Midwifery Specialist, Kabul, Afghanistan, P-3

Organizational Context

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency dedicated to delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. This P-3 Midwifery Specialist role in Kabul, Afghanistan, operates within the broader reproductive health programme, supporting the design and implementation of midwifery and maternal health interventions. The position reports to the Programme Specialist, Reproductive Health / Family Planning.

Job Purpose

The Midwifery Specialist provides crucial technical leadership and programme support for UNFPA Afghanistan's midwifery and maternal health initiatives. The role is instrumental in ensuring the availability, accessibility, and quality of maternal and reproductive health services, particularly in humanitarian and emergency settings. By strengthening midwifery practice, enhancing workforce capacity, and improving service delivery models, the specialist contributes directly to better maternal health outcomes and the continuity of life-saving reproductive health services in a complex operational environment.

Responsibilities

The Midwifery Specialist is responsible for providing technical support in the design and implementation of midwifery and maternal health interventions, ensuring alignment with international standards such as WHO and ICM guidelines. This includes supporting the implementation of strategies to retain midwifery skills, strengthen services, and improve maternal health outcomes, as well as contributing to the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for reproductive health in humanitarian contexts. The role also involves strengthening the midwifery workforce capacity, developing quality assurance mechanisms, and creating technical guidance and training materials. Monitoring programme implementation, conducting field visits, and contributing to reporting and data analysis are key duties. Furthermore, the specialist will collaborate with partners, support coordination with implementing agencies, and facilitate capacity development for partners and service providers, documenting best practices and lessons learned.

Work Experience

Requires at least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in midwifery, maternal health, or reproductive health programming. Experience in programme implementation, technical support for maternal and reproductive health services, and strengthening health workforce capacity is essential. Experience in humanitarian settings is desirable, and working with international organizations, NGOs, or UN agencies is an asset.

Skills

Core competencies include integrity, commitment to UNFPA, cultural diversity, embracing change, achieving results, accountability, professional expertise, analytical and strategic thinking, teamwork, and effective communication. Functional skills involve advocacy, building partnerships, delivering results-based programmes, and internal/external communication for resource mobilization.

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