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).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT: 

To design and manage programmes that effectively meet food assistance needs with a food systems approach, and provide technical advice and oversight on programme implementation, leading a medium-sized team.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Area Office and supervising the entire Programme Team of WFP Afghanistan, the incumbent is accountable to:

Strategic Leadership: Lead the design and implementation of CO project plans and processes, ensuring full alignment with the Afghanistan Country Strategic Plan (CSP) and corporate humanitarian policies.

Portfolio Oversight: Direct the management of large-scale, complex operations—including 

Emergency Food Assistance, Resilience and Food System (RFS), School Feeding, and Malnutrition treatment—ensuring seamless coordination with the Country Office.

Data & Evidence Management: Oversee CO data systems (including SCOPE beneficiary registration) to ensure rigorous quality standards and evidence-based targeting across the four eastern provinces. Operational Analysis: Lead research into CO socio-political and food security trends to adapt programs to the unique security and access challenges of Eastern Afghanistan.

Strategic Reporting: Ensure the delivery of high-quality, analytical reporting on CO activities to provide senior leadership and donors with the transparency needed for informed decision-making.

Risk & Collaboration: Manage relationships with internal and external counterparts to ensure collaboration, proactively identifying operational risks in the field and implementing mitigation strategies.

Partnership Management: Lead the strategic identification and management of Cooperating Partners (CPs), ensuring international and national NGOs deliver high-impact results under Field Level Agreements (FLAs). Regional Positioning: Drive WFP’s value proposition in the Eastern region, positioning the agency as the lead partner for food security to local authorities and the UN Regional Team.

Strategic Advocacy: Facilitate high-level dialogue with regional stakeholders and de facto authorities to negotiate humanitarian access and build long-term operational trust. Institutional Capacity Strengthening: Lead the capacity-building strategy for WFP staff and partners, focusing on Emergency Preparedness and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) within the regional context. Team Leadership: Supervise and mentor a multi-disciplinary program team, serving as the final technical referral point for complex programmatic queries and staff development.

Other as required.

EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• Ideally, a director level government experience and the ability to interact effectively with staff at the ministerial level and at the international financial institution management level
• Has strong experience in programme planning and implementation.
• Has been responsible for a diverse programme portfolio and leading a team of people to achieve its results.
• Experience with and understanding of Local policy processes (from planning to implementation), and negotiations and support modalities of donors’ requirements, and national Country Capacity Strengthening initiatives are considered an added value.

STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

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

Language: Fluency (level C) in English.

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.