Programme Policy Officer NOB - Gender, Protection and Safeguards
Kabul
- Organization: WFP - World Food Programme
- Location: Kabul
- Grade: Junior level - NO-B, National Professional Officer - Locally recruited position
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Occupational Groups:
- Social Affairs
- Legal - Broad
- Political Affairs
- Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
- Nuclear Technology
- Project and Programme Management
- Closing Date: 2025-12-25
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
25 December 2025-23:59-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).
THE ROLE
The post is based in the Afghanistan Country Office, as part of the Programme team, reporting to the Head of the Gender, Protection and Inclusion team under the overall supervision of the Head of Programme. The successful candidate will operate with a high degree of independence to ensure programme and policy objectives are fully achieved, contributing to performance improvement through complex analytical and operational work. The role involves leading and supporting gender, protection, and environmental and social safeguards mainstreaming across country strategies and programmes. The incumbent will play a critical role in rolling out safeguard frameworks, ensuring compliance, and promoting systematic risk management while advancing WFP’s commitments to gender equality, protection, and inclusion.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
Strategic and Technical Support: Lead the integration of gender equality, protection, and environmental and social safeguards across WFP Afghanistan’s programmes and operations, ensuring compliance with WFP policies and humanitarian principles.
Policy development: support in development of key policies and SOPs including in relation to protection risk management and, where required, inclusive staff policies and standards including amongst WFP partners and vendors.
Analysis and Risk Management: Conduct gender and protection analyses, conflict sensitivity assessments, and stakeholder mapping; identify risks and opportunities and apply gender and protection lenses to programme design and implementation.
Monitoring and Reporting: Ensure systematic integration of ESS, gender and, protection considerations into monitoring and evaluation frameworks; oversee data collection, reporting, and lessons learned; and ensure issues are captured through feedback mechanisms.
Networking and Coordination: Build and maintain partnerships with UN agencies, INGOs, civil society, and coordination platforms; represent WFP in interagency fora to advance gender and protection objectives.
Capacity Building: Design and deliver training for WFP staff and partners on gender analysis, protection risk management, safeguarding, and PSEA; strengthen capacities for mainstreaming gender and protection throughout the project cycle.
Safeguards Compliance: Oversee the application of environmental and social safeguards, including PSEAH, risk screening, ESMPs, and incident reporting and protection assistance, ensuring adherence to WFP, donor, and government standards.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Advanced University Degree in one of the following disciplines: Social Sciences, International Development, Gender Studies, Political Science, Law or related field or bachelor's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience
Experience:
At least 3 years or more of professional experience focussing specifically on humanitarian or development contexts.
Ability to work effectively in a team and establish strong working relationships with individuals from diverse national and cultural backgrounds.
Flexible in accepting work assignments, self-driven, and committed to delivering results through innovative approaches.
Strong ability to analyze complex issues, apply gender and protection lenses, and contribute to performance improvement in dynamic humanitarian contexts.
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE
Strong analytical, writing and communication skills
Sound knowledge and skills in training and facilitation
Work experience with the UN, particularly with WFP, or with WFP's donors.
Strong capacity in establishing and sustaining