In 2004–2020, Gafarova worked as Vice-Rector for International Relations of Baku Slavic University.

From 2006 to 2007, she was at the University of Michigan Institute for Women and Gender Studies under the US State Department's Fulbright Scholarship Program.

In 2015–2020, she served as Deputy Chairman of Committee on Family, Women and Children of National Assembly.

[5] From 2013 to 2015, she chaired the subcommittees of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Gender Equality and Racism and Xenophobia.

[6] Gafarova has been a member of New Azerbaijan Party since 2004, and a deputy of 4th, 5th and 6th convocations of Milli Majlis.