DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

23 October 2026-23:59-GMT+03:00 East Africa Time (Nairobi)

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 extreme weather shocks.

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).

JOB TITLE: Programme Policy Officer - Strategic Coordination and Emergency

TYPE OF CONTRACT: CST Level II

UNIT/DIVISION: ESARO Regional Director’s Office

DUTY STATION (City, Country): Nairobi, Kenya

DURATION: 4 Months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide. The Regional Director’s Office, based in Nairobi (ESARO) provides strategic guidance and support to 21 Country Offices (COs) in the region: Angola, Burundi, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

We are currently seeking to fill the position of Programme Policy Officer - Strategic Coordination and Emergency, supporting the Regional Director (RD) for Eastern and Southern Africa. The incumbent will be based in Nairobi, Kenya (ESARO) and will report to the Deputy Regional Director, supporting the Regional Director’s Office in its role to support COs, contribute to corporate decision-making processes and engage with regional partners. S/he will also work closely with the Strategic Advisor, Special Assistant and relevant technical units to ensure timely, coherent and action-oriented support to the RD’s engagement with Country Offices, Headquarters and key stakeholders.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Strategic Analysis, Engagement and Cross-Functional Coordination
   • Promote data-informed, evidence-based decision making by synthesizing operational data, contextual analysis and expert inputs into clear options, recommendations and follow-up actions for WFP operations.
   • Support the Deputy Regional Director in strategic cross-functional coordination, drawing on inputs from Global Functional Teams to translate emerging information into clear strategic insights, options and recommendations for senior management and coordinated support to COs.
   • Support internal and external coordination processes related to regional priorities, including through preparation, follow-up and engagement with relevant stakeholders.
   • Support RDO leadership team members, especially the Senior Advisor in advancing innovative partnerships in the region by ensuring partnership and innovation opportunities are connected to operational realities.
   • In collaboration with other RDO colleagues, contribute to the delivery of selected management accountability framework-related processes and follow-up actions linked to the Regional Director.
2. Emergency Preparedness & Response (EPR) Backstopping and Support
   • Provide dedicated RDO backstopping support on priority EPR issues (e.g. while current RDO emergency team capacity is temporarily redirected to the Ebola response), ensuring continuity of regional follow-up and seamless coordination with Global Headquarters’ EPR.
   • Support emergency coordination at regional and Country Office levels, including issue tracking, preparation for coordination meetings, consolidation of action points, follow-up on decisions and facilitation of communication between the RDO, ESARO global functional teams, other headquarters counterparts and Country Offices.
   • Help ensure that priority emergency and humanitarian issues across the region are strategically interlinked, with key operational risks, cross-border dynamics, resource constraints and management decisions clearly escalated for RDO attention.
   • Maintain situational awareness of sudden- and slow-onset emergencies in presence and non-presence countries, helping to identify issues requiring timely management attention and/or escalation.
   • Support the flow of information between field teams, and relevant global headquarters functional teams on priority emergency files, including through the development of high-quality emergency-related analytical products and talking points.
   • As required, support Country Offices through remote or mission-based assistance on emergency-related planning, management engagement, operational follow-up and coordination with relevant technical units.
3. Carry out any other tasks as assigned by the Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director, Strategic Advisor or delegate.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Timely strategic and emergency-related analysis, briefing notes, talking points and decision-support products prepared for the RD, DRD and Strategic Advisor.
• Priority emergency files tracked, with key risks, decision points, action points and follow-up requirements clearly maintained and escalated as needed.
• Improved information flow between Country Offices, relevant global headquarters functional teams on priority emergency preparedness and response issues.
• Cross-functional coordination support provided to ensure Country Office needs and operational constraints are reflected in regional follow-up and management engagement.
• Analytical and coordination support provided for selected strategic partnership or innovation initiatives linked to regional operational priorities.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education: Advanced university degree in one or more of the following disciplines: International Relations, International Development, Political or Social Sciences, or other relevant fields.

Experience:
Minimum 6 years of progressively responsible professional experience in a relevant field of work, including at least 2 years field experience in an emergency operation. Knowledge of the international humanitarian response architecture including inter-agency coordination mechanisms as well as United Nations systems are required.
Experience in strategy development, policy work, planning and managing programmes and experience in the use of various research methodologies and data visualization is required.

Knowledge & Skills:
Strong communications, analytical and partnerships skills.
Ability to synthesize complex operational, political, humanitarian and food security information into concise written products, options and recommendations for senior management.
Sound theoretical understanding of international humanitarian and development concepts and principles with a broad knowledge of best practices, techniques, and processes.
Flexibility and willingness to travel for extended periods of time.
Ability to plan and organize work programme with minimum supervision.
Familiarity with UN policies, WFP emergency operations and the East and Southern Africa region is desirable.

Languages: Fluency (level C) in English language is essential.

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.