DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

12 January 2025-23:59-GMT+05:30 India Standard Time (Colombo)

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

These jobs are found in Headquarters (HQ), Regional Bureaux (RBs) or Country Offices (COs) and job holders report to a more senior Programme Policy Officer.

Job holders operate with a high degree of independence, manage more junior staff to ensure that programme and policy objectives are achieved in full. They are usually involved in a wide variety of programme and policy activities and analytical work, some of which may be of a considerable complexity. At this level job holders are expected to contribute to accelerating performance.

This position is based in Colombo, Sri Lanka and reports to the Head of Programme Unit.

JOB PURPOSE

The Programme Policy Officer (PPO) leads the Nutrition and School Based Programme teams (NSBP) team for food and nutrition security under Strategic Objective 2 of the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) “People have better nutrition, health & education outcomes”. The role will also substantially contribute to Strategic Outcome 4 “national and subnational institutions and stakeholders in Sri Lanka have enhanced capacity to enable adaptive and resilient food systems to improve food security and nutrition.”

S/he will provide strategic, design and implementation guidance of WFP’s nutrition and school-based programme activities in support of government priorities related to National School Meals Programme, Home Grown School Feeding, Large Scale Food Fortification, Capacity strengthening of the Thriposha programme, Social Behaviour Change, and knowledge management and evidence generation. The PPO will closely coordinate and complement the efforts of a peer Programme Policy Officers to design and implement nutrition, gender responsive and inclusive programmes. The PPO will work closely with the management team in advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the CSP.

The PPO will engage closely with the Partnership Secretariat for WFP Cooperation and will work extensively with a wide range of technical departments in the MoH, MoE, MoA as well as civil society, academia and private sector entities at national and sub-national levels to advance CSP activities. The role will oversee the operations in Colombo and in the field requiring some amount of travel.

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

1. Contribute towards the development of a wide variety of projects, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance.

2. 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.

3. Develop and coordinate data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.

4. Research and analyse a range of policy and operational issues to inform the development of policies, programmes and activities.

5. Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on pro-grammes and activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.

6. Liaise with internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery.

7. Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working leading to improved food assistance packages.

8. 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.

9. Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries.

10. Other as required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

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.

Language: Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language, if different.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

Minimum seven years of experience in similar capacity with a first university degree, or minimum three years of experience in similar capacity after completing advanced university degree is needed.

• Has deepened technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams.
• Has taken leadership of implementing programmes.
• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.

Position Title: Programme Policy Officer – Nutritionist

Contract Type: Fixed Term (NOB)

Contract Duration: 01 Year (with possible extension)

Duty Station: Colombo, Sri Lanka

Nationality: Sri Lankans only

Date of Publication: 20.12.2024

Deadline of Application: 12.01.2025

This vacancy announcement is for Sri Lankan Nationals only.

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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements