Application Guide
How to Apply for TAHub01_Call for Writers on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Documentation and Best Practices
at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
🏢 About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, working to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. What makes UNFPA unique is its global mandate to advance reproductive rights as human rights, operating in over 150 countries with a focus on the most vulnerable populations. Working here means contributing directly to global health equity and gender equality through evidence-based programming.
About This Role
This role involves developing knowledge products (policy briefs, toolkits, case studies) that document best practices in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for UNFPA's global programs. You'll be responsible for the full documentation cycle—from inception reports and data gathering through stakeholder interviews to producing accessible technical materials. This position is impactful because it translates field experiences into actionable resources that can improve SRHR programming worldwide.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with coordinating across time zones for a virtual writers' workshop to finalize a toolkit outline, then conducting desktop reviews of recent SRHR evaluations from UNFPA country offices. In the afternoon, you might draft interview questions for stakeholders implementing adolescent-friendly health services, followed by revising a policy brief on contraceptive access with feedback from technical advisors. Remote collaboration tools would be used throughout to align with global team members.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Is Looking For
- A technical writer with 7+ years of demonstrated experience specifically in SRHR topics, able to cite publications or projects on maternal health, family planning, or gender-based violence
- Someone who can develop detailed inception reports and research plans that align with UNFPA's results-based management framework
- A multilingual professional fluent in English with working knowledge of French or Portuguese to engage with UNFPA's operations in Francophone and Lusophone regions
- A collaborative researcher comfortable with mixed methods (desktop reviews, questionnaires, interviews) who can synthesize complex SRHR data into accessible formats for diverse audiences
📝 Tips for Applying to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Highlight specific SRHR documentation you've produced—mention policy briefs, toolkits, or case studies by name and explain their audience/impact
Demonstrate your understanding of UNFPA's thematic priorities by referencing their 2022-2025 Strategic Plan or recent publications like the State of World Population report
Include examples of developing inception reports or project management documentation for multi-stakeholder initiatives in global health
If you have French/Portuguese skills, provide concrete examples of using these languages in professional SRHR contexts (e.g., reviewing francophone research or interviewing Lusophone stakeholders)
Tailor your resume to show how your 7+ years map onto UNFPA's SRHR focus areas: adolescent health, maternal health, family planning, or gender equality programming
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your technical writing philosophy for SRHR topics—how you balance accuracy with accessibility for policymakers, practitioners, and communities', "Experience collaborating in writers' workshops or multi-stakeholder processes to co-create knowledge products", "Specific methodologies you've used for SRHR documentation (e.g., outcome harvesting for case studies, systematic reviews for policy briefs)", "How your language skills (beyond English) could enhance documentation of best practices from UNFPA's work in Francophone Africa or Portuguese-speaking countries"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → UNFPA's Transformative Results (three zeros) and how knowledge products contribute to these goals
- → Recent UNFPA knowledge products on SRHR (search their publication database) to understand their style and priority topics
- → UNFPA's country programs in Francophone/Lusophone regions to identify potential documentation opportunities
- → The UNFPA Strategic Plan 2022-2025, particularly the thematic focus on innovation and data for SRHR
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting generic writing samples not related to SRHR—always include SRHR-specific examples
- Failing to demonstrate how your experience aligns with UN's results-based management or human rights-based approaches
- Overlooking the multilingual aspect—even if not fluent, showing awareness of UNFPA's linguistic needs in applications
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)!