DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
29 April 2026-23:59-GMT+05:45 Nepal Time (Kathmandu)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).
WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
Organizational Context:
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been working in Nepal since 1963, supporting the Government to achieve greater food security among vulnerable communities and build resilience to disasters. WFP is strengthening government capacity and providing support to food security, nutrition, as well as emergency preparedness and response, in support of the country’s goals to achieve Zero Hunger and to graduate from the least developed country to a lower middle-income status by 2026. WFP’s work in Nepal primarily targets the most food insecure, those in the hard-to-reach areas. Since 2024, WFP started implementation of its five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for 2024-2028 to support the Government of Nepal to address food insecurity, reduce malnutrition and build the resilience of vulnerable populations.
With the launch of the new CSP (2024-2028), WFP aims to intensify its shift towards the prioritization of development-oriented activities, with a strong focus on resilience building as well as country capacity-strengthening measures through technical assistance and strengthening of national capacity, systems, and programmes to address food security and nutrition needs, improve livelihoods, and build resilience in the face of shocks and climate change. As such, WFP seeks to continue increasing its engagement with government Ministries and development partners including International Financial Institutions (IFIs). WFP plans to accelerate the transition of its work from direct implementation to the provision of technical assistance to the Government aimed at strengthening programmes and systems to address. The CSP standing engagemented to complement one another and putting strong emphasis on strengthening the capacity of government institutions to achieve SDGs 2 and 17 and contributing to SDGs 1, 4 and 13. The long-standing engagement and institutional partnerships between the National Planning Commission, line ministries and technical departments and WFP is crucial to strengthen the food security, nutrition- and sustainable food systems focus areas aimed at transforming Nepal’s food system and making it sustainable, resilient, equitable and inclusive.
WFP’s Country Capacity Strengthening support:
WFP works in more than 120 countries around the world saving lives and changing lives. WFP’s focus on strengthening country capacities is based on the recognition that national systems are a critical vehicle for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) on ending hunger and supporting governments and stakeholders across the whole of society leading to tremendous opportunities for scale, impact, and sustainability of results.
For WFP, Country Capacity Strengthening (CCS) is defined as "activities structured around engagement with national and subnational stakeholder institutions and organizations with the intention of improving the sustainable functioning of systems and programmes that support populations with regard to their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs". It has defined five pathways – policy and legislation, institutional effectiveness and accountability, strategic planning and financing, programme design and delivery and engagement of non-governmental actors. WFP Nepal plans to continue to provide need-based, context specific country capacity strengthening support to the Government of Nepal to strengthen the national systems and programmes based on these five CCS pathways.
JOB PURPOSE
The position contributes to strengthen Nepal’s anticipatory action and risk‑layered disaster‑financing systems by advancing hydro‑meteorological modelling and impact‑based forecasting. The incumbent will calibrate and verify Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models (WRF-Weather Research and Forecasting/ICON-Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic/ECMWF-European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts), develop bias‑corrected gridded rainfall datasets, and build flood/runoff–impact forecasting relationships. Working with DHM- Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and NDRRMA- National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the role will co‑produce operational triggers, thresholds, and DSS‑ready hazard layers to improve early warnings, support parametric insurance and CDRFI- Climate and Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance applications, and inform timely, pre‑arranged AA activation decisions.
TERMS AND CONDITION
Position Title: Programme Policy Officer (Senior Hydrometeorologist)
Contract Type: Special Service Agreement (SSA)
Level: SSA L9
Contract Duration: 6 months
Duty Station: Kathmandu, Nepal
Date of Publication: 16.04.2026
Deadline of Application: 29.04.2026
WFP offers a competitive benefits package including salary plus CIGNA health insurance.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the overall guidance of the Head of Programme and the technical supervision of the Programme Policy Officer for Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR), the incumbent will undertake the following responsibilities:
Configure, calibrate, and verify NWP models and produce seasonal/sub‑seasonal indicators.
Develop bias‑corrected, high‑resolution rainfall and climate datasets.
Model flood footprints, severity, and forecast–runoff/impact relationships.
Generate operational triggers, thresholds, and DSS‑ready hazard layers.
Conduct accuracy and uncertainty assessments for forecasts, baselines, and models.
Automate data workflows (Python/R/Google Earth Engine) and publish dashboard‑ready outputs.
Coordinate data access, field validation, and co‑production of impact‑based products with DHM/NDRRMA/Local Governments.
Ensure compliance with national metadata, archiving, and data‑sharing standards.
Strengthen capacity of DHM and local governments through training and technical sessions.
Prepare documentation, SOPs- Standard Operating Procedure, and technical notes, and support continuous system improvement.
Perform other duties as required to support WFP’s anticipatory action, emergency preparedness, and risk financing integration efforts.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Advanced University degree (master’s degree) in Meteorology, Atmospheric Science, Climate Science, Hydrology, Water Resources, Environmental Modelling, or closely related quantitative discipline.
Experience
At least three years of post-graduate professional work experience in developing high‑resolution, bias‑corrected gridded climate/hydromet datasets from multisource inputs for flood, runoff, and impact modelling, including ground‑truthing and validation. Working with NWP outputs, hydrometeorological datasets, and automated processing workflows.
Knowledge & Skills
Strong analytical skills in hydrology, meteorology, flood modeling, and impact forecasting.
Interpolation, downscaling, uncertainty analysis, and EO/reanalysis integration.
Proficiency in Python/R/GEE, Linux/High Performance Computing, NetCDF/GRIB, and dashboard/API‑ready outputs.
Strong documentation and stakeholder engagement, especially with DHM/NDRRMA/LGs.
Languages: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Nepali languages.
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 recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.
We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.
At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.
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.