Programme Policy Officer (Programme Coordination)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

5 January 2025-23:59-GMT-05:00 Eastern Standard Time (Panama)

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).

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the World Food Programme (WFP) is supporting governments and other partners to tackle the root causes of hunger and malnutrition while, at the same time, augmenting country responses to crises caused by climatic events, economic volatility, and other types of shock. WFP has country offices located in several countries of central and southern America and the Caribbean, as well as a regional bureau located in Panama. The WFP programme in LAC covers areas such as emergency response, nutrition, school feeding, social protection, climate change adaptation, gender, protection, and cash-based transfers.

JOB PURPOSE:

This position will help to position WFP strategically in new programmatic areas and will contribute to strengthening of the overall WFP programme function in the LAC region, including through the promotion of programme integration and enhanced coordination.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

The job holder will be based in the WFP regional bureau in Panama and may, on occasions, be asked to travel internationally (including to hard-to-reach, insecure locations). She/he will work in the Programme Unit reporting directly to the WFP Senior Regional Programme Advisor for the LAC region.

Specific responsibilities will include the following:

• Researching emerging policy areas and producing actionable recommendations
• Promoting and facilitating cross-functional collaboration on crosscutting topics
• Contributing to enhanced strategic and financial planning in the Programme Unit
• Proof-reading project proposals, reports, and other critical documents
• Other duties as required by the Senior Regional Programme Advisor

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

• A Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in social sciences, international relations, or another relevant subject

Experience:

ESSENTIAL

• At least 6 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the international humanitarian/development sector
• At least 2 years of professional experience working in a middle/low-income context
• Demonstrable experience of strategy development and/or programme design in the humanitarian/development sector

DESIRABLE

• Previous experience working for the United Nations (UN) system
• Thematic expertise in food security, nutrition, or another field that is relevant to WFP’s mandate
• Professional experience from the LAC region

Knowledge & Skills:

ESSENTIAL

• Strong analytical skills, including the capacity to undertake desk research, synthesize findings, and produce actionable recommendations to WFP programme colleagues
• Strategic thinker who is capable of thinking outside the box and identifying more effective ways of working and opportunities for process optimization
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to operate effectively in a multicultural/multidisciplinary environment
• Strong drafting skills, including the capacity to write policy papers and technical reports, as well as to proof-read technical documents
• Highly numerate, including the ability to develop and analyse complex budgets

DESIRABLE

• Data literacy

Languages:

ESSENTIAL

• Fluency in English
• Strong/intermediate Spanish

DESIRABLE

• Knowledge of French would be considered an asset

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Number of openings: 1

Based in: Panama City, Panama

Type of Contract: Consultant

Level: CST II

Duration: 11 months

Successful candidates will be placed in a roster for two (2) years.

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 dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at global.inclusion@wfp.org. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.

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

• 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.
• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
• 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
• Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
• 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.