Programme Officer (Health Emergency), Kabul

General

Description of assignment title: Programme Officer (Health Emergency)

Assignment country: Afghanistan

Duty stations: Kabul

Work location: On UN premises

Expected start date: 01/03/2027

Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Sustainable Development Goal: 3. Good health and well-being

Host entity: UNICEF

Modality: Onsite

Type: National

Volunteer category: Specialist UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule: Full-time

Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Context

UNICEF has been on the ground in Afghanistan for more than 70 years with offices nationwide and a range of partners that support us in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable, especially children.

As one of the longest-serving members of the international community in Afghanistan, UNICEF has a unique role in promoting peace and stability for the country's children. We continue to support the country's transition from decades of war and natural disasters so that children, adolescents, and women can access the services they need and fulfil their right to survival, development, protection, and participation.

UNICEF works to promote and protect the rights and well-being of children and women in Afghanistan. Since 1949, we have been bringing basic services, including education, health, nutrition, protection, water, sanitation, and hygiene to those who are most in need, addressing inequities in each of these areas.

The UNV- Emergency Health officer will support the Health Section, particularly the Health Emergency Unit in the monitoring, coordination, and reporting of emergency health programmes, with a particular focus on emergency preparedness and response activities, and reporting under the Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC). The incumbent will support the collection, consolidation, analysis, and tracking of emergency response data to facilitate timely decision-making, result monitoring, donor reporting, and accountability.

The UNV will work closely with health sector partners and relevant UNICEF sections to monitor implementation progress, maintain up-to-date reports and information products, track action points and commitments, support preparation of situation updates and donor reports. The position will also provide operational and coordination support to emergency preparedness and response activities as required.

Task description

• Data Collection, Analysis and Reporting: Assist in the collection, consolidation, validation, and analysis of emergency response data from multiple sources; DHIS, NDSR, partner reports, and programme monitoring systems. Support the preparation of situation reports, donor reports, presentations, dashboards, management briefs, and periodic analytical updates.
• Programme Monitoring and Performance Tracking: Support monitoring of emergency health activities and implementation progress against planned targets and donor commitments.
• Maintain activity trackers, monitor key performance indicators, and ensure timely preparation of reports, meeting minutes, action points, and follow-up matrices.
• Coordination and Follow-up: Track emergency health-related activities across UNICEF sections, including Health, WASH, Nutrition, SBC and other relevant sectors to strengthen intersectoral coordination. Follow up on agreed actions, deliverables, and reporting requirements with partners and internal stakeholders.
• Information Management: Facilitate timely communication with health sector partners, follow up on information and report requests, and support the organization and documentation of emergency-related information.
• Technical and Operational Support: Support the monitoring of donor-funded emergency activities and compliance with donor conditionalities. Assist in tracking supplies, emergency preparedness interventions, contingency planning activities, and the functionality of emergency-ready health facilities. Support the monitoring of pre-positioned UNICEF supplies to ensure distribution according to agreed plans and requirements.
• Administrative and Coordination Support: Provide administrative and coordination support for emergency preparedness and response activities, maintain up-to-date records, reports, and meeting documentation, and undertake any other tasks assigned by the supervisor in support of the Health Section.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 - 80

Required experience: 3 years

Nationality: Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience: 3 years

Languages:

• Dari, Level: Fluent, Desirable
• Pashto, Level: Fluent, Desirable
• English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level: Bachelor's degree in medicine, nursing, public health, epidemiology

Competencies and values:

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Skills and experience:

• Three years of relevant experience in public health
• Excellent oral and written skills in English language
• Strong analytical skills and presentation of data
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet.
• Health emergency, Monitoring and evaluation, epidemiology or other relevant emergency program related experience with international organizations in Afghanistan is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization;
• Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge;
• Excellent data analysis and presentation skills, written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Desirable: valid national driver’s license and proven ability to drive manual gear 4x4 over rough terrain;
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in gender issues, working with community platforms, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

Area(s) of expertise: Emergency preparedness, crisis response, Public health, immunisation, Project management, programme development, strategy

Driving license: -

Other information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living conditions and remarks

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

The volunteer will be eligible for pre-assignment benefits, during the assignment volunteer living allowance, learning, annual leave, insurance and end of assignment existing allowance.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.

The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Reasonable accommodation

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.

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