Programme Policy Officer (Partnerships)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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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.

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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).

CONTEXT

The Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) are among the most hazard-prone globally, with eight of the 20 countries experiencing the highest average disaster losses located in the region. Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 remains constrained by persistent inequalities, gender disparities, and limited public service delivery capacity, further exacerbated by climate change, food insecurity, and evolving geopolitical pressures. 

Countries across the Pacific face recurrent hazards—cyclones, floods, and droughts—compounded by geographic isolation, import dependence, and rising food and fuel costs. These pressures continue to strain national systems and highlight the need for anticipatory, risk-informed, and financially sustainable approaches to disaster management, which is inclusive, effective, and reaches people last mile. 

The WFP Multi-Country Office for the Pacific supports governments and partners to enhance anticipatory, predictable, and effective response to disasters across 14 island states. WFP acts as a convenor and enabler of disaster preparedness and response in the region, supporting coordination and exchange, capacity building, assessments, monitoring and evidence generation, and complementary injects (assets, transfers, capacity). With the cyclone season approaching alongside a potential significant El Nino event, WFP is seeking additional programme capacity to support the Pacific multi-Country Office (PMCO) in its design, monitoring, implementation, partnerships and learning to advance quality impactful preparedness and response alongside and in support of governments and partners. This role will also extend into policy, supporting the multi-country office management in evidence generation, strategic planning and programmatic coherence as the PMCO prepares to design its next multi-country strategic plan. 

THE ROLE

JOB TITLE: Programme Policy Officer (Partnerships)
TYPE OF CONTRACT AND LEVEL: Consultancy II
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Suva, Fiji
DURATION: 11 months

The Programme Policy Officer role will require strong understanding of UN and WFP processes related to country strategic planning processes, and a solid understanding of the programme life cycle to support coordination across functions to enhance coherent quality programme design, delivery, monitoring and learning. Under the supervision of the Head of Programme/EPR Coordinator based in Fiji and supporting the MCO management as relates to UN and WFP strategic planning processes, the Programme Policy Officer will work closely functions based in the PMCO and in coordination with teams outposted on islands. The role will also need to be able to identify opportunities and build relationships with strategic and operational partners and actors from diverse sectors and across PICTs.  

 KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Contribute towards the development of a projects, plans and processes – and supporting project management to define milestones and track progress (across PICTs and functions) and contribute to enhancing coherence and amplification of impact across functions (logistics, emergency telecommunications, programme, VAM, other). Liaise with internal and external counterparts – including those outposted on PICTs – to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery.

2. Support and coordinate the design, implementation, or analysis of data and evidence related to programmes and projects, and support functional management to identify quality improvement enhancements. In addition to project specific evidence and adaptive learning, support PMCO management and functions to integrate emerging M-CSP evaluation findings into programming.

3. Coordinate MCO level strategic planning processes under the leadership of PMCO management (and Head of Programme) including contributions to UN strategic planning processes as well WFP country strategic planning and revision processes. Support development of programme strategy and supporting narratives, informing the scaling and transformation of the PMCO.

4. Engage partnerships, reporting, and communications colleagues to support quality, accurate and timely reporting on programmes and activities (including: project progress briefs, ACR development, strategic communications with donors, etc) to support informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.

5. Research, analyze and synthesize relevant information to support WFP and partners to develop historically informed scenario planning for El Nino. Support functions to translate this into evidence-based planning and support to governments and partners, ensuring that capacity strengthening, assessments, and projects are fit for purpose for the emerging event.

6. Act as PMCO technical lead on operational partnerships, supporting functions to ensure normative frameworks (MoUs, FLAs, etc.) are fit for purpose and aligned to WFP standards [in coordination with technical functions and legal]. Support functions in the identification, development and management of strategic, operational and coordinating partnerships to enhance sustainable food security, nutrition, and disaster management in the Pacific – ranging from private sector, regional organizations, government bodies, NGOs, multi-country initiatives, development partners, NGOs, and international and national federations.

7. Other as required.

QUALIFICATIONS & KEY REQUIREMENTS

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 five years of professional experience in and a proven track record of supporting the design, reporting, evidence and learning related to complex programmes
• Strong understanding of WFP’s mandate and new Strategic Plan objectives, and experience working with WFP in Asia and Pacific where WFP plays an enabling role in support of national systems
• Direct experience with and deep understanding of UN and WFP strategic planning processes

Preferred:

• Experience working in the Pacific / strong knowledge of WFP’s work in the Pacific;
• Familiarity with WFP’s localization commitment and approach;
• Commitment to capacity strengthening.

Languages:

• Fluency in oral and written English.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Proven capacity to identify, initiate and lead opportunities and innovation that strives for continuous improvements and leverages established partnerships;
• Effective cognitive abilities, analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Exhibited ability to communicate effectively (oral and written);
• Familiarity with WFP’s enabling, convening, supporting and complementarity role in the Pacific region (or similar CCS context);
• Personal commitment to working with partners to support and amplify the work of partners and representative groups, including a commitment to localization;
• Strategy development, coordination, action planning and capacity development skills;
• Understanding of risk management and proactive approach to identify and mitigate risks;
• Respect for working in a cross functional and diverse team;
• Willing to live in a remote island, and to travel within and across islands.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

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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

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

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• 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.