JOB DESCRIPTION

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

4 November 2025-23:59-GMT+07:00 Indochina Time (Vientiane)

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).

BACKGROUND

WFP Lao PDR’s Country Strategic Plan (2022-2026) provides integrated support to vulnerable communities to improve household food security and nutrition while building resilience to shocks. Since 2010, WFP has worked with the Government to develop and expand the National School Lunch Programme to provide nutritious meals to pre-primary and primary school students. WFP is currently providing technical assistance to the Government to transition from WFP direct implementation in over 700 schools to the Government’s national school lunch programme by 2029.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF TERMS OF REFERENCE

The Programme Policy Officer (PPO) will work within the School Meals team in the WFP Country Office, and colleagues based in the field offices to provide strategic support for the school meals programme. The PPO will focus on the coordination and implementation of project activities, and the progressive transition from WFP direct implementation to an enabling role, supporting the Government of Laos PDR in managing the National School Lunch Programme.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Project management support to the WFP school meals portfolio to ensure activities are carried out according to the workplan and in line with WFP corporate standards and donor requirements, including cross-functional collaboration with other WFP country office technical units including nutrition, resilience, social protection, gender and inclusion, and social behaviour change; Coordinate with the WFP field and antenna offices through the Programme Policy Officers, Programme Associates, and District Community Facilitators to plan and implement school feeding activities, including in-kind food distributions, capacity strengthening, and technical assistance for government counterparts at national, provincial and district level; Provide operational and technical support to field and antenna office teams in coordinating with counterparts at the provincial, district, and school levels to implement school meals activities. This includes preparing food release notes, working closely with logistics and field teams to ensure accurate calculations of food and non-food items based on programme participant needs, and supporting the timely delivery of food commodities and non-food items; Work with field and antenna offices to plan and procure supplemental food from community members for contributions to the school lunches to avoid food pipeline breaks; Work with stakeholders in the government at national, provincial, district, and village level, including but not limited to the Provincial Education and Sports Sector (PESS), District Education and Sports Bureau (DESB), Village Education and Development Committees (VEDCs), District Health Offices, District Agriculture and Forestry Bureau, and Naamsat, civil society, and UN agencies to strengthen multisectoral collaboration; Participate in and contribute to the planning of the transition process for schools currently receiving direct support from WFP to the government’s National School Lunch Programme, including supporting the development and implementation of capacity strengthening plans for government stakeholders (Ministry of Education and Sports, Provincial Education and Sports Sector, District Education and Sports Bureau), and community level implementation by the Village Education Development Committees and Village School Lunch Management Committees; Identify challenges and opportunities, conduct analyses, and proactively respond to a range of operational queries to contribute to planning, implementation and monitoring of programme activities; Coordinate with the field and antenna offices to support the School Meals Information and Data Management Officer to prepare accurate and timely reports on school meals activities that enable informed decision making and provide consistent information presented to stakeholders; Support school feeding studies and assessments, surveys and research activities and ensure effective knowledge management; Contribute to resource mobilisation efforts; and Other duties as required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Advanced University degree in Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences International Affairs, Economics, or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

At least six years of experience working with NGOs, School Feeding, nutrition programming, rural development, agriculture, or development fields. Or three years of experience in the sectors described and a master’s degree.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Experience in policy consultations, project development and management.
• Proven track record in delivering community-level development programmes and/or civic engagement projects focused on school meals, agriculture, nutrition, and community and government engagement.
• Good analytical, facilitation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relations with people of different cultural backgrounds.
• Experience working with government counterparts and familiar with public administration.
• Strong communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships and adapt communication styles to different situations and individuals.
• Understanding of WFP’s operations in Lao PDR.

LANGUAGE:

Fluent working knowledge (written and verbal) of Lao and English language (Level C) is essential. Knowledge of additional Lao local languages is an asset.

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:  [email protected]

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 [email protected] 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