Programme Policy Officer (Cooperating Partnerships Management) FT-NOB

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).

JOB TITLE:  Programme Policy Officer (Cooperating Partnerships Management)

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Fixed Term - NOB

DUTY STATION (City, Country): Cairo, Egypt

DURATION: 12 months, with the possibility of extension subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance.

This position reports to the Head of Programme

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The World Food Programme (WFP) Egypt Country Office works with a diverse network of governmental and non-governmental organizations as Cooperating Partners (CPs) to implement activities under the Country Strategic Plan (CSP). Effective partnership management is essential to ensure quality programme delivery, compliance with corporate requirements, accountability, risk management and achievement of programme results.

The Programme Policy Officer (Cooperating Partnership Management) will support the strengthening and oversight of the Country Office's Cooperating Partner management function. The position will coordinate cooperating partnership processes throughout the partnership lifecycle, including partner mapping, selection, agreement development and management, coordination, performance monitoring, assurance activities, capacity strengthening, and reporting. The incumbent will work closely with Partnerships, Programme, Monitoring, Finance, Supply Chain and other relevant units to promote effective partnerships, mitigate operational and compliance risks, and support consistent application of WFP corporate policies, procedures and guidance.

This position contributes to strengthening partnership governance, improving partner performance and accountability, and ensuring that partnerships support the effective and efficient implementation of WFP Egypt's programme activities.

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

• Coordinate the identification, development and management of potential partnerships with NGOs and Governmental Organizations contributing to improved food security and nutrition of assisted communities.
• 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.
• Facilitate corporate dialogue with partners through networking and information sharing; Proactively highlight strategic issues to senior managers and propose options for the best course of action to nurture trust and partnership growth.
• Develop and coordinate data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.
• 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.
• Research and analyse a range of policy and operational issues to inform the development of policies, programmes and activities related to NGO and GO partnership management.
• Liaise with internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery.
• 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.
• Represent WFP in NGO-related meetings, foras and other relevant events.
• Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and support them with analysis and queries.
• Other as required.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Conduct stakeholder mapping and partnership engagement strategies to strengthen existing partnerships and establish new collaborations.
• Develop a comprehensive localization strategy and action plan to strengthen the capacities of national and local partners, including grassroot organizations at village level.
• Strengthen overall Cooperating Partner management: Coordinate ed-to-end partnership processes so that partner engagement, selection, due diligence, agreements, implementation, performance management and closure are consistently aligned with WFP corporate standards, delegated authorities and operational needs.
• Ensure timely and compliant agreement management: Lead the preparation, review, tracking and processing of Agreements, MOUs, amendments, extensions, and related documentation, ensuring accuracy, completeness and timely follow-up with relevant units.
• Improve partnership oversight, assurance, and performance accountability: Coordinate partner performance reviews, action trackers, feedback sessions and follow-up mechanisms so that delivery issues, compliance gaps and corrective actions are clearly documented, monitored and escalated when required.
• Coordinate risk-informed spot-checks and field oversight: Plan and coordinate programme spot-checks and oversight activities using risk-based approaches, ensuring findings are consolidated, shared with stakeholders and translated into practical mitigation measures.
• Strengthen partner and WFP team capacity: Develop and deliver onboarding, tools, checklists, SOPs and learning sessions that improve partner understanding of WFP requirements and strengthen internal consistency in partnership management practices.
• Enable effective planning, resourcing and implementation: Support Activity Managers and technical units to reflect operational requirements, budgets, deliverables, monitoring arrangements and resource needs clearly in partnership workplans and implementation tools.
• Promote evidence-based decision-making: Analyse partner reports, monitoring observations, spot-check findings, performance review outcomes and operational data to identify trends, capacity gaps, good practices/lessons learned and areas requiring management attention.
• Enhance coordination, reporting and management visibility: Maintain dashboards, trackers and periodic analytical briefs, and represent the partnership management function in relevant coordination forums to support timely decisions, accountability and issue resolution.
• Drive Cooperating Partner assurance compliance, monitoring and continuous improvement: Coordinate the annual review and reporting of partnership assurance compliance, monitoring findings, improvement actions and lessons learned to support stronger internal controls, risk mitigation and management accountability.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced University degree in International Relations, Development Studies, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Economics or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience:

At least 7 years of relevant experience including 3 years of professional experience in programme, partnerships, grant/project management, development, humanitarian operations or food assistance support.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong networking and management skills.

• Strong analytical skills, resourcefulness, initiative, sound judgment, tact and negotiation skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to compile and synthesize data, prepare technical briefs, reports and presentations for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.
• Knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures related to programme implementation, partnerships, risk management and accountability.
• Knowledge of partner performance management, field monitoring, assurance processes, spot-check methodologies and corrective action follow-up.
• Strong stakeholder management and coordination skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with   governmental and non-governmental counterparts from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work under pressure and adapt to changing operational requirements.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• Experience in governmental and non-governmental partnership development and management.
• Experience in managing legal partnership agreements, performance reviews, compliance, oversight and risk management processes, preferably with international assistance organizations.
• Experience translating operational requirements into clear partnership deliverables, workplans, tracking tools and management updates.
• Experience in capacity assessment and development of national, local and grassroot organizations.

Languages:

Fluency (level C) in English language and Arabic.

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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

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.