Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Afghanistan is one of the world’s most complex emergencies, and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Afghan people are grappling with the impact of chronic, poverty, climate change, economic decline, and natural disasters. Afghan women and girls face unique and amplified vulnerabilities particularly the series of restrictions and bans that restrict their access to education, health, workplaces and public spaces. In this context, it remains urgent that Afghan women and girls are provided targeted support and that they can continue to shape the development of their country, and that their gains are protected. UN Women remains fully committed to supporting Afghan women and girls and to putting them at the center of the global response to the polycrises crisis in Afghanistan.

UN Women has been in Afghanistan for two decades. UN Women’s programming approach is informed by analysis of the political, economic and humanitarian situation, risks to and capacities of partner organizations, and needs of Afghan women and girls. UN Women Afghanistan currently has five key programme priorities: (1) Intgrated Programming and Localization, (2) Women’s movement building through core grant making; 3) Policy and Research; 4) Economic Resilience and Private Sector and 5) Coordination, Access and Humanitarian Response. UN Women Afghanistan operates through its main office in Kabul and five sub-offices located in the provinces of Balkh, Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar and Nangarhar.

The consultant will be providing support to the Coordination, Access and Humanitarian Response Unit and will work with all UN Women units and field offices.

Under the overall guidance of the GiHA Coordination and Access Specialist, the consultant will provide support to UN Women’s engagement in Kabul and in the field with the de facto authorities and undertake access related information mappings.

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work:

• Provide support to UN Women’s engagement with the de facto authorities including through preparing talking points, attending engagement meetings and supporting UN Women’s management, programme managers and field offices with interpretation during meetings
• Collect and document access constraints relating to programme implementation in the field, specifically gender-related access constraints, through engagement with programme units, field offices and partners
• Map details relating to partners’ engagement with line ministries and memorandums of understanding

Deliverables

Deliverable: Expected completion time (due day)

Preparation support and interpretation provided in all engagement meetings: Throughout the consultancy

Monthly access constraints mapping: At the end of every month (3 in total)

One document summarizing all data on partners’ MoUs: By the end of April 2026

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is an office-based consultancy. Field travel may be required based on ongoing humanitarian developments.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework:

Functional Competencies:

• Strong knowledge related to humanitarian access and engagement
• Strong knowledge of humanitarian principles
• Strong networking skills
• Ability to interact with various actors including state and non state actors
• Ability to handle data and present information in a clear manner
• Strong analytical skills;

IV. Required Qualifications:

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in human rights, gender, international relations, international development, international law or other social science fields is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian access and engagement is required.
• Experience working with, and building partnerships with de facto authorities, governments, donors and civil society organizations nationally and in the field is required.
• Experience working with the UN is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Working knowledge of English required.
• Fluency in Dari and Pashto is required.

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women”s empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.