UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Job 2026 is now open for qualified professionals interested in working with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Johannesburg, South Africa. The position is at the P-2 level and is offered under a Fixed Term Appointment.
The UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst position is based at the UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) in Johannesburg and focuses on knowledge management, research, evidence generation, programme learning, capacity development and strategic collaboration across the region.
The application deadline for the UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Job 2026 is 13 August 2026.
UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Job 2026 – Quick Details
| Opportunity | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) |
| Job Title | Knowledge Management & Research Analyst |
| Job Level | P-2 |
| Contract Type | Fixed Term Appointment |
| Location | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Regional Office | East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) |
| Job ID | 35816 |
| Deadline | 13 August 2026 |
| Education | Advanced/Master’s degree |
| Experience | Relevant professional experience required |
| Language | English required |
| Salary | Competitive UNFPA net salary and benefits |
| Benefits | Pension, medical and other applicable benefits |
About the UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Job
The UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Job 2026 is positioned within the Evidence, Knowledge and Innovation Unit of the UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office.
The successful candidate will report to the Regional Population and Development Adviser, under the overall guidance of the Deputy Regional Director.
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The role is designed to strengthen knowledge management and research strategies across the East and Southern Africa region and support knowledge exchange and organizational learning across UNFPA.
The successful applicant will work with regional advisers, specialists, technical teams and country offices to strengthen the generation, organization, analysis, sharing and use of knowledge and evidence.
What Does a UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Do?
The UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst will play a leading role in developing and implementing knowledge management activities and supporting research and evidence-generation practices.
The position will contribute to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of UNFPA programmes throughout the East and Southern Africa region.
Key areas of work include:
- Knowledge management strategy and implementation
- Research and evidence generation
- Data analysis and research quality assurance
- Documentation of lessons learned and best practices
- Development of knowledge products and briefing papers
- Capacity development and technical assistance
- Research partnerships and collaboration
- Programme management support
- Organizational learning and knowledge sharing
Key Responsibilities
1. Knowledge Management
The Knowledge Management & Research Analyst will lead the rollout of the ESARO Knowledge Management Strategy and support the effective generation, storage, retrieval and sharing of knowledge and evidence.
Responsibilities include:
- Working with regional technical advisers, specialists and country offices to identify knowledge management initiatives.
- Promoting innovative technology and modern approaches to improve programme implementation.
- Supporting the development of evidence-based briefing papers and knowledge products.
- Maintaining databases containing research, studies, best practices and lessons learned.
- Connecting regional knowledge resources with relevant UN-wide knowledge management platforms.
- Supporting the identification and sharing of good practices across countries.
- Ensuring global technical knowledge and lessons learned are available to country offices.
2. Research and Evidence
The successful candidate will also contribute significantly to research and evidence generation.
Responsibilities include:
- Participating in the Research and Publication Committee.
- Supporting the quality of regional and country-level publications.
- Generating and documenting evidence on population and development trends.
- Supporting research concerning SRHR and gender issues.
- Conducting or providing quality assurance for secondary data analysis.
- Identifying research priorities in collaboration with regional and country offices.
- Supporting research from design through implementation and quality assurance.
- Analysing population and development reports.
- Examining issues including demographic dividend, climate change, migration and SRHR.
- Preparing materials for publication and knowledge dissemination.
- Documenting best practices and lessons learned.
3. Capacity Development
The UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst will support capacity development activities for country offices and national and regional institutions.
The role includes helping establish communities of practice and strengthening skills related to the production and dissemination of policy, programme and research knowledge.
4. Partnerships and Collaboration
The successful candidate will facilitate collaboration between national and regional knowledge management and research initiatives.
The position will also involve technical collaboration with:
- Research institutions
- Academic institutions
- UN organizations
- Knowledge management networks
- National and regional institutions
- Other relevant development partners
5. Programme Management Support
The Knowledge Management & Research Analyst will analyse existing knowledge management and research practices and recommend solutions that can improve programme and business efficiency.
The position will also serve as the ESARO lead for knowledge management and coordinate with knowledge management colleagues at UNFPA headquarters, other regions and country offices.
UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Requirements
Applicants interested in the UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Job 2026 should carefully review the education, experience, language and technical requirements.
Educational Requirements
Applicants should have an Advanced/Master’s degree in one of the following fields or another closely related discipline:
- Public Health
- Medicine
- Sociology
- Demography
- Gender
- Economics
- International Relations
- International Development
- Public Administration
- Marketing
- Management
A relevant advanced degree is an important requirement for the UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst position.
Professional Experience
Candidates should have relevant professional experience in management and development, particularly in areas related to sexual and reproductive health, gender and population dynamics.
