Programme Specialist, Gender & Youth Empowerment

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is seeking a Programme Specialist, Gender & Youth Empowerment to join its Tanzania Country Office in Dar es Salaam. The position provides technical leadership in advancing gender equality, women’s empowerment, youth participation, and adolescent development while supporting programmes addressing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence (GBV).

The successful candidate will lead and support initiatives addressing discriminatory gender and social norms, economic empowerment, youth leadership, and access to SRHR services. The role also involves programme management, stakeholder engagement, advocacy, resource mobilisation, knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, and supervision of the Gender and Youth Empowerment team.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide technical leadership for women, adolescent girls, and youth empowerment programmes.
• Support programmes covering adolescent sexual and reproductive health, GBV prevention and response, FGM and child marriage prevention, and women’s economic empowerment.
• Support the development and implementation of laws, policies, programmes, and strategies that advance gender equality and sexual and reproductive health.
• Promote life skills, financial literacy, and economic empowerment opportunities for women, adolescent girls, and young people.
• Lead social and behavioural change initiatives that improve access to SRH information and services and address harmful gender and social norms.
• Promote disability-inclusive programming and equitable access to SRH and GBV prevention and response services.
• Use digital technologies and platforms to promote safer online spaces for women and girls.
• Support the development of gender- and age-inclusive digital content.
• Participate in UN inter-agency coordination, government coordination mechanisms, development partner groups, and other stakeholder platforms.
• Advocate for gender equality, youth empowerment, and prevention of harmful practices including FGM and child marriage.
• Strengthen the capacity of youth-led and women-led organisations to participate in policy development, programming, and national decision-making.
• Develop innovative financing proposals to mobilise resources for gender equality, women’s empowerment, and youth programmes.
• Support Country Office communication and resource mobilisation strategies.
• Provide technical leadership in developing evidence on adolescent and youth empowerment, gender equality, SRHR, and GBV prevention.
• Document good practices, research findings, lessons learned, success stories, and programme approaches.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing among UNFPA, UN agencies, government institutions, and development partners.
• Prepare content for briefs, reports, social media, and other communication products.
• Provide technical leadership in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programmes and workplans.
• Ensure programme activities align with national development priorities, the UNFPA Strategic Plan, and the UNSDCF.
• Oversee budget planning, utilisation, results-based management systems, and quality assurance.
• Ensure timely preparation of workplans, budgets, and progress reports for the team and implementing partners.
• Lead reporting on programme results and oversee effective use of financial and human resources.
• Provide technical and programmatic support for programme reviews, costing, documentation, reporting, and evaluations.
• Lead the Gender and Youth Empowerment team and ensure effective staff management.
• Supervise, mentor, and coach team members to strengthen their professional capacity.
• Perform other duties assigned by UNFPA leadership.

Qualifications Required:

• Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Sociology, Public Health, Development Studies, Public Policy, Development Management, Law, Human Rights, or a related field.
• At least five years of professional experience in gender equality, women’s empowerment, SRHR programmes, and/or economic empowerment programming.
• Strong technical expertise in adolescent and youth development, civic engagement, gender equality, and gender-based violence.
• Experience working with government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector.
• Strong understanding of reproductive rights and gender equality considerations in policy and programme development.
• Strong technical knowledge of social and behavioural change science and its practical application.
• Proven experience in advocacy and multi-stakeholder engagement on gender and women’s rights.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Fluency in written and spoken Kiswahili and/or another official UN language is desirable.
• Strong integrity and commitment to UNFPA and the United Nations system.
• Ability to work effectively in culturally diverse environments.
• Adaptability and willingness to embrace change.
• Strong results-oriented approach and accountability.
• Strong professional, analytical, and strategic thinking skills.
• Ability to work effectively in teams and manage professional relationships.
• Strong self-management and communication skills.
• Strategic leadership and partnership-building capabilities.
• Ability to develop and mentor people.
• Strong decision-making skills.
• Advocacy and alliance-building skills.
• Ability to leverage resources and mobilise partnerships.
• Experience in results-based programme delivery.
• Strong communication skills for achieving programme and resource mobilisation results.

How to Apply:

Interested and qualified candidates should submit their applications online through the official UNFPA careers portal.

Apply for Programme Specialist, Gender & Youth Empowerment

Job Identification: 36677

Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Employment Type: Full-Time

Application Deadline: 20 September 2026

Applicants should ensure that their applications clearly demonstrate their relevant academic qualifications, professional experience in gender and youth programming, technical expertise, leadership capabilities, and experience working with government and development partners.