WFP : Programme Policy Officer: Youth Programme Advisor – Harare

  • Location:
  • Salary:
    negotiable / YEAR
  • Job type:
    FULL_TIME
  • Posted:
    13 hours ago
  • Category:
    Programme and Project Management, Social and Inclusive Development, Youth and Adolescence
  • Deadline:
    25/12/2025

JOB DESCRIPTION

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

9 January 2025-23:59-GMT+02:00 Central Africa Time (Harare)

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).

In Zimbabwe, WFP has a proven track record of delivering food assistance, managing supply chains in crises, and building community resilience. The July 2022–December 2026 Country Strategic Plan (CSP) outlines a framework for promoting shock-responsive social protection and resilient, sustainable food systems. It emphasizes collaboration to anticipate future needs, improve data and forecasting, and strengthen livelihoods and local capacities to adapt to shocks and stresses.

Youth engagement is a key priority of WFP Zimbabwe’s CSP, recognizing young people as drivers of sustainable food security solutions. To advance this, WFP seeks a Youth Programme Advisor to lead the design and implementation of youth-focused initiatives that enhance food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. The Advisor will work with stakeholders to empower youth through education, training, and innovative approaches that promote sustainable food systems. This role ensures young people are equipped with the skills, resources, and opportunities to thrive, aligning with WFP’s strategic goals and the Zimbabwe CSP.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive):

The Programme Policy Officer: Youth Programme Advisor will report to the Country Director with key responsibilities including but not limited to:

1.Strategic Development and Implementation

  • Develop and implement youth-focused strategies within WFP’s broader program portfolio, aligning them with food security, nutrition, and resilience priorities in Zimbabwe.
  • Create synergy between existing youth-focused initiatives, such as the WFP Zimbabwe Digital Skills Programme, by fostering collaborations with academic institutions and other partners.

2.Youth Empowerment and Programme Design

  • Lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive youth-focused technical and critical life-skills programme tailored to the Zimbabwean context, incorporating digital solutions, and addressing critical gaps in food security, education, and employment.
  • Support the localization of the WFP Digital Loyalty Platform, linking it to youth empowerment initiatives and broader community engagement.

3.Partnerships, Stakeholder Engagement and Resource Mobilization

  • Establish and strengthen partnerships with youth organizations, local governments, community leaders, and academic institutions to co-create and deliver impactful youth empowerment programmes.
  • Foster collaboration with external relations units and innovative financing stakeholders to enhance resource mobilization for youth development initiatives.

4.Innovative Capacity Building

  • Introduce scalable, technology-driven capacity-building initiatives addressing youth unemployment, malnutrition, and food insecurity, leveraging peer-to-peer mentoring and entrepreneurship.

5.Programme Oversight and Evaluation

  • Develop and track indicators to monitor the impact and effectiveness of youth programmes, using data-driven insights to inform decision-making.

6.Knowledge Sharing and Advocacy

  • Monitor trends in youth development, employment, and food systems, recommending evidence-based interventions that align with national and WFP priorities.
  • Advocate for youth-focused programming within WFP and externally, showcasing successes and lessons learned to build momentum for future initiatives.

7.Other Responsibilities

  • Perform additional duties as required to support the successful implementation of youth-focused programmes.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

EDUCATION:

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

DESIRABLE TECHNICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

  • Has at least 6 years’ experience in programme management, with a focus on youth development, food security and malnutrition.
  • Has developed or supported in the development and implementation of youth programmes with diverse stakeholders.
  • Sharp analytical capacity, partnerships, communications, negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

LANGUAGES:

  • Fluency (level C) in English language.

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