The vacancy also highlights experience in several areas, including:
- Innovative use of technology for development
- Mobile-based data collection
- Training and capacity building
- Human-centered design
- Research and evidence generation
- Results-Based Programme Development and Management
- Knowledge management
- Strategic information management
- Organizational transformation
- Team participation and coordination
Experience working with the UN System or other international development organizations is desirable.
Applicants should also be able to explain complex ideas and research findings clearly and work creatively within available resources.
Language Requirements
Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
Working knowledge of French and/or Portuguese is desirable.
Computer Skills
Candidates should have proficiency in current office software applications.
Competencies Required for the UNFPA Job
The UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst vacancy highlights several professional and core competencies.
UNFPA Values
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Integrity
- Commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
- Cultural diversity
- Adaptability and openness to change
Functional Competencies
Relevant competencies include:
- Policy-oriented advocacy
- Results-Based Programme Development and Management
- Strategic partnerships
- Results-based programme delivery
- Communication and advocacy
- Innovation
- Knowledge management and research
- Technical expertise
Core Competencies
The position requires the ability to:
- Achieve results
- Be accountable
- Apply professional expertise
- Think analytically and strategically
- Work effectively in teams
- Manage professional relationships
- Communicate for impact
UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Salary and Benefits
The official vacancy does not provide a specific USD salary figure for this position.
Instead, UNFPA states that the position offers an attractive remuneration package, including a competitive net salary, pension, medical benefits and other applicable benefits.
Therefore, applicants should be cautious of websites or social media posts claiming a specific salary amount unless that figure is confirmed by an official UNFPA source.
Is the UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Job Fully Funded?
This is a paid UNFPA staff position, not a scholarship or fellowship.
The official vacancy states that the position comes with a competitive net salary as well as pension, medical and other applicable benefits.
However, “fully funded” should not be used to describe this job in the scholarship sense, because the official vacancy does not present it as a fully funded scholarship or grant.
Where Is the UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Job Located?
The duty station is:
Johannesburg, South Africa 🇿🇦
The successful candidate will work within the UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO).
The regional office supports UNFPA work across 23 countries in East and Southern Africa.
Who Can Apply for the UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Job?
The vacancy is intended for qualified professionals who meet the required educational and professional criteria.
Strong candidates will typically have:
- A relevant Master’s or advanced degree
- Professional experience in development-related work
- Knowledge management and research experience
- Experience generating evidence and research products
- Experience with programme development and management
- Knowledge of population and development issues
- Experience with innovation and technology
- Strong English communication skills
- Ability to work collaboratively in international and multicultural environments
Candidates should review the complete official vacancy before applying.
Why Apply for a UNFPA Job?
Working with UNFPA provides professionals with an opportunity to contribute to international development and programmes related to population, sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and sustainable development.
The UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Job 2026 offers an opportunity to contribute to regional programmes affecting countries across East and Southern Africa while working with an interdisciplinary international team.
The role is particularly relevant for professionals interested in:
- Knowledge management
- Research
- Evidence-based policymaking
- Population and development
- International development
- Public health
- Gender
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Programme management
- United Nations careers
UNFPA Strategic Priorities
The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026–2029 focuses on four major outcome areas:
- Ending preventable maternal deaths.
- Ending unmet need for family planning.
- Ending gender-based violence and harmful practices.
- Incorporating population dynamics into sustainable development.
The Knowledge Management & Research Analyst will support evidence generation and organizational learning that contribute to these broader transformative results.
Important Information Before Applying
Applicants should note that UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing or testing fees.
If someone asks for money in exchange for a UNFPA job application, interview, appointment or recruitment process, treat the request as fraudulent.
Applicants should use official UNFPA recruitment channels when submitting an application.
UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Job 2026 – Application Deadline
The application deadline is:
13 August 2026 at 23:59 (America/New_York time).
Candidates are encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day.
How to Apply for the UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Job 2026
To apply, candidates should visit the official UNFPA recruitment page and access the vacancy using Job ID 35816.
Before submitting an application, carefully check:
- Education requirements
- Professional experience
- Language requirements
- Competencies
- Application instructions
- Closing date
Final Thoughts
The UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst Job 2026 is an international professional opportunity for candidates with advanced qualifications and relevant experience in knowledge management, research, evidence generation, population and development, public health, gender or related fields.
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, the P-2 UNFPA Knowledge Management & Research Analyst will contribute to knowledge sharing, research, evidence generation, capacity development and programme improvement across the East and Southern Africa region.
With the application deadline set for 13 August 2026, eligible candidates should review the official vacancy carefully and submit their applications through the official UNFPA recruitment platform.
OFFICIAL APPLICATION LINK
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