About this opportunity
The United Nations Population Fund has opened applications for the Youth, Peace and Security Consultant Roster through its West and Central Africa Regional Office, job ID 34532. The roster is a pool of pre qualified experts that the Regional Office and country offices draw on when an assignment arises, so one strong application can open doors to many separate consultancies rather than a single posted job.
The work sits at the meeting point of humanitarian action, development and peacebuilding, with particular attention to the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, Liptako-Gourma and the Gulf of Guinea. UNFPA is looking for specialists across seniority levels in areas such as youth empowerment, conflict prevention, governance, social cohesion, research, monitoring and evaluation, and programme management, always connected to the Youth, Peace and Security and Women, Peace and Security agendas.
Entry requires an advanced university degree in a field such as international relations, peace and conflict studies, law or social sciences, plus a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience, with seven or more years expected for several specialist profiles. Fluency in English is required and a working knowledge of French is mandatory for most regional assignments, while Arabic or Portuguese is an advantage. Several profiles also ask for proven experience working in fragile or conflict affected settings within the region.
Applications are submitted free of charge through the official UNFPA recruitment portal and close on 31 December 2026 at 23:00 Eastern Time. Being on the roster is not a promise of a specific assignment, it is
Eligibility
for consideration when the office needs that expertise.
What you receive
- Pre qualification into a regional UNFPA consultant pool used by the Regional Office and country offices
- Eligibility for future short term and long term paid individual consultancy assignments
- Work across the humanitarian, development and peacebuilding continuum in West and Central Africa
- Contribution to the Youth, Peace and Security and Women, Peace and Security agendas
- No application fee through the UNFPA recruitment portal
Who can apply
- Advanced university degree, master's or PhD, in international relations, peace and conflict studies, law, social sciences or a related field
- A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience, with seven or more years for several specialist profiles
- Fluency in English required
- Working knowledge of French mandatory for the majority of regional assignments
- Arabic or Portuguese is an additional advantage
- Proven experience in fragile or conflict affected settings, specifically the Sahel or Lake Chad Basin, for several profiles
Who should not apply
- This is a roster for future assignments rather than an offer of a specific job, and inclusion does not guarantee a consultancy contract
Documents to prepare
- A comprehensive CV
- A focused cover letter
- A recent technical work sample demonstrating relevant experience
How to apply
- Review the technical profiles listed in the vacancy and choose the profile closest to your background
- Prepare a CV, a focused cover letter and a recent technical work sample
- Open the official UNFPA careers listing for job 34532 and apply through the recruitment portal
- Submit before 31 December 2026 at 23:00 Eastern Time
Selection process
- Applications are screened against the technical profile requirements through the UNFPA recruitment process
- Successful candidates are added to the pre qualified regional roster
- When the Regional Office or a country office needs that expertise, roster members are considered for specific assignments
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
Does joining the roster guarantee a job?
No. The roster establishes eligibility for consideration, and assignments depend on organisational needs and the expertise required at the time.
Who can apply?
Experienced professionals across West and Central Africa and international consultants who meet the degree, experience and language requirements of a listed profile.
Is French required?
Fluency in English is required, and a working knowledge of French is mandatory for the majority of regional assignments.
Is there an application fee?
No, applications go through the official UNFPA recruitment portal free of charge.
Important disclaimer
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