Job Title: Programme Policy Officer
Type of Contract: Service Contract , Level 9 (SC-9)
Unit/Division: Emergency Unit/Programme
Duty Station: Juba, South Sudan
Duration: 8 months (subject to renewal based on performance and budget availability)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading 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. It is an autonomous joint programme of the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). WFP was the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
In the new funding environment of 2026 and 2027, WFP has an opportunity to re-shape its long-standing food assistance operations in South Sudan, focusing on the highest impact interventions for those parts of the country most affected by hunger, conflict, climate shocks, and marginalization.
The Emergency Unit, in which this assignment is located, is responsible for designing and facilitating the delivery of crisis response activities under the WFP South Sudan Country Strategic Plan (CSP). It is the largest programmatic portfolio in the Country Office. In 2026, crisis response activities comprise a response to avert an acute food and nutrition crisis, a lean season response, transitional assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees (including refugees from Sudan), and ad hoc responses to needs assessed by inter-agency bodies—delivered through distribution of in-kind food and specialized nutritious foods, cash-based transfers, and early recovery mechanisms.
Under this assignment, the programme policy officer will work in a team of 5-6 people to drive performance across the Emergency Unit’s crisis response portfolio. Responsibilities will span the entire programme cycle—in close consultation with technical colleagues across the Country Office.
The programme policy officer will report to one of 2 Team Leads in the Emergency Unit, with secondary supervision by the Head of Emergency. The position will be based in Juba, but the programme policy officer may be called upon to travel to the deep field.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and coordinate data gathering and monitoring systems and processes that produce useful and reliable information for the purposes of grants management. Draft accurate and timely reports, and prepare documents that interpret data and enable informed decision making.
- Contribute towards the development of emergency programming, ensuring alignment with applicable programme, and other corporate, policies, guidance, and processes.
- Provide project management support to established emergency programmes and projects, ensuring internal and external stakeholder coordination and coordination with the larger WFP South Sudan programme portfolio.
- Analyse policy and operational issues to inform the development of country office-level policies, programmes and activities.
- Coordinate internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery.
- Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships for collaborative work, leading to improved food assistance packages.
- 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.
- Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries.
- Produce other deliverables and support other tasks, initiatives, or processes, as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
Education
University degree (required) in one or more of the following disciplines (preferred): agriculture, land / water resource management, economics, development, environment, public administration, public health, social sciences, disaster risk management, international affairs, law, or business management.
Required Experience
For master’s degree holder or higher: Four years of progressively professional work experience in designing, coordinating, and/or managing the
implementation of emergency assistance at country- or field-level, at or alongside a UN organization, a cooperating partner, or another NGO.
For a candidate with a bachelor’s degree, at least six years of the above experience is required.
Technical knowledge
Specific knowledge and work experience in at least three of the following areas (required):
- Grants management and donor reporting.
- Relief to resilience programming.
- Food insecurity and vulnerability analyses.
- Refugee and IDP programming.
- Cash-based modalities.
- Early recovery and livelihoods programming.
- Monitoring & evaluation.
General knowledge of the UN system (preferred).
Skills
The candidate must possess a combination of strong analytical and inter-personal skills. Inparticular, he or she must be able to:
- Critically review and analyse data and other information.
- Draft technical documents clearly and concisely for varied purposes and audiences (writing sample required).
- Anticipate requirements, problems, and obstacles and problem-solve with creativity and flexibility.
- Work accurately at a fast pace and within deadlines.
- Manage multiple and competing demands in an organized and timely manner and with a sense of when and how to elevate issues.
- Demonstrate a high degree of personal accountability for completed work products / delivery of an outcome, including when undertaken as part of a team.
- Drive progress in and resolution of open matters, while fostering a culture of efficient information-sharing and collaboration across units.
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external actors.
The candidate must demonstrate:
- High proficiency in the use of Microsoft Excel and Word (required).
- Proficiency in PowerPoint and other common Microsoft 365 applications (required).
- Proficiency in Power BI (preferred).
- Proficiency in WFP corporate data systems is a plus but not mandatory.
Languages: Advanced proficiency (Level C) in English
Remark: The recruitment / VA will also serve as a roster for the same or lower grade level, different contract modality and possible placement in different duty stations, in case of future operational need.
Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
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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.
How to apply
Interested individuals can apply for the vacancy by clicking below vacancy link. Apply before the deadline of 1 July 2026.