JOB TITLE: Programme Policy Officer (Head of Asset Creation, Livelihoods and Social Safety Nets)

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Consultancy Level 2

UNIT/DIVISION: Food Systems and Resilience, Programme

DUTY STATION (City, Country): Juba, South Sudan

DURATION:11 months (Renewable subject to performance and budget availability)

CONTEXT

South Sudan continues to experience the compounded effects of climate‑induced shocks, instability, and economic decline, leaving millions highly vulnerable. The country faces recurrent and overlapping climate hazards, including catastrophic floods affecting over one million people annually and prolonged dry spells that damage crops, deplete livestock and strain water resources. These cumulative shocks have eroded traditional coping systems and left communities with little time to recover between crises.

Persistent localized conflict and population displacement further disrupt livelihoods, restrict humanitarian access, and reduce agricultural production, deepening vulnerability for women, children, and people with disabilities who face heightened protection risks and reduced access to services.

Food insecurity remains extremely high. Projections for the 2026 lean season estimate that 7.56 million people over half the population will face Crisis (IPC 3) or worse, including 28,000 people in Catastrophe (IPC 5), where famine remains a risk under a plausible worst‑case scenario.

In response, WFP’s Food Systems and Resilience (FSR) portfolio provides integrated support to the most vulnerable. Through climate‑smart and nutrition‑sensitive asset creation, diversified livelihoods, strengthened food systems, and predictable safety nets, WFP helps households absorb shocks, rebuild productive capacity and reduce reliance on emergency assistance. The programme also supports national institutions to expand climate‑resilient and shock‑responsive social protection systems, contributing to long‑term stability and food security.

JOB PURPOSE

Provide strategic direction and operational leadership to the asset creation livelihoods(ACL) and social safety nets (SSN) portfolio in South Sudan focusing on budget management, fundraising, capacity building of cooperating partners and Field Offices, development of SOPs and technical manuals, management of staff, and coordination to deliver conflict-sensitive, gender-responsive, environmentally and socially compliant ACL&SSN that is layered and sequenced with other resilience and nutrition initiatives. The incumbent is also required to occasionally travel to other field offices outside of Juba, as required by operational needs.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Head of ACL& SSN will report to the Head of Food Systems and Resilience. S/he will supervise the ACL and SSN team based in Juba. Areas of accountability and responsibilities include:

1. Social Protection & Safety Nets

• Lead the development and implementation of WFP’s Social Protection Strategy and contribute to programme design, annual plans, and engagement in national social programmes.
• Strengthen linkages between SSN and other WFP programme areas (emergency response, CBT, VAM, school feeding, nutrition, AAP, MEAL).
• Keep abreast of global and regional SSN/social protection knowledge and facilitate application of evidence, innovations, and best practices in South Sudan.
• Document lessons learned and best practices in SSN design and implementation to contribute to national system strengthening.

2. Asset Creation & Livelihoods

• Contribute to the design and implementation of layered and sequenced resilience programmes, including climate smart/nutrition sensitive assets, livelihood support, food systems interventions and market access.
• Provide technical guidance on watershed/landscape approaches, nature-based solutions, soil and water conservation, water infrastructure, on/off farm livelihoods and climate adaptation.
• Ensure alignment of field implementation with WFP corporate standards, toolkits and CO operational realities.

• Support planning and implementation of ecosystem restoration activities (land restoration, moisture harvesting, DRR, afforestation, rangeland restoration).
• Contribute to sustainable, scalable community and household asset‑creation initiatives, including surface and groundwater abstraction, climate‑resilient water harvesting and irrigation solutions for drought mitigation, as well as interventions that enable productive use of land in flood‑prone areas.
• Support development of ACL guidance, Infotech’s and training materials on water, drought, floods, heatwave, environment and regenerative designs.

3. Government Engagement & Partnerships

• Engage government counterparts at national and sub national levels in planning, coordination and scale up of ACL and SSN programmes, strengthening ownership and sustainability.
• Build strong operational partnerships with UN agencies, NGOs, academia, research institutions and other actors to enable coherent, multi-sectoral delivery.
• Represent WFP in relevant coordination platforms, humanitarian development peace nexus forums, and resilience working groups.

4. Evidence & Knowledge Generation

• Work with MEAL and Field Offices to ensure quality data collection, analysis and adaptive programming across ACL and SSN interventions.
• Support operational research, produce analytical reports, human impact stories and develop knowledge products demonstrating programme results and impact.
• Documenting lessons on Mobile Money transfers and sharing in CWG, and other units within WFP.

5. Resource Mobilization & Financial Oversight

• Lead development of concept notes and proposals, advocating for resources across the ACL and SSN activities and broadly within the food systems and resilience agenda.
• Monitor resource utilization (cash, commodities, operational budgets) and ensure efficient, accountable use of funds.

6. Capacity Strengthening

• Build capacity of WFP staff, Field Offices, cooperating partners and government counterparts through training, mentorship and ToT.
• Develop and update technical materials, guidance and training modules aligned with corporate tools, working closely with regional and HQ teams.

7. Cross cutting Commitments

• Ensure gender equality, youth inclusion, protection, Accountability to Affected Populations, and environmental and social safeguards are integrated throughout programme design and implementation.
• Promote equitable access to assets, information, training, livelihoods for women, youth and vulnerable groups.

8. Internal Coordination & Team Management

• Support the Head of FSR in coordinating ACL and SSN activities across WFP units to strengthen integration with early recovery, shock responsive and emergency programmes and avoid siloed approaches.
• Lead, motivate and support ACL and SSN team members to ensure high performance and accountability.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Development and regular review of the annual ACL and SSN team workplan
• Development and periodic updates of the annual ACL operational plan
• Accurate and efficient ACL&SSN resource management
• Strengthened integrated programming with WFP programmes and partner interventions
• Staff and partner (government and cooperating partners) capacity building actions
• Quality and timely input into donor proposals and reports
• Quality knowledge products and communication materials on ACL and SSN

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced university degree or university degree with experience and training/courses in one or more of the following disciplines: economics, international development, social policy, agriculture, or related discipline(s).

Experience:

• Five years postgraduate (for master’s degree holder) or seven years (for bachelor’s degree holder) with progressively responsible, job related experience in rural development, resilience, agriculture, programme management, or fields related to the above disciplines.
• Hands‑on field experience implementing climate‑smart asset creation and livelihoods activities (e.g., community assets, O&M, SWC, irrigation, watershed/landscape work) is required.
• Practical experience in social protection/SSN, including shock‑responsive or adaptive assistance an added advantage.
• Strong programme design skills, including community based participatory planning, layering/sequencing and MEAL-informed adaptive management.
• Proven coordination with government and multi‑sector partners at national/sub‑national levels.
• Demonstrated integration of gender, protection, and environmental and social safeguards in programme delivery.

Knowledge & Skills:

• A demonstrated ability to prepare concise and well-written reports and documents in English is critical.
• Proven leadership capacity to build and foster an inclusive team
• Strong technical knowledge in climate‑smart asset creation, livelihoods, and natural resource management.
• Solid understanding of social protection systems and shock‑responsive safety nets a plus.
• Programme design & analytical skills, including CBPP, assessments, and MEAL-informed adaptation.
• Partnership & coordination skills for effective engagement with government and multi‑sector partners.
• Crosscutting competency in gender, protection, AAP and environmental safeguards integration.
• Proficiency in utilizing computers, including word processing, spreadsheet, power point, and other office software packages and systems.
• Competencies: Cognitive Capacity, Teamwork, Action Management, Partnerships, Client Orientation.

Languages:

Fluency (written and oral) of English (proficiency/level C)