attractive remuneration package, including a competitive net salary, health insurance, and additional benefits as applicable.
Work Environment:
UNFPA fosters a work environment grounded in gender equality, diversity, integrity, and work-life balance. We are committed to achieving gender parity and strongly encourage women to apply. We also welcome applications from individuals from LGBTQIA+ communities, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups.
Reasonable accommodations will be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request to support participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunity in recruitment, training, compensation, and selection, regardless of personal characteristics or diversity dimensions. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are central to UNFPA’s workforce.
Application Process:
Appointment and selection are subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance, and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any fees for applications, processing, training, interviews, testing, or any other recruitment-related activity, and does not request information regarding applicants’ bank accounts.
Applicants in international Professional and higher categories who hold permanent residency in a country other than their nationality may be required to renounce such status upon appointment.
To apply, please visit: estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com
