Programme Policy Officer (Climate Risk Management Project Manager)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

24 December 2025-23:59-GMT+05:00 Tajikistan Time (Dushanbe)

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).

Assisting 86.7 million people in around 83 countries each year, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.
WFP is fully aware of the impact that the climate emergency is currently having on achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 (SDG 2). Findings from the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicate that climate change could increase the risk of hunger and malnutrition by up to 20 percent by 2050, and its impacts will be felt disproportionately on the most food insecure and vulnerable.
WFP is committed to step up the number and scale of its climate-related interventions to support adaptation efforts of vulnerable people and governments globally, focusing on food and nutrition security.
Specifically, the WFP in Tajikistan starting Climate Risk Management in Tajikistan Project co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The aim of the project is to enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities to the impacts of climate change through building the institutional and local capacities for climate and disaster risk management. This comprehensive approach involves understanding risks through local consultations and detailed risk profiles, managing risks through supporting national and subnational natural hazard risk maps and early warning systems, pilot disaster risk management instruments such as anticipatory action, shock-responsive social protection, and utilization of emergency food rations, while transferring residual risks using financial instruments like weather index insurance.
The WFP in Tajikistan is seeking the services of a climate risk insurance specialist to assess the current landscape in the country and explore the feasibility of introducing agriculture (crop and livestock) insurance solutions, particularly index-based products as part of the inception period of the project implementation.
The Climate Risk Management (CRM) Project is a 5-year initiative supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). It aims to enhance Tajikistan’s resilience to climate shocks through an integrated approach aligned with the Sendai Framework, the National DRR Strategy (2019–2030), the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, and the National Development Strategy 2030.
WFP will support national authorities—primarily the Committee of Emergency Situations (CoES), Ministry of Agriculture, Agency of Hydrometeorology, State Material Reserve, National Bank of Tajikistan, Ministry of Health and Social Protection and regional hukumats—in developing:
• Multi-hazard risk assessment and data platforms
• Improved early warning and climate services
• Anticipatory action and shock-responsive social protection mechanisms
• Emergency food rations and food safety management
• Climate risk insurance products for agriculture and pastoralist communities
The Project Manager will oversee the entire project portfolio (Outcomes 1–3), ensure coherence between technical components, and guarantee national ownership, sustainability, and alignment with SDC’s requirements.

The SSA level 9 starting salary is 2,197.20 USD.

The Under the direct supervision of the CCARB Coordinator under overall supervision by the Head of Programme, the Project Manager will be responsible for the following:

1. Programme Leadership and Management

• Provide strategic, operational, and technical leadership for the CRM Project across all outcomes.
• Lead development of annual workplans, procurement plans, budgets, implementation timelines, and risk management plans.
• Ensure coherence between risk assessments, EWS/climate services, anticipatory action, shock-responsive mechanisms, emergency food management, and climate risk insurance pilots.
• Oversee quality assurance, compliance with SDC standards, and alignment with WFP policies and procedures.

2. Government Coordination & Institutionalisation

• Lead and manage three Inter-Ministerial Working Groups (IWGs):
  • Risk Assessment & Disaster Mitigation Planning
  • Anticipatory Action & Shock-Responsive Social Protection
  • Climate Risk Insurance
• Coordinate with CoES, Ministry of Agriculture, Agency of Hydrometeorology, State Material Reserve, National Bank of Tajikistan, and hukumat administrations.
• Facilitate formal government adoption of SOPs, platforms, and AA protocols.
• Support integration of risk-informed planning into district- and national-level budget cycles.

3. Technical Oversight

• Oversee development and institutionalization of a Multi-Hazard Risk Platform (e.g., INFORM or agreed alternative).
• Guide integration of EWS and climate services—including hazard data, risk maps, PRISM, and forecasting tools—into operational decision-making.
• Ensure upgraded SOPs for emergency food reserves, digital stock management, and nutrition-sensitive rations.
• Provide technical leadership for development of anticipatory action triggers and protocols.
• Supervise design, feasibility, and pilot implementation of parametric climate insurance solutions.

4. Capacity Strengthening

• Lead training and capacity development for national and subnational authorities on risk data management, AA/EWS systems, and risk financing.
• Facilitate South–South exchanges, particularly with WFP Kyrgyzstan on climate insurance.
• Support IWGs to be formally embedded in national governance structures to ensure long-term sustainability.

5. Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• Oversee implementation of M&E frameworks and logframe indicators.
• Ensure rigorous production of SDC-compliant reports (financial and narrative).
• Lead cost-benefit analyses (CBA) — ex-ante, endline, and midline (if feasible).
• Produce knowledge products, lessons learned, policy briefs, and scale-up strategies.

6. Risk Management & Cross-Cutting Priorities

• Identify and mitigate operational, fiduciary, and institutional risks.
• Ensure gender, protection, disability inclusion, and AAP are integrated across all outputs.
• Safeguard environmental and climate adaptation standards.
• Seek and ensure effective synergies with other DPs and potential investors

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Annual and quarterly workplans, procurement plans, and budgets submitted and approved.
• Functioning IWGs with clear ToRs, minutes, and documented decisions.
• Multi-hazard risk platform established and operationalized.
• Updated SOPs for emergency food reserves and anticipatory action endorsed by government.
• Feasibility study, design, and pilot implementation plan for climate risk insurance products.
• Anticipatory action system tested with validated triggers.
• SDC-compliant reports (narrative & financial) delivered on time
• Ex-ante and endline cost-benefit analyses completed.
• Sustainability and institutionalization roadmap developed and validated.
• Final results report and knowledge package.

Education:

Advanced University degree, or University degree with experience and training/courses in one or more of the following disciplines: climate change adaptation, environmental studies, agriculture and food security, development studies, economics, engineering, or related area.

Experience:

At least 5 years post graduate, progressively responsible, job related experience in climate risk insurance, food security, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction or related area. More than 7 years of experience is desirable.

Significant experience in learning & development including capacity development strategy, adult learning methodologies, curriculum/training and workshop design, and facilitation of trainings to a diverse range of stakeholders.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Proven ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders
• Extensive, proven experience with community and stakeholder consultations
• Excellent cross-cultural communication skills.
• Excellent facilitation skills for leading co-creative processes with multi-stakeholders
• Strategic thinker
• Design thinking skills
• Leadership skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Familiarity with WFP and the UN system will be regarded as an asset
• Proficiency in Windows, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

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 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.

• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language

• 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.