Job description

BACKGROUND: The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world
achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women
and children, can access the nutritious food they need.
The WFP Somalia Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2026–2030 is focused on supporting Somalia's transition from recurring humanitarian crises toward greater resilience, selfreliance, and nationally led development. The CSP combines humanitarian assistance with investments in human capital, food systems, climate resilience, and institutional
capacity. WFP Somalia supports the Government of Somalia to strengthen human capital through integrated investments in school feeding, nutrition-sensitive social protection,
systems strengthening, capacity development and policy support. WFP advances human capital development by integrating nutrition, social protection and school meals into a
comprehensive approach where all activities contribute to one overall objective.
Purpose: This position is based in our Country Office in Mogadishu, Somalia and entails working with operational partners and teams, and strategic engagement with key
stakeholders. The position combines school feeding and social protection responsibilities into a single human capital development function, ensuring coherence across policy
engagement, operational learning, partnership management, resource mobilization and capacity strengthening.
Under the supervision of the Head of Human Capital Development, the  job holder will provide support across School feeding and social protection teams within the Human
Capital Development portfolio to lead improvements in programming quality implementation and building government capacity.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority)
• Serve as the principal technical focal point for strategic donor-funded initiatives, including World Bank, FCDO, Global Shield, and other partner-supported
programmes.
• Support policy dialogue and technical discussions on social protection reforms, expansion pathways, and shock-responsive social protection.
• Strengthen the Digital Financial Inclusion (DFI) and Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) agenda through the social protection platform.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership on WFP's school meals portfolio, ensuring alignment with national development priorities, WFP strategies, and
donor commitments.
• Lead the integration and linkages between school meals programmes and broader social protection and nutrition in general and ECCT pilot in particular.
• Provide technical oversight and quality assurance for programme implementation, ensuring compliance with WFP standards, government requirements, and
donor commitments.
• Contribute to the development and strengthening of social registries, beneficiary targeting systems, and data management approaches, where relevant.
• Support the Country Office in strengthening partnerships and engagement with relevant Government ministries, World Bank, donors, UN agencies, and
development partners.
• Represent WFP in technical working groups, policy forums, interagency platforms, sector coordination, and partner meetings, positioning WFP as a leading
partner in social protection and school meals.
• Coordinate strategic engagement with federal, state, and district authorities and promote collaborative and complementary approaches across stakeholders.
• Provide technical inputs to programme and project design, including concept notes, project documents, operational plans, implementation strategies, and
results frameworks.
Vacancy Announcement No: JR127397
Job Title: Programme Policy Officer - Human Capital Development
Contract Type/Grade: Consultant level II
Duty Station: Mogadishu,
Contract Duration: 11 Months (Renewable)
Date of Issue: October 06, 2026, | Closing Date: October 20,2026
• Support preparedness, contingency planning, and the integration of shock-responsive approaches within social protection and school meals systems.
• Support resource mobilization efforts through the preparation of concept notes, project proposals, investment cases, donor reports, presentations, and
engagement strategies.
• Lead the development and implementation of research, learning, and evidence-generation agendas that strengthen social protection and school meals
programming.
• Support analytical work that enhances government capacity to design and deliver social protection programmes that improve food security, nutrition
outcomes, resilience, and productive inclusion.
• Provide technical assistance and institutional capacity strengthening to government counterparts, WFP Country and Area Offices, and implementing partners.
• Contribute to annual, quarterly, and monthly reports, briefing notes, activity summaries, presentations, and strategic communications materials.
• Perform other related HCD unit duties as required or delegated by supervisor.

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Skills and qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED
Education: Advanced University Degree in Social Protection, Public Policy, Economics, International Development, Education, Nutrition, Social Sciences, or other
related fields, OR a First University Degree with additional years of relevant work experience and/or training/courses. Preferably a combination of social
protection, public policy, development programming, economics, and other relevant technical disciplines.
Experience: At least five (5) years of relevant experience with an Advanced University Degree OR a First University Degree with a minimum of seven (7) years
of progressively responsible experience in programme management, government engagement, donor coordination, and partner relationship management.
Experience in social protection systems and the implementation of World Bank-funded programmes/projects is highly desirable. Prior experience working with
government counterparts, development partners, and multi-stakeholder initiatives is an added advantage.
Language Proficiency: Fluency (level C) in English. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second UN language is a plus.
Knowledge & Skills:
• Strong analytical skills with ability to conceptualize complex issues, analyze data, produce thorough reports and policy recommendations.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to effectively interact and work with partners and colleagues especially in a hardship environment.

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How to apply

This position is open to qualified international candidates. The candidates must be nationals of a country other than the country of
assignment. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. WFP Somalia offers female friendly spaces in the workplace.
Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit online applications through Workday using the link below:
• Internal Applicants: Click here!
• External Applicants: Click here!
Applications that do not meet the above requirements will be disregarded. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
WFP seeks applicants of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. WFP is an equal
opportunity employer, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.
Selection of candidates is made on a competitive basis.
WFP does not charge any application fees to candidates