DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

Job Title: Programme Policy Officer SAMS

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The position is based in Antananarivo Country Office and report to the the Head of the Smallholder Agricultural Market Support component.
Job holders operate with a high degree of independence, manage more junior staff to ensure that programme and policy objectives are achieved in full. They are usually involved in a wide variety of programme and policy activities and analytical work, some of which may be of a considerable complexity. At this level job holders are expected to contribute to performance improvement.

THE ROLE

To provide support to policy and programme activities that effectively meet food assistance needs.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):

• Contribute towards the development of a wide variety of projects, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance.

• Provide project management support to specific and defined programmes and projects of considerable size/complexity, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes that complies with WFP standards and procedures.

• Develop and coordinate data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.

• Research and analyse a range of policy and operational issues to inform the development of policies, programmes and activities.

• Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on programmes and activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.

• Liaise with internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery.

• Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working leading to improved food assistance packages.

• Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to prepare for and respond to food assistance needs, e.g. through providing inputs into training materials.

• Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries.

• Other as required.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS
Strategic Planning and Integration
• Define operational integration pathways (school feeding procurement, food fortification, nutritious crops, community assets), including linkages with social protection systems and local markets.
Value Chain and Market Analysis
• Identify typologies of producers (farm size, crops, organizational status, intensification level, access to services) in each intervention area.
• Produce producer profiles and vulnerability/opportunity maps.
• Analyze market potential (volumes, seasonality, food habits, quality and nutrition requirements, demand from school feeding and national reserves).
Farmers’ Organization (Fos) Support
• Identify and prioritize FOs eligible for SAMS support based on transparent criteria (governance, market potential, inclusion of women and youth, traceability, proximity to markets).
• Establish and maintain a digital FO database (legal status, membership, volumes, assets).
• Conduct organizational, technical, financial, governance, marketing, quality, post-harvest and ESHS assessments.
Partnerships and Capacity Building
• Strengthen collaboration with government technical services, research institutions (e.g. FOFIFA, IRD), and the private sector (buyers, input suppliers, financial, digital and insurance service providers).
• Support the development of MoUs, partnership agreements and co-investment frameworks.
• Identify synergies with UN agencies, GIZ, NGOs and other programmes to ensure coherence, complementarity and scalability
Monitoring, Learning and Compliance
• Establish a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning system with indicators, technical factsheets and data collection tools.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education: Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience:

• At least three (3) years of postgraduate professional experience in agricultural programme management, smallholder support, or agricultural development project implementation.

• Proven experience in technical support to farmers and introduction of appropriate agricultural technologies.

Desired experience for entry into the role:

• Has deepened technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams.

• Has taken leadership of implementing programmes.

• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.

Language: Fluency (level C) in French and Intermediate (level B) in English.

Deadline for Application: January 27, 2026

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.

• If you experience challenges while submitting your online application, please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org for technical support only.

• Please note that applications sent to this email address cannot be considered.

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.