DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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 extreme weather shocks.

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 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.

The WFP Somalia Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2026–2030 is focused on supporting Somalia's transition from recurring humanitarian crises toward greater resilience, self-reliance, and nationally led development. The CSP combines humanitarian assistance with investments in human capital, food systems, climate resilience, and institutional capacity. WFP aims to address immediate food and nutrition needs while strengthening government systems and local capacities to reduce vulnerability to shocks, improve nutrition outcomes, enhance sustainable livelihoods, and build more resilient communities.

(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.

Somalia faces recurring food insecurity, climate shocks, conflict-related displacement, and high levels of malnutrition, which continue to negatively affect school attendance, learning outcomes, retention, and the wellbeing of children. School Meals represent a key investment in human capital development and provide an effective platform for improving education outcomes, nutrition, social protection, gender equality, and community resilience.

WFP, in close collaboration with the Federal Government of Somalia, State Ministries of Education, development partners and local communities, is supporting the expansion and strengthening of a nationally owned school meals Programme. This includes transitioning from direct implementation towards government leadership, strengthening local food systems, improving Programme quality and accountability, and integrating school meals within broader social protection and human development frameworks.

Purpose:

This position is based in our Country Office in Mogadishu, Somalia and entails operations management as well as strategic engagement with key stakeholders and operational partners and teams. The Programme Policy Officer (School Meals) will lead the operational planning, implementation, monitoring, coordination and expansion of school meals activities across Somalia, ensuring alignment with WFP corporate priorities, the Country Strategic Plan, Government education priorities, and national school feeding objectives.

Under the supervision of the Head of HCD, the PPO- School Meals will lead the school feeding team within the HCD portfolio to lead improvements in programming quality implementation and building government capacity.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority)

• Provide strategic and operational leadership on WFP's school meals portfolio, ensuring alignment with national development priorities, WFP strategies, and donor commitments. Provide technical inputs to Programme and project design, including concept notes, project documents, operational plans, implementation strategies, and results frameworks

• 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.

• Support policy dialogue and technical discussions on social protection reforms, expansion pathways, and shock-responsive social protection.

• Represent WFP in technical working groups, policy forums, interagency platforms, sector coordination, and partner meetings, positioning WFP as a leading partner in school meals.

• Coordinate strategic engagement with federal, state, and district authorities and promote collaborative and complementary approaches across stakeholders.

• Support preparedness, contingency planning, and the integration of shock-responsive approaches within 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 school meals programming.

• 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 duties as required or delegated by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

Education: Advanced University Degree in Development, Education, Public Policy, Nutrition, Agriculture, Social Sciences, Economics, or any other related field. OR First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or relevant training courses.

Experience: At least three (3) years of relevant professional experience with an Advanced University Degree OR a First University Degree with a minimum of five (5) years preferably in post-conflict and fragile settings, in one or more of the following areas: project and Programme management, strategic planning, strategic engagement, networking, coordination, partnership development, and stakeholder engagement.

Language Proficiency: Proficiency: Fluency (level C) in English and Somali language.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of food and nutrition security-related concepts and programmes;

• Skills or experience in designing and implementing programmes with multiple stakeholders. Specific experience in or knowledge of school feeding or school health and nutrition is an added advantage.

• Understanding of government capacity strengthening and technical assistance.

• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills and ability to deal patiently and tactfully with people of different national and cultural backgrounds and to manage a team.

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.

This position is open to qualified Somali national candidates only. Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply. WFP Somalia offers female friendly spaces in the workplace.

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.