DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

21 February 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 West Africa Standard Time (Kinshasa)

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:

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has one of the highest estimated numbers of food insecure people worldwide, with 25.6 million people estimated to be food insecure as per the latest IPC analysis. Overall, the humanitarian situation has continued to deteriorate. The humanitarian crisis, particularly in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where ongoing conflict, has displaced millions has led to a severe protection crisis; resulting in an increase in attacks against women and communities struggling to access basic needs like food, shelter, and healthcare. Many of the displaced have moved several times due to the persistent conflict. The frontline of the conflict is expanding as more towns fall into the hands of the M23. Approximately 6.9 million people were internally displaced as of January 2025, including 13 percent displaced by climate disaster. Heavy rainfall induced by El Nino weather phenomenon in eastern Africa triggered flooding in several provinces in DRC affecting thousands of people, exacerbating an already critical humanitarian situation. DRC continues to grapple with multiple health crises, including being the epicentre of the global Mpox outbreak and enduring epidemics such as cholera, measles, and more recently, severe strains of malaria and influenza. These challenges are compounded by high rates of acute malnutrition. Since the start of 2024, DRC has reported over 59,000 suspected Mpox cases and approximately 1,300 related deaths. Together, these factors impede communities’ ability to earn livelihoods and access food.

The Food Security Cluster Coordinator (CC) plays a vital role in ensuring timely, coherent and effective food security interventions by mobilizing and supporting stakeholders to deliver a coordinated and strategic response to the above-mentioned humanitarian crisis. In 2024, 88 organizations contributed to the coordinated food security response, including 25 INGOs, 59 NNGOs, 2 UN Agencies and 2 organizations belonging to the Red Cross movement.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

The Food Security Cluster Coordinator will work impartially with all members of the Food Security Cluster (FSC) and represents all members of the group equally, and as a whole. S/he will work closely with the UN Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator and the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) or their designated official, and with all other humanitarian stakeholders including other cluster leads.

The Food Security Cluster team is a mixed team composed by WFP staff (8), FAO staff (2) and Ngo staff (2).

JOB PURPOSE:

The role of the Food Security Cluster Coordinator, as set out in the IASC Generic Terms of Reference and the main core functions, is to lead food security coordination along with the support team (which includes 3 Information Management Officer (IMOs), a Deputy, a Co-facilitator, and 6 sub-national coordinators) and a wide range of stakeholders in:

• Leading the development and implementation of a timely, coherent, effective and coordinated food security response by mobilizing stakeholders in a strategic manner.
• Enhancing coordination through the reinforcement of linkages and synergies between relevant food security actors as well as between humanitarian and development partners.
• Ensuring that food security is appropriately represented in the overall humanitarian response.
• Supporting service delivery.
• Informing strategic decisions of the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and Humanitarian Country Team (HCT)/Country Management Team (CMT).
• Coordinating and Planning Cluster strategies, including contingency planning and preparedness.
• Monitoring and Evaluating Cluster/Sector performance.
• Building national and FSC members capacity in relevant areas.
• Leading on advocacy for food security needs in country.
• Accountability to affected people.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the FSC team and FSC members through the humanitarian response cycle in a highly complex context, by actively ensuring membership and engagement of key partners at national and sub-national level, organizing regular strategic and operational cluster meetings, and ensure overall coordination of the food response.
• Identify, develop and nurture strategic and operational partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve the food security response.
• Ensure an inclusive governance structure for the FSC (including co-leadership with national authorities where possible, NGO co-chairing, technical working groups as needed).
• Formulate the FSC operational strategy, in line with both WFP and partners' priorities and the practical realities of operating in the field, and ensure it is well reflected in the HNRP and other coordinated UN appeals.
• Lead the development and implementation of harmonised programmatic responses (SOPs on modality of delivery, Minimum Expenditure Basket, minimum assistance package) and promote the application of common standards (e.g. SPHERE standards and CHS).
• Provide advice and support to a large number of FSC partners operating in the different contexts of DRC, to ensure that FS operations are consistent with the FSC guidelines and priorities.
• Provide solid technical and managerial leadership on a broad range of strategically important and complex issues (including assessment and analysis, targeting and prioritization, the choice of activities, transfer modalities, and the development of strategies) to support FSC partners efforts to reduce acute food insecurity.
• Facilitate and support needs assessments such as EFSA/SMART/ERMs, etc., and actively promote the analysis and utilization of this information for decision-making.
• Strengthen the Governments’ capacity to address hunger, particularly accompanying the institutionalization of the food security analysis process (IPC) at national and sub-national level.
• Monitor, oversee and contribute to the preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical reports, publications, and a variety of information products (Sitreps, Bulletins, newsletters, FSC dashboards and maps, etc.) for internal or external use to present a consistent picture of food security needs and response to internal and external stakeholders and enable informed decision-making.
• Coordinate and promote mainstreaming of cross-cutting and cross-sectoral issues (e.g. gender, protection, AAP, PSEA, nutrition, environment, etc.) in cluster/inter-cluster needs assessments, analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring.
• Identify capacity gaps and needs and provide training and capacity strengthening opportunities to FSC partners.
• Contribute to country level contingency planning and coordinate cluster/sector-wide emergency preparedness and response.
• Contribute to the effective management of country based pooled funding schemes by leading the process for the FSC.
• Advocate for resources for a broad portfolio of food security activities on behalf of the FSC partners in a neutral and impartial manner, including clearly articulating the need for food assistance and livelihoods programmes.
• Provide strategic advice and support cluster lead agencies (WFP and FAO) on mobilizing funding for the FSC team and activities.
• Lead, motivate and develop the FSC team to enable high performance; Ensure the best use of the assigned FSC budget for the achievement of set objectives.
• Take responsibility for an equitable and inclusive workplace which incorporates all dimensions of the WFP diversity and inclusion framework.
• Together with the IM team, support gFSC initiatives such as CCPM (Cluster Coordination Performance Monitoring) and the global cluster annual report.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS:

The following are the expected deliverables at the end of the contract:

Food Security needs analysis and response plan Food Security Cluster workplan with key deliverables Cluster-relevant Contingency plans, SOPs and harmonized packages Multi-sector joint planning with other clusters, as relevant Food security sitreps, newsletters/bulletins (stand-alone and inter-sector) Advocacy notes and round table meetings minutes (with key actors such as donors, government) FSC resource mobilization strategy and business case Handover report with shared folder with documents at the end of the assignment.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

University degree in food security, agriculture, economics, humanitarian affairs or related field

Experience:

Between five (5) and eleven (11) years of professional experience in humanitarian response at a mid or senior level. Experience in food security related topics is mandatory and experience with inter-agency coordination is desirable

Knowledge & Skills:

• Ability to work and plan at both operational and strategic level.
• Solid understanding of the international humanitarian response architecture, including humanitarian principles, coordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform and action, and funding mechanisms (e.g. Humanitarian Programme Cycle - HPC, Central Emergency Response Fund and Flash Appeals, Pooled funds).
• Demonstrated ability to make well informed, strategic decisions surrounding every aspect of the coordinated food security response (e.g., targeting and prioritization, modality type, strategic opportunities, and areas for change) to improve the effectiveness of the humanitarian response.
• Demonstrated experience in positioning the FSC and WFP as a partner of choice with influence on a wide set of policy dialogues directly relevant to food security that strengthen national government hunger related strategies.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context.
• Ability to express and summarise ideas orally and in writing in a diplomatic and inclusive manner.
• Ability to interact with a number of different stakeholders and represent the FSC in strategic meetings and discussions.
• Ability to lead workshops, meetings and to present outcomes in behalf of a group of stakeholders.
• Good understanding of FS Assessments, Survey, and Monitoring and Evaluation.

Languages:

Fluency in French, working knowledge of English.

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 recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.

• If you experience challenges while submitting your online application, please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org for technical support only.

• Please note that applications sent to this email address cannot be considered.

• 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.

• 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

• 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.