Programme Policy Officer - Shock Responsive and Adaptive Social Protection (SRASP) - SC8 - Baghdad, Iraq

Job Title: Programme Policy Officer – Shock Responsive and Adaptive Social Protection (SRASP)

Type of Contract: Service Contract - SC8

Unit / Division: Social Protection

Duty Station: Baghdad, Iraq

Duration: 6 months with possibility of extension

BACKGROUND:

Social protection is an increasingly popular strategy for governments to reduce extreme poverty, hunger and inequality. As a global leader in fighting hunger and malnutrition worldwide, often in very difficult contexts, the World Food Programme (WFP) is increasingly called upon by governments to support national social protection systems. In 2019, WFP partnered with governments in 75 countries to support their national social protection systems, making support to social protection an integral part of WFP’s activities in most of the countries where it operates.

As the COVID-19 pandemic puts at risk not only the lives and livelihoods of many people across the globe, it also threatens to undermine decades of progress towards the SDGs. In response to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, many governments are currently adapting and/or putting in place new social protection schemes.

Through its triple role as a technical advisor, service provider and complementary actor, WFP is supporting these efforts, as it works with governments to extend the coverage, comprehensiveness, adequacy and quality of national social protection systems, with the aim to ensure that all people have access, throughout their lives, to strong national social protection systems that safeguard and foster their ability to meet their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs, and to reduce and address the risks and shocks they face.

The Iraq Country Office is at the forefront of transforming social protection delivery through cash-based transfers (CBTs) and retail integration. In partnership with the Government of Iraq, WFP is strengthening national systems for social protection and disaster risk management to promote resilience, food security, and inclusive development.

Committed to extensive reforms, the governments of federal and the Kurdistan region of Iraq (KRI) continue to enhance this system's capabilities. In partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), under the European Union-supported UN Joint Programme "Leveraging Effective Response and Accelerating Reform for Social Protection in Iraq," WFP is delivering technical and operational support to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Iraq’s social protection mechanisms In addition, the governments of Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) are increasingly relying on CBTs to support non-poor but highly vulnerable individuals through the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Programme. This initiative provides cash-based social assistance to individuals with disabilities and their caregivers, currently reaching around 420,000 beneficiaries nationwide—including 77,000 in the KRI. However, over 1 million people in the KRI remain on a waiting list, highlighting the urgent need for expanded coverage.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Head of Social Protection, and with the support of a senior SRASP Technical Advisor, the Shock Responsive & Adaptive Social Protection (SRASP) will lead the strategic and technical support to WFP Iraq’s SRASP agenda. The SRASP Coordinator will lead the SRASP component within the WFP Iraq’s portfolio, focusing on strengthening shock‑responsive and adaptive social protection systems. The role will be as technical and institutional first line of government dialogue with key counterparts in SRASP: social protection (MoLSA, SPA), disaster risk management (Ministry of Interior, Civil Defense), early warning/forecasting entities (Ministry of Science and Technology, National Operations Centre in the OPM, Iraq Meteorological Service – IMOS) and others. The Coordinator will establish and reinforce a technical, operational and institutional agenda with these entities, ensuring coherence across national and governorate levels, and advancing the institutionalization of SRASP in Iraq. The Coordinator will also play a critical role in strengthening key relationships with government counterparts to advocate for the spreadhead the SRASP agenda in Iraq, both at the federal and KRI levels.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The incumbent will be responsible for carrying out the following tasks and responsibilities:

Government Coordination & Task Force Leadership

1. Serve as the main liaison with social protection, disaster risk management, and early warning/forecasting counterparts (MoLSA, SPA, Ministry of Interior, Civil Defense, MOST, National Operations Centre in OPM, IMOS ,and others).

2. Establish and coordinate the SRASP Task Force, ensuring regular engagement of all relevant ministries and agencies.

3. Support the government in developing a legal framework to formalize SRASP as a national mechanism.

4. Contribute to the design of financial channel structures that enable rapid and accountable SRASP interventions during shocks.

Capacity Building & Operational Architecture

5. Develop and implement a technical roadmap / workplan with identified technical areas to be improved for SP-DRM-SRASP.

6. Assess operational structures and develop joint protocols for SRASP intervention, test them at national and governorate level and regularly update them.

7. Lead the development of a training and learning agenda, including capacity assessments, workshops, and simulation exercises to strengthen government engagement and technical skills.

Unified Registry, Targeting & Delivery Mechanisms (in coordination with Outcome 4 CO team)
8. Support integration of SRASP into the Unified Registry, ensuring interoperability between social assistance and DRM systems. This includes the support of the following in coordination with other WFP areas:

- Strengthen targeting methodologies to prioritize vulnerable households during shocks.

-Improve registration processes to ensure timely and accurate inclusion of beneficiaries.

-Enhance delivery mechanisms (cash, food, or hybrid) to maximize efficiency, accountability, and responsiveness.

9. Promote the use of digital solutions for targeting, registration, and delivery within SRASP operations.

Nutrition-Sensitive Shock Response (in coordination with the Nut and School Meals team)

10. Ensure a nutrition‑sensitive lens is embedded in all SRASP operational architecture through the design of a government plan with line ministries to make SRASP nutrition‑sensitive.

Disaster Risk Financing (DRF) & Anticipatory Action (AA) (in coordination with EPR, Livelihood and Resilience team)

11.Coordinate with WFP Programme Units (EPR and Livelihoods & Resilience) and government counterparts to develop and maintain a DRF and AA roadmap for SRASP, ensure SRASP is embedded into WFP’s internal emergency preparedness planning (EPRP, CONOPS, staff readiness), and align national SRASP efforts with on going DRF-AA initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education

Advanced university degree in Social Policy, Economics, International Development, Disaster Risk Management, or related field.

Experience

•At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in social protection, EPR, or adaptive systems required.

•Demonstrated previous experience working on either the design, implementation or evaluation of SRASP systems.

•Familiarity with multi-hazard early warning systems and data management protocols within Iraqi government institutions

•Demonstrated experience in government liaison, institutional framework development, and multi‑stakeholder coordination.

•Strong knowledge of Iraq’s social protection and DRM landscape, including MoLSA, SPA, Civil Defense, MOST, OPM, IMOS, and Unified Registry reforms.

Knowledge & Skills

•Understanding of Agenda 2030 and respective targets – particularly SDG1, SDG2 and SDG17 - and how the work of WFP can contribute to achieving them;

•Understanding of WFP’s mandate, Country Strategic Planning process, intervention modalities, programme and project lifecycle tools, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation desirable.

•Knowledge of current thinking and developments in the field of social protection and public policy;

•Knowledge of key national and regional contexts and issues;

•Problem solving and decision-making skills;

•Ability to develop and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders, conveying an informed and professional demeanour toward internal and external partners and stakeholders;

•Ability to work independently in a timely and organised manner;

•Ability to work as part of a team, participating in open dialogues and valuing diverse opinions of others, regardless of gender, culture, background, experience, or country assignment.

•Strong writing skills with the ability to author reports, briefs and policy papers.

•Proficient computer literacy.

Languages

• Fluency (oral and written) in English and Arabic is required.

• Working knowledge of Kurdish is desirable.