The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is inviting experienced international development professionals to apply for the position of Deputy Representative (P5) based in Kampala, Uganda. This is a full-time, fixed-term international role with an initial one-year contract and the possibility of extension.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal leadership role in designing and delivering Uganda’s UNFPA Country Programme while strengthening partnerships with government institutions, donors, civil society, academia, and the private sector. The position supports the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2026–2029, with a strong focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, maternal health, youth empowerment, and humanitarian response.
About the UNFPA Deputy Representative Role
The Deputy Representative serves as the second senior-most official within the UNFPA Uganda Country Office, working closely with the UNFPA Representative to lead strategic programme development and country operations.
The role combines technical leadership, policy advocacy, programme management, partnership development, and resource mobilization. It also oversees the day-to-day management of the Country Office, ensuring high-quality programme implementation and effective supervision of assigned staff.
This leadership position is ideal for professionals with substantial experience in population and development, humanitarian programming, public health, gender equality, or international development.
Position Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) |
| Position | Deputy Representative |
| Grade | P5 |
| Location | Kampala, Uganda |
| Contract | Fixed-Term (1 year, renewable) |
| Schedule | Full-time |
| Application Deadline | 2 October 2026 |
| Language | English |
Key Responsibilities
The Deputy Representative will provide strategic and operational leadership across four major areas.
Programme Leadership
The successful candidate will lead the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of Uganda’s Country Programme. Responsibilities include aligning programmes with national demographic priorities, strengthening humanitarian preparedness, maintaining quality standards, and ensuring results-based reporting across all UNFPA initiatives.
National Capacity Development
A significant aspect of the role involves strengthening national institutions by supporting government agencies, research organizations, academic institutions, and civil society. The Deputy Representative will help build national capacity for evidence-based policymaking, demographic analysis, health systems strengthening, and rights-based development planning.
Partnership Building and Advocacy
The position requires extensive engagement with government ministries, UN agencies, bilateral donors, development partners, media organizations, and the private sector. The Deputy Representative will advocate for the integration of the ICPD agenda into national policies while mobilizing resources and promoting UNFPA’s mandate through strategic communications and public engagement.
Country Office Management
The role includes supervising staff, supporting annual work planning, managing programme resources, strengthening organizational performance, promoting staff development, and ensuring compliance with UN security standards, including MOSS and MORSS requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must possess a postgraduate university degree in a relevant discipline, including:
- Public Health
- Medicine
- Sociology
- Demography
- Gender Studies
- International Relations
- International Development
- Economics
- Public Administration
- Management
- Or another closely related field
Candidates should demonstrate strong technical expertise alongside strategic leadership capabilities within international development settings.
Required Experience
To qualify, applicants should have:
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in public administration or international development.
- A minimum of 8 years of international field experience in population and development, sexual and reproductive health, or humanitarian programming.
- Proven experience in programme design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Strong advocacy and policy dialogue experience at national and international levels.
- Demonstrated success in leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex development programmes.
- Experience working in humanitarian or developing-country contexts, which is considered highly desirable.
Fluency in English is mandatory, while knowledge of another official United Nations language is considered an advantage.
Salary and Benefits
UNFPA offers an internationally competitive remuneration package for Professional (P5) positions. Benefits include:
- Competitive net international salary
- Comprehensive health insurance
- UN pension and applicable allowances
- Paid leave and work-life balance provisions
- Professional development opportunities
- Additional UN benefits based on eligibility and duty station regulations
The organization also promotes a diverse, inclusive, and gender-equal workplace, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, indigenous communities, minority groups, and other underrepresented populations.
Why This Leadership Role Matters
As Uganda continues advancing national development priorities, the Deputy Representative will contribute directly to improving maternal health, expanding access to family planning, preventing gender-based violence, strengthening demographic data systems, and supporting humanitarian preparedness.
The position offers a unique opportunity to influence national policy while managing high-impact programmes that improve the lives of millions of people, particularly vulnerable women, adolescents, and marginalized communities.
How to Strengthen Your Application
Competitive candidates should clearly demonstrate measurable leadership achievements in international development rather than simply listing responsibilities.
A strong application should highlight:
- Leadership of large-scale national or regional development programmes.
- Resource mobilization and donor partnership achievements.
- Policy influence and government engagement experience.
- Results in sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, or humanitarian programming.
- Experience managing diverse multicultural teams and complex stakeholder relationships.
Applicants should tailor their CV and cover letter to reflect UNFPA’s competency framework, emphasizing strategic thinking, accountability, collaboration, and transformational leadership.
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the UNFPA Deputy Representative (P5) position in Kampala, Uganda is:
2 October 2026
Interested candidates should submit their application through the official UNFPA Careers Portal before the closing date.
