RE-ADVERTISEMENT: Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Specialist, Kabul, Afghanistan, P-3

The Position:

The Resources Mobilization and Partnership Specialist works under the supervision of the Representative and in close collaboration with the Humanitarian Coordinator, Assistant Representative and Operations Manager. S/he will lead office resource mobilization efforts to ensure quality of funding proposals and quality and timeliness of donor reporting, and will contribute to external communication materials for optimizing the office’s resource mobilization capacity and demonstrating “value for money” to donors.

How you can make a difference:

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.

Job Purpose:

In a complex operating environment, you will play a vital role in supporting the Country Office to mobilize resources in support of UNFPA’s Afghanistan humanitarian response to ensure that the health and protection needs of women and girls are met. Working with the senior management team, you will help establish and maintain effective working relationships with partners and donors. You will coordinate donor reporting, including the timely preparation and completion of donor reports, proposals, presentations, briefing papers and will contribute to the CO’s annual report, sitreps, and other communications materials. You will also lead capacity development of the team in result-based reporting, analytical writing and other skills required for quality proposals and donors reporting that are fundamental to the CO’s partnership management, advocacy and resource mobilization.

You will be responsible for:

Resource Mobilization

• Mobilize resources to achieve funding targets of the UNFPA Afghanistan Appeal and the Country Programme;
• Lead analysis of opportunities for resource mobilization for UNFPA’s humanitarian response in Afghanistan;
• Develop and implement a donor intelligence strategy (partners, needs and priorities, perception of UNFPA and its added value;
• Develop specific donor fund-raising strategies and approaches;
• Lead the process of developing high quality proposals, concept notes, and other documents for pitching concepts to donors;
• Maintain a tracking system of donor funds to ensure timely use of and reporting on funds;
• Prepare high quality donor reports, ensuring that they are done in a timely manner and respond to the requirements of the donor, working in collaboration with humanitarian and technical colleagues.

Partnerships

• Coordinate donor updates and organize donor briefings as necessary, including to advocate for the needs of women and girls;
• Liaise with donors and the UNFPA Regional Office and HQ to facilitate coordinated communications on Afghanistan’s programmes;
• Preparation of comprehensive, analytical and substantive briefs and reports on progress towards results and identification of gaps;
• Contribute to communications materials to ensure visibility of donor-funded activities.

Capacity building

• Conduct resource mobilization and partnerships training to staff of the Country Office, including the development of tools and products;
• Strengthen the capacity of Country Offices staff in resource mobilization, including in relation to resource mobilization procedures and guidelines as well as funding modalities;
• Provide guidance on implementation of donor funds to ensure that they are in compliance with requirements, including guidance to implementing partners.

Qualifications and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in international development studies, social sciences and/or business administration, public administration or other related fields.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 5 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in resource mobilization and partnerships, or other relevant fields are required.
• Background in planning, reporting and resource mobilization, knowledge of the UN System and in particular UNFPA policies and procedures preferable.
• Track record of preparing high quality donor proposals and reports is required.
• Strong analytical ability and experience in representing an organization is required.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills are required.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills are necessary in this position.
• Good knowledge of humanitarian response, prior experience in challenging and complex humanitarian response is desirable.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of other official UN language is desirable.

Required Competencies

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
• Embracing cultural diversity
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results
• Being accountable
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen
• Thinking analytically and strategically
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results based programmes
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for resource mobilization

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus
• Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders
• Leading, developing and empowering people/ creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

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 to learn more.

Disclaimer:

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.