Chief, Population and Development Branch, Programme Division (PD), Nairobi, Kenya, D-1

Organizational Context

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 Chief of the Population and Development Branch (PDB), reporting to the Director of the Programme Division, serves as UNFPA’s global lead on population dynamics, demographic change, and population-development policy, advancing the organization's mandate on rights-based population policies and programmes.

Job Purpose

The Chief is responsible for shaping and driving UNFPA’s global population and development agenda, ensuring that rights-based demographic change is effectively integrated into strategies, policies, programmes, and investments at global, regional, and country levels. This involves providing authoritative leadership on demographic change and megatrends, translating population dynamics into policy and programmatic action, leading evidence generation and thought leadership, positioning UNFPA as a trusted global voice, and mobilizing strategic partnerships and financial resources to scale impact. The role ensures the integration of demographic change into sustainable development, economic transformation, and societal resilience.

Responsibilities

The Chief provides strategic direction and technical leadership for UNFPA’s population and development agenda, advising senior management on demographic change and population policies. This includes developing and implementing global strategies aligned with the UNFPA Strategic Plan and the ICPD Programme of Action, and positioning UNFPA as a global thought leader on demographic change, including fertility, ageing, demographic dividend, migration, and urbanization. The role oversees evidence generation, knowledge management, and foresight on population and development, ensuring policy relevance and scientific rigor. It also ensures the integration of population dynamics into UNFPA’s programmatic areas, promotes life-course approaches, and supports policy and programmatic responses to demographic opportunities while safeguarding rights. Furthermore, the Chief leads efforts to shape a balanced global narrative on demographic change, guides global advocacy and policy dialogues, and strengthens national capacities in demographic analysis and policy development.

Work Experience

Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in public administration and international development, including at least 8 years at the international level. Requires recognized technical authority and thought leadership in population and development, with deep expertise in demographic analysis and policy. Proven experience in population policies, demographic transition, and development planning is essential. Strong understanding of global megatrends and their implications for population dynamics is required.

Skills

Core competencies include achieving results, accountability, professional expertise, analytical and strategic thinking, teamwork, and communication. Managerial competencies involve strategic focus, stakeholder engagement, leadership, decision-making, conceptual innovation, partnership building, and job knowledge. The role requires expertise in demographic analysis, policy development, strategic planning, thought leadership, partnership building, and resource mobilization.

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