Programme Policy Officer (Social Protection) at World Food Programme

Kabul, Kabul Province, Afghanistan -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

12 Sep, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

14 Jun, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Programme Design, Social Protection, Cash-Based Assistance, Donor Engagement, Resource Mobilization, Monitoring and Evaluation, Strategic Partnerships, Risk Management, Policy Analysis, Results-Based Financing, Stakeholder Coordination, Human Capital Development, Gender-Responsive Programming, Technical Oversight, Proposal Development, Quality Assurance

Industry

Non-profit Organizations

Description

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 15 June 2026-23:59-GMT+04:30 Afghanistan Time (Kabul) 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 AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT: Afghanistan faces profound and intersecting challenges, including widespread poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition, recurrent displacement, the compounding impacts of climate change and natural hazards, and long-standing structural economic fragility. This context calls for approaches that respond to acute humanitarian needs while also contributing, where feasible, to longer-term stability, livelihood protection, and the preservation of human capital. The Social Protection portfolio supports the design and implementation of nutrition‑sensitive, shock‑responsive, and adaptive safety net programmes aimed at protecting and building human capital, particularly for women, children, and vulnerable households. The portfolio leverages WFP’s strong implementation footprint and extensive experience in managing adaptive, shock-responsive social protection systems, and remains closely aligned with the World Bank and ADB, while exploring further engagement with IFIs and other partners, to expand scale, sustainability, and systems strengthening. The programme is anchored in the strategic priorities on human capital development, poverty reduction, gender equality, resilience, and inclusive growth, and emphasize results‑based programming, fiduciary accountability, and safeguards compliance. As the portfolio evolves, strong programme development and coordination capacity is required to ensure coherence across donor frameworks, national priorities, and UN comparative advantages. WFP also plays a leading role in the Social Protection Technical Working Group (SP‑TWG), co‑convened with the World Bank. The SP‑TWG provides a platform to align humanitarian and development actors around shared priorities, promote harmonization of approaches, advance joint analysis and learning, and support a more coherent and forward‑looking social protection agenda for Afghanistan. Reporting to the Head of Human Capital Development, this role is to lead and support the design, development, alignment, and quality assurance of the social protection programmes ensuring: Strong alignment with donor financing agreements, results frameworks, and safeguards, Coherence with national systems and UN complementarity; Integration with nutrition, health, education, and livelihoods programming to maximize human capital outcomes. The position works in close coordination with other programme functions, crosscutting units, Area Offices, and external partners to translate policy and analysis into effective operational practice. The position will also play a central role in guiding and strengthening the Social Protection Technical Working Group platform, ensuring that it delivers tangible strategic and operational value in a highly constrained and evolving context as well as participation in external project meetings, forums, and reviews. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive): The role under the supervision of the Head of Human Capital Development and in close coordination with relevant units, ensure the effective design, delivery, and management of the social protection portfolio for WFP Afghanistan. Key responsibilities will include: Programme Design and Implementation Support the design of context appropriate social protection interventions, including cash‑based assistance, nutrition‑sensitive social protection, livelihood safety nets, and shock‑responsive safety nets, ensuring alignment with WFP delivery systems and operational realities in Afghanistan. Guide the evolution of safety‑net approaches within protracted crisis context, balancing large scale emergency delivery with scalable, shock-responsive systems and pathways toward longer‑term, system-oriented approaches where feasible. Develop and review theories of change, results frameworks, budgets, and costed implementation plans aligned with IFIs including results-based financing modalities, disbursement-linked indicators, and robust compliance and reporting standards. Ensure programme designs are gender‑responsive, inclusive, and context‑appropriate, with clear pathways to human capital outcomes in line with WFP policies, Executive Board decisions, and other relevant guidance. Quality Assurance and Learning Ensure robust monitoring and quality assurance systems, including third party monitoring, post-distribution monitoring, and real-time data analysis, to support adaptive programme management in a highly constraint operating environment. Provide technical oversight to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance across programme activities. Support monitoring, evaluation, learning, and evidence generation to inform programme adjustments and scale‑up. Document lessons learned, best practices, and innovations in social protection programming. Strategic Partnerships, Coordination, and Resource Mobilisation Support and deepen technical and programmatic engagement with International Financial Institutions, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and related humanitarian and development partners for collaboration on social protection strategies and frameworks, social registry, delivery systems, and results-based programming in Afghanistan. Coordinate the discussions around the design of beneficiary management system and registries with donors, partners, and other stakeholders. Identify and manage key programmatic risks, including data protection, access issues, risks, partner performance, and safeguarding concerns, and ensure appropriate mitigation measures are integrated into programme design and implementation. Contribute to proposal development, donor reporting inputs, technical justifications, support resource mobilization and exploring new funding opportunities. Represent the Social Protection programme in relevant technical working groups, coordination forums, and meetings. Contribute to multi‑year programme strategies and annual implementation planning. Support dialogue with donors and partners on programme design, performance, learning and ensuring donor compliance/timelines Strengthen WFP’s positioning and visibility on social protection through participation in relevant forums, briefings, and policy discussions and through information products and other materials. Other duties as required. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS REQUIRED: Education: Postgraduate University degree in International Affairs, Development studies, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Social Sciences, Public Policy or other relevant studies. Experience: Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian and/or transitional contexts, including design and implementation of social protection programmes. Experience directly implementing programmes in fragile or conflict-affected contexts. Experience engaging in and providing input to policy discussions and decisions in relevant areas of Social Protection with a range of stakeholders. Proven track record of developing and strengthening strategic partnerships, advocacy and resource mobilization to expand engagements across thematic areas and partners. Proven experience in programme design, proposal development, and donor engagement Experience in working with IFI-funded social protection programmes is desirable. Technical Skills and Knowledge: Understanding of WFP’s mandate, Country Strategic Planning process, intervention modalities, programme and project lifecycle tools, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation desirable. Knowledge of current thinking and developments in the field of social protection and public policy. Familiarity and comfort working with qualitative and quantitative data to produce operational and/or programmatic analysis and evidence to inform decision making. Learning agility, and appetite for exploring and experimenting with new ideas and approaches. Problem solving and decision-making skills. Ability to work independently and under pressure to tight deadlines in a fast-paced operational environment. Ability to develop and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders, coordinate across multiple stakeholders and communicate effectively at all levels. 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: 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. 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. If you used to have an account on our previous platform, please note that you will need to create a new account for future applications. However, this change will not affect any ongoing recruitment processes. To ensure that WFP is able to deliver on its mandate, a range of contract types exist depending on the duration and nature of work. Find out more here. These guidelines are here to help you use AI tools responsibly throughout WFP’s recruitment process. We also want to be transparent about how we use AI on our side. Curious? Find out more here. Our greatest strength is the people working around the world providing access to nutritious food and promoting lasting solutions to those we serve. WFP provides its staff with meaningful and impactful careers, continuous learning and training, and a multicultural and stimulating work environment. 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, physical or mental disability. The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are 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. Read more about WFP’s history here, and WFP’s mission here Want to hear what it’s like working for WFP? Check out our newsletter highlighting the career stories of our passionate staff here: Pathway to WFP | LinkedIn Integrity, collaboration, commitment, humanity, inclusion. These values inspire everything we do every day, allowing us to work towards a world with zero hunger. You can read more about the values here. Our behaviour guides us in how we accomplish our mission. All WFP employees are expected to demonstrate the standards of behaviour described in the WFP Leadership Framework. Learn more about the WFP Leadership Framework here. WFP is aware of fictitious employment offers being circulated via email or originating from online job boards. Many of these schemes consist of an alleged offer of employment or contract with WFP in return for the payment of fees or providing personal or banking information. Read more.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, development, and quality assurance of social protection programmes in Afghanistan, ensuring alignment with donor frameworks and national priorities. Coordinate the Social Protection Technical Working Group and manage partnerships with International Financial Institutions to maximize human capital outcomes.