Programme Specialist, Climate Change, Population and Development Branch, Programme Division (PD), Na

The Position:

The Programme Specialist, is located in the UNFPA Programme Division. Working under the direct supervision of the Chief, Population and Development Branch (PDB), the incumbent leads UNFPA’s engagement with internal and external stakeholders on climate change and provides high-level strategic, technical and policy guidance on climate change adaptation, specifically focusing on the linkages between climate action, demographic resilience, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality and youth leadership.

The Specialist will lead the coordination of the UNFPA work on climate action and gender-responsive adaptation. S/he will support policy advocacy activities at the global, regional, and country levels and lead the corporate Interdivisional Technical Working Group on Climate Change.

 

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 (SDGs) 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:

The Programme Specialist provides technical leadership for policy analysis, advocacy and capacity building, working closely with regional and national focal points on climate action. 

S/he will strengthen the organization’s capacity to advocate, design, and implement climate change adaptation initiatives that are informed by data and demographic intelligence, that are rights-based and prioritize youth leadership and engagement. S/he will contribute to ensuring that gender-response climate adaptation, equity, and rights-based approaches are embedded in national commitments and action.

 

You would be responsible for:

Policy Analysis, Knowledge Generation, and Innovation

• Lead policy analysis on climate change adaptation, demographic resilience, SRHR and gender equality to drive national commitments and integrate strategies into national policy frameworks; 


• Commission, direct and oversee global and regional assessments to strengthen the evidence base on climate change impacts on women, young people and marginalized populations, including their SRHR, to inform high-level policy advocacy and institutional decision-making;


• Design, test and promote innovative solutions for climate change adaptation, ensuring individual, community and (health) service system resilience;


• Lead the development, documentation and dissemination of global guidelines, case studies, and best practices to advance regional and global knowledge sharing on SRHR, gender equality and climate action;


• Provide expert technical and policy advice to government partners on integrating SRHR and gender-responsive services into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national adaptation plans;


• Support the roll-out of geospatial vulnerability mapping and demographic intelligence tools to identify spatial climate risks and service disruption hot spots for highly exposed, remote, and marginalized populations;


• Support strategic foresight initiatives and multi-sectoral risk modeling to analyze the complex interactions between climate change and demographic megatrends - including rapid urbanization, climate-induced migration/displacement, and population aging - to inform rights-based adaptation policies.

Programme Planning, Management, and Coordination

• Drive the implementation of UNFPA Strategic Plan climate commitments by guiding the planning, implementation and monitoring of evidence-based interventions at regional and country levels; 


• Provide strategic oversight and technical direction for climate adaptation initiatives, lead the formulation of evidence-based strategies and interventions, in collaboration with regional and country offices;


• Design and lead capacity building initiatives to strengthen institutional capabilities across national governments and regional bodies regarding the linkages between demographic resilience, SRHR, gender and climate change;


• Lead youth empowerment and engagement strategies within climate adaptation and related thematic areas;


• Ensure the strategic integration of climate adaptation and resilience considerations across humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) continuum;


• Support UNFPA’s engagement with disaster management platforms to promote the use of population data to strengthen early warning systems and loss-and-damage assessments;


• Convene and lead high-level policy dialogues and technical assistance with governments, development partners, and private sector stakeholders;


• Establish robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks, tracking indicators aligned with the Strategic Plan results to drive evidence-based reporting and learning.

Partnerships, Advocacy, and Resource Mobilization

• Lead policy advocacy strategies for UNFPA’s climate action vision, driving increased climate finance allocation toward the health, protection and rights of women, girls, and marginalized populations;


• Engage strategically with key ministries (e.g., health, gender, social welfare, environment, finance) to align climate adaptation with national budget allocations and foster domestic resource mobilization;


• Drive resource mobilization for climate action by preparing high-quality concept notes, proposals, and donor briefs, in close collaboration with the Office of Executive Director, Division of External Relations and Regional Offices;


• Cultivate strategic partnerships with IFIs and development banks, private sector, and philanthropic actors to co-finance gender-responsive climate adaptation;


• Represent UNFPA in inter-agency coordination mechanisms and forums on climate change, driving coherent joint UN policy positions and financing initiatives.

Technical and Strategic Leadership

• Provide policy advice to senior management and national counterparts on emerging climate trends, and their implications for UNFPA’s mission;


• Serve as UNFPA’s institutional focal point on climate change adaptation within the UN system, leading joint policy advocacy and financing efforts;


• Lead and contribute to global and regional technical networks, ensuring field experience directly informs UNFPA’s corporate policy and technical guidance on climate change.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree (Master’s level) in social science, health, international development, environmental/climate studies, public policy, or related social sciences. 

Knowledge and Experience: 

●    Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in programme management and coordination, especially in areas of climate change, SRHR and policy advocacy;

●    At least three years at the international level is required;

●    Proven expertise in designing and delivering training on climate change and SRHR, involving youth in climate advocacy; 

●    Experience in policy dialogue, research and partnership building with government stakeholders, development partners, the private sector, youth- and women-led organisations;

●    Experience in leading strategic engagements in key climate platforms and fora;

●    Strong analytical and quantitative skills, and demonstrated capacity to translate complex evidence into policy and programmatic recommendations;

●    Demonstrated ability to evaluate the intersections of climate change with other global population megatrends (such as urbanization, human mobility, migration, and demographic shifts) and translate their implications into climate adaptation strategies;

●    Prior UN or international development experience is required.

 

Languages: 

• Fluency in English required; knowledge of another 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,

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy and advancing a policy-oriented agenda


• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners


• Innovation and marketing of new approaches


• Results-based programme development and management


• Financial resource management and strategic budgeting


• Building strategic alliances and partnerships
  
   

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.