Overview

The Deputy Executive Director (Programme) provides technical and strategic leadership, management, and communication for UNFPA's programme and humanitarian response, working under the Executive Director.

Tasks Summary

• Provide strategic direction and leadership across all programmatic functions, including humanitarian response.
• Supervise a senior leadership team to ensure integration of policy, strategy, technical expertise, and evidence-based programming.
• Lead the organization’s programmatic contributions and oversee implementation of the UNFPA Strategic Plan, 2026-2029.
• Champion and lead the strategic shift towards sustainable financing and investment.
• Lead the organization's agenda on demographic change.
• Direct UNFPA's work to achieve enhanced impact in programming.
• Ensure integrated technical and policy guidance across the organization.
• Oversee programmatic performance and lead risk mitigation strategies.
• Oversee UNFPA’s humanitarian response strategy, policies, and implementation.
• Represent UNFPA at high levels of policy dialogue.
• Lead coalition-building for mobilization of diverse and sustainable financing.
• Build strong partnerships with governments, international financial institutions, civil society, philanthropy, and the private sector.
• Systematically strengthen the capabilities of the senior programme leadership team and developing direct reports.
• Work closely with the Deputy Executive Director (Management) on change management initiatives.
• Ensure clarity in roles, accountability, and decision-making.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, adaptation, and innovation.
• Model highest standards of ethical behaviour and zero tolerance for any wrongdoing.
• Support other activities, initiatives and priorities as determined and guided by the Executive Director.

Experience Requirements

• Over 20 years of professional experience in increasingly responsible roles in public health, sustainable development or humanitarian response, with at least 10 years in a senior leadership capacity.
• Substantial experience managing a complex, large-scale portfolio of development and humanitarian programmes at the global or regional level, including expertise in programme design, results-based management, and evaluation across diverse contexts, including settings in the humanitarian-development-peacebuilding nexus.
• Strong experience in mobilizing resources and shaping financing strategies for development and humanitarian response, with exposure to diverse sources such as international financial institutions, domestic resource mobilization, and innovative financing mechanisms.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize demographic data, population analysis, and foresight to inform the design and implementation of rights-based policies and development strategies.
• Significant experience in advocacy, negotiation, and policy dialogue in high-level intergovernmental, multi-stakeholder, or similar fora.
• A strong track record of establishing and cultivating effective strategic partnerships with senior leaders across governments, multilateral organizations, financial institutions, and civil society.
• In-depth knowledge of the international development and humanitarian systems, gained through senior-level experience.

Qualification Requirements

An advanced university Degree in Public Health, Social Sciences or related discipline, with additional qualifications in Business or Public Administration/ Management highly regarded.