Job Description

The Position:

The District Project Coordinator is a field-based project coordination position responsible for facilitating implementation of UNFPA-supported integrated sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence (GBV) interventions across assigned districts and programme municipalities. The incumbent will maintain regular engagement with provincial, district and local authorities; coordinate implementing partners and service-delivery actors; monitor programme quality and results; and support timely follow-up and reporting.

The position connects municipal implementation with provincial and national level systems, institutions and policies. It will help ensure that SRHR and GBV services are planned, financed, delivered and monitored as an integrated, rights-based and government-owned system. The incumbent will work across health, social development, justice, education and protection structures, with particular attention to women, girls, adolescents, young people, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ persons, Dalits and other populations left furthest behind.

The District Project Coordinator reports to the Harmful Practices Specialist. The incumbent receives technical guidance from UNFPA’s SRHR and Gender teams and collaborates closely with WHO, implementing partners and other members of the joint programme team.

How you can make a difference:

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 UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results

Job Purpose:

The District Project Coordinator translates these outcomes into coordinated action at sub national levels. The District Project Coordinator will be working closely with local governments, district authorities, provincial government agencies, community organizations, development partners and other relevant stakeholders to ensure timely and effective delivery of planned results. The role combines policy advocacy and technical assistance, implementation coordination, service-system strengthening, community engagement, monitoring, reporting and learning, and humanitarian preparedness and response. It is expected to strengthen government ownership, mobilize co- financing from the local governments and private sector, and promote functional referral pathways and accountability for inclusive and integrated SRHR and GBV services in Nepal.

You would be responsible for:

1. Support policy advocacy, planning and budgeting process at Subnational Level

• Provide hands-on support to assigned municipalities to integrate SRHR, GBV prevention and response, gender equality and social inclusion priorities into periodic and annual plans, sectoral plans, budgets and expenditure reviews.
• Support evidence-based dialogue with elected representatives and government officials on mobilizing co-financing and prioritizing financial resources on integrated SRHR and GBV services, budget execution and government actions on essential services and frontline functions, including OCMCs, adolescent friendly health services, safe houses, case managers and community psychosocial services.
• Help local governments to formulate effective laws and policy, policy implementation, and budget execution for improved access and quality and integrated SRHR and GBV services.
• Support Municipality to harmonize the inter-departmental coordination and collaboration among the sections responsible for health, gender equality, education and finance.
• Facilitate implementation of relevant national and subnational laws, policies, action plans, standards/SOPs and guidelines, including those related to integrated GBV and SRHR services, GESI, adolescent and youth health and humanitarian preparedness.
• Support municipalities in implementing local-level policies and guidelines for integrated SRHR and GBV services.
• Support municipalities to conduct periodic reviews, roll-out accountability tools and capacity building of Health Facility Operation and Management Committee on SRHR and its interlinkage with disaster GBV prevention and response.
• Conduct advocacy activities with local government on cost sharing strategies for GBV and SRHR service provision and prioritizing gender responsive budgeting at local level.

1. Programme implementation support, coordination and quality assurance

• Support the implementation of programme activities across assigned districts and municipalities in line with approved annual workplans, budgets, results frameworks, technical standards and partnership agreements.
• Maintain regular liaison with local governments, district-level authorities, implementing partners, WHO, UNFPA technical and operations teams, health facilities with OCMC services, safe houses, schools, civil society organizations and community networks.
• Provide day-to-day support to implementing partners and government counterparts in delivering planned activities, following up on implementation issues and facilitating timely completion of agreed actions.
• Support monitoring of the quality and inclusiveness of training, orientations, dialogues, community initiatives and service-strengthening activities, ensuring alignment with rights-based, gender-transformative, survivor-centered, trauma-informed, adolescent-responsive and disability-inclusive approaches.
• Participate in relevant networks and coordination mechanisms related to SRHR, GBV and the Protection Cluster, and support information sharing and coordination among relevant stakeholders.
• Support municipalities and service providers to strengthen integrated SRHR and GBV service delivery, with a focus on OCMC services, safe houses and relevant justice and social services.
• Support the mapping, periodic updating and practical use of multisectoral referral pathways linking communities, health facilities, hospitals, psychosocial support, safe accommodation, police, legal aid, justice and social protection services.
• Provide day-to-day coordination, facilitation and operational support for programme activities.

1. Monitor, documentation and reporting of programme progress and results at the district level

• Conduct regular field and joint monitoring visits to assess implementation, service quality, progress, and follow-up on corrective actions.
• Document results, lessons, good practices, challenges, and risks; support learning, donor visits, and safe and ethical programme communications.

1. Risk management, safeguarding and humanitarian support

• Promote a respectful, inclusive and safe working environment, and support partners and frontline personnel to understand and apply PSEA, prevention of sexual harassment, child safeguarding and other safeguarding requirements.
• Support partners to provide communities with safe, accessible and confidential feedback and reporting channels, and promptly report any safeguarding concerns or allegations through the appropriate UNFPA channels.
• Support coordination with provincial and district disaster-management authorities, health emergency structures, protection/GBV coordination mechanisms and humanitarian partners to strengthen preparedness and continuity of essential SRH and GBV services during emergencies.
• Perform other duties within the scope of the position as required by the supervisor or UNFPA management.

1. Others

• Create a safe working environment by developing respectful and safe organizational culture and supporting practices.
• Perform any other duties as requested by the supervisor and the UNFPA Management team.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Nursing, Midwifery, Gender Studies, Sociology or other related field with 4 years of relevant experience OR Secondary-level education in above mentioned field with 7 years of relevant experience.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in programme implementation, coordination, monitoring and reporting at provincial, district and municipal level.
• Demonstrated knowledge and practical experience in at least one of the following areas, together with a sound working understanding of the other: sexual and reproductive health and rights; gender equality and gender-based violence prevention and response.
• Experience working with local governments in Nepal, particularly health, gender, social development, justice, protection and planning.
• Experience coordinating implementing partners, civil society organizations, service providers and multidisciplinary stakeholders.
• Understanding of rights-based, survivor-centered, adolescent-responsive, disability-inclusive and Leave No One Behind approaches.
• Experience with field monitoring, data quality assurance, referral systems, quality improvement or humanitarian preparedness and response is an advantage.
• Familiarity with UNFPA’s mandate, the ICPD Programme of Action, Nepal’s federal governance system and relevant SRHR and GBV laws and policies is an advantage.
• Prior experience with the United Nations or an international development organization is an asset.
• Proficiency in standard office applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and digital collaboration tools.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently within the assigned province and to remote programme locations, subject to applicable security procedures.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Nepali (oral and written) is required. Knowledge of the local language(s) spoken in the district where the position is based will be an advantage.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships.

Functional Competencies:

• Business acumen,
• Implementing management systems,
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches,
• Client orientation,
• Organizational awareness.

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including leave days, health insurance and additional remuneration for pensions and social security obligations.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and engagement of LSC personnel may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or selection process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.