Background:
The full-scale war in Ukraine has significantly heightened risks of gender-based violence (GBV), including conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), and trafficking. Even before the escalation, two-thirds of women in Ukraine had experienced some form of GBV. Currently, an estimated 2.4 million vulnerable peopleโmostly women and girlsโrequire life-saving GBV prevention and response services. Meanwhile, ongoing attacks on health facilities have disrupted access to essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, with 9.2 million people in need of health assistance in 2025.
Youth, particularly in border regions like Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Mykolaiv, face deteriorating mental health, reduced resilience, and limited access to services. At the same time, the war has accelerated Ukraineโs demographic challenges, including low fertility, an ageing population, and large-scale displacement.
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UNFPA is addressing these challenges through four priority interventions: (1) delivery of life-saving SRH services, (2) GBV prevention and response, (3) youth empowerment and psychosocial support, and (4) strengthening population data systems for evidence-based decision-making. These efforts are implemented in close collaboration with government and local partners, embedded within national service delivery systems.
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To support operational coordination, the Humanitarian Country Team has established the Humanitarian Operational Coordination Group (HOG) in three hubs, including Kharkiv, to facilitate timely and effective response to urgent humanitarian needs.
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How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.ย UNFPAโs strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to โbuild forward betterโ, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on womenโs and girlsโ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
UNFPA is actively involved in the humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crises, supporting provision of women and girlsโ health services, including reproductive maternal health and psychosocial support and GBV support and referral assistance to women and girls.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results. We need principled and ethical staff, who embody human rights norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results. We are seeking staff with proven management, coordination and programme development skills as well as a track record of building strategic alliances and partnerships, strong communication and networking skills.
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Job Purpose:
Under the overall guidance and supervision of UNFPA Representative and direct supervision and guidance of the Humanitarian and Recovery Coordinator and in close collaboration with the Deputy Representative/Senior Emergency Coordinator, the incumbent facilitates and ensures effective and efficient coordination, programmatic and operational support to UNFPA humanitarian programming and response in support of UNFPA teams in the regions covered by the Kharkiv Hub to ultimately ensure the provision of quality and timely SRH and GBV services, and to promote SRH and GBV prevention and response during emergency response planning and implementation, and during donors and inter-agency meetings.
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You would be responsible for:
Coordination and representation
Support UNFPAโs engagement as a key humanitarian actor and strengthen coordination and partnership with local authorities and other partners in the regions covered by the Kharkiv Hub.ย Support participation in coordination meetings, programmatic, logistics, heads of agencies meetings, ASMT, Access working group, and any other area-specific meetings related to the humanitarian response.
ย Coordinate with humanitarian partners to identify opportunities for a) referrals; b) partnership; c) coordination/complementarity of interventions within UNFPAโs mandate and existing/planned humanitarian activities.
ย Coordinate the UNFPA team in the regions covered by the Kharkiv Hub towards successful delivery of humanitarian assistance, supplies to areas of need, and to fulfil their reporting requirements.
ย Assist the country office in the implementation of humanitarian interventions, including nexus activities.
ย Review and facilitate the update of the emergency preparedness plans with the health cluster, SRH Working Group, the GBV sub-cluster and GBV working groups.
ย Support the country team in establishing arrangements for the ordering and dispatch of supplies.
ย Regularly liaise with the country office in Kyiv and other human humanitarian hubs in Ukraine.
Programmatic and operational support to emergency response
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ย Support the Ukraine Emergency Response team in responding to the possible changes due to the conflict.
ย Support planning for activities, prepositioning of supplies and working with partners in various areas.
ย Collaborate with Security and Access Officers to ensure staff safety and security in the regions covered by the Kharkiv Hub.
Communication
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ย Develop knowledge transfer notes and orient new staff and those on mission to the regions covered by the Kharkiv Hub.
ย Document lessons learned and prepare handover notes.
Building and Sustaining Partnershipsย
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ย Promote, respect and ensure that the Principles of Partnership are reflected in the day-to-day work of the GBV and SRH sub-sector.
ย Coordinate and collaborate with other sectors/working groups such as the Health sector, Child Protection sub-sector, Shelter/NFI sector, Food Security sector, Education sector, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Working Group, etc. to ensure integration of GBV-related action in their sector plans and to advocate for joint awareness-raising for non-GBV specialists.
ย Work with the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) In-country Network to ensure that survivors of SEA have access to services.
Strategic Planning
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ย Regularly review and revisit SOPs at strategic points throughout the crisis response.
ย Work with partners to continually identify response gaps and seek solutions to fill gaps. Advocates with UNFPA, as sub-cluster lead, to address gaps not yet filled by partners.
Any other duties
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Qualifications and Experience:ย
Education:ย ย
Advanced degree in Humanitarian Assistance, Public Health, Social Sciences and/or other related fields.
Knowledge and Experience:ย
Five (5) years of relevant experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency relief management and coordination, public health or other related areas, of which four (4) are at the international level.ย Proven management, coordination and programme development skills.
ย Track record of building strategic alliances and partnerships, strong communication and networking skills; strong organizational skills.
ย Appropriate and transparent decision-making abilities.
ย Knowledge and understanding of UN humanitarian relief operations and coordination structures.
ย Prior experience in the region is an asset.
ย Prior UNFPA surge deployments are a distinct asset.
ย Experience in the UN system. UNFPA experience is an asset.
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Languages:ย
Fluency in English is required. Ukrainian/Russian/Slovakian an asset.
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Required Competencies:ย
Values:
Exemplifying integrity,ย Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,ย Embracing cultural diversity,ย Embracing changeCore Competencies:ย
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:
Providing logistical supportย Managing data, documents, correspondence and reports
ย Planning, organizing and multi-tasking
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Compensation and Benefits:
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This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
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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. 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 hereย to learn more.
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Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.ย
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.ย
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.
The United Nations Organization is committed to diversity and inclusion. Women, persons from vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, refugees as well as persons from other underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.