Regional Access Officer

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Position Title: Regional Access Officer
Location: Kandahar, Kabul, Herat, Jalalabad
Country: Afghanistan
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the lead UN agency focused on ensuring that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and territories, working towards the realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. The organization is committed to addressing the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly its impact on women and girls' access to health services. UNFPA's strategic plan for 2022-2025 emphasizes three transformative results: ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet needs for family planning, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. UNFPA seeks principled and ethical staff who embody international norms and standards, and who are dedicated to delivering high-impact results in their work.

Job Overview:
The Regional Access Officer will play a pivotal role in enhancing UNFPA's humanitarian access support in Afghanistan, particularly in the context of the challenging operational environment under de facto authority. This position is crucial for ensuring that UNFPA's programs are implemented effectively and safely, despite the ongoing disruptions. The officer will utilize their understanding of regional political, cultural, and social dynamics to align UNFPA operations with humanitarian principles and foster community acceptance. The role involves facilitating engagements with local authorities and implementing partners, monitoring access, and providing critical contextual information to ensure the safe delivery of UNFPA's sensitive services. The officer will also be responsible for enhancing UNFPA's capacity to respond to emerging challenges by maintaining engagement with local communities and authorities, thereby ensuring continuity in programming across the regions of Afghanistan.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Regional Access Officer will be responsible for guiding and implementing UNFPA's access framework, ensuring it aligns with humanitarian principles and local operational needs. Key duties include establishing and maintaining relationships with local authorities and stakeholders to facilitate effective access, organizing training events and workshops on humanitarian access, leading regional trend analysis, synthesizing access reports, and presenting updates to senior management. The officer will identify access barriers, participate in stakeholder meetings to mitigate challenges, and collaborate with regional security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security teams to assess and manage security risks related to humanitarian access. Regular coordination meetings with field offices and partners will be convened to ensure consistent reporting and address operational access issues. The officer will also perform any other duties as required by the Head of the Area Office or Humanitarian Access Specialist.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in social science, International Studies, religious studies, or a related field. Alternatively, a Bachelor's degree combined with two additional years of relevant experience may be considered. A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in humanitarian programming, crisis management, or humanitarian access is required, with experience in humanitarian coordination being highly desirable. Previous work with UN or international NGOs is an asset. Candidates should demonstrate a strong understanding of international law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">humanitarian law and principles, as well as the ability to establish relationships with local authorities and community leaders to facilitate access. Skills in security risk assessment, crisis management, problem-solving, and negotiation are essential, along with the ability to collect, analyze, and report on access-related issues in a timely manner.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in social science, International Studies, religious studies, or a related field is required for this position. In cases where a candidate holds a Bachelor's degree, they must also have two additional years of qualifying experience to be considered for the role. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate possesses the necessary theoretical knowledge and analytical skills required for effective humanitarian access management.

Experience:
The position requires at least 2 years of relevant experience in humanitarian programming, crisis management, or humanitarian access. Experience in humanitarian coordination is highly desirable, as is previous work with UN agencies or international NGOs. Candidates should have a proven track record of navigating complex environments and addressing operational challenges related to humanitarian access, particularly in Afghanistan.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both verbal and written, is mandatory for this position. Additionally, proficiency in Pashto and Dari is required, as these languages are essential for effective communication with local authorities and communities in Afghanistan. Candidates who possess additional language skills may have an advantage in this role.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a roving role, requiring frequent travel within assigned regions, including Kabul, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Herat. The role is full-time and involves working in a challenging operational environment. UNFPA is committed to promoting gender equality and diversity within its workforce, encouraging applications from women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. The organization emphasizes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation, and selection for all candidates, regardless of personal characteristics.