Programme Analyst, Youth

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and territories, focusing on reproductive health, gender equality, and youth empowerment. The organization is committed to achieving gender balance and fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce, with a mission to ensure that every individual has access to the necessary resources and support to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. UNFPA's strategic plan for 2026-2029 outlines its response to a complex global environment, aiming to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 203

• UNFPA emphasizes the importance of principled and ethical staff who embody international norms and standards, and who are dedicated to delivering high-impact results in a rapidly changing development landscape.

Job Overview:
The Programme Analyst, Youth position is based in the UNFPA Afghanistan Country Office in Kabul, where the incumbent will operate in a highly complex, fragile, and sensitive environment. This role is pivotal in leading the design, coordination, and oversight of UNFPA’s youth portfolio, which includes the strategic and operational management of UNFPA-supported Youth Centres. The position ensures that youth programming is cross-cutting and integrated across various sectors, including Reproductive Health (RH), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), social cohesion, life skills, and humanitarian response interventions. The incumbent will play a critical role in safeguarding and advancing the health, protection, and wellbeing of adolescents and young people, particularly adolescent girls, through context-adapted, principled, and culturally sensitive programming approaches. Reporting directly to the Deputy Representative, the Programme Analyst will provide technical leadership and program management support for UNFPA’s youth portfolio, ensuring effective implementation, quality assurance, and integration of youth-focused interventions across health, protection, and resilience programming.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Programme Analyst, Youth include:

• Programme Development and Technical Support: Contributing to the design and implementation of youth programming within the Country Office portfolio, ensuring integration across RH, GBV, social norms, and resilience initiatives. Providing technical support on adolescent and youth engagement approaches, including life skills, youth participation, and community-based interventions. Supporting the development of guidance, tools, and program approaches to strengthen youth-focused programming across UNFPA interventions. Assisting in identifying innovative and sustainable solutions to integrated youth program designs and implementation.
• Oversight of Youth Centres: Ensuring the effective functioning and quality assurance of UNFPA-supported Youth Centres as platforms for youth engagement, life skills, and wellbeing services. Monitoring implementing partners to ensure delivery of planned activities and compliance with program, financial, and safeguarding standards. Contributing to strengthening the capacity of implementing partners involved in youth centre programming.
• Programme Management and Monitoring: Supporting the preparation and management of annual workplans, budgets, and implementing partner agreements related to youth programming. Monitoring progress of program activities, identifying implementation challenges, and proposing solutions and mitigation measures. Conducting field visits and assessments to monitor program implementation and inform program improvements. Contributing to program reporting, documentation of lessons learned, and knowledge sharing.
• Partnerships and Coordination: Maintaining collaborative relationships with local authorities, community stakeholders, youth networks, and civil society partners to support program implementation. Coordinating with relevant UNFPA program units to ensure integration of youth interventions across program areas. Overseeing the Adolescents and Youth coordination bodies, including providing technical guidance for the Adolescents and Youth Working Group chaired by UNFPA. Participating and contributing in relevant coordination mechanisms and results groups, assisting CO senior leadership through sharing of analysis, advocacy briefs, and technical inputs as required.
• Resource Mobilisation and Reporting: Contributing to the preparation of program documentation, donor reports, and briefing materials related to youth interventions. Supporting resource mobilization efforts through inputs to proposals and program development processes. Performing any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor or designated authority.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Programme Analyst, Youth position include:

• Education: An advanced university degree in gender studies, youth development, international development, or other related social science fields is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Knowledge and Experience: At least two years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of development or humanitarian programming is required for candidates with a master’s degree, or four years for those with a bachelor’s degree. Work experience in the field of Reproductive Health is preferred, and specialized knowledge and experience in Youth Development approaches are desired. Experience in program/project management, including large multi-sector programs, is desirable. Prior experience in the UN system is an asset, along with a thorough understanding of the UN system in general, especially UNFPA's mandate, policies, operations, and current development topics and political issues in Afghanistan. Demonstrated ability to work in a team is required.

Educational Background:
The educational background needed for the Programme Analyst, Youth position includes an advanced university degree in gender studies, youth development, international development, or other related social science fields. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of youth programming and the socio-cultural dynamics at play in Afghanistan.

Experience:
The level of experience needed for the Programme Analyst, Youth position includes at least two years of increasingly responsible professional experience in development or humanitarian programming for candidates with a master’s degree, or four years for those with a bachelor’s degree. Experience in the field of Reproductive Health is preferred, and specialized knowledge in Youth Development approaches is desired. Candidates should also have experience in program/project management, particularly in large multi-sector programs, and prior experience within the UN system is considered an asset. A thorough understanding of the UN system, especially UNFPA's mandate and current development topics in Afghanistan, will be advantageous.

Languages:
Fluency in English and a local language (Dari and/or Pashto) is required for the Programme Analyst, Youth position. A working knowledge of other UN languages would be considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders in the region.

Additional Notes:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package, including a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other applicable benefits. UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance. The organization is committed to ensuring gender parity and encourages 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 are at the heart of UNFPA's workforce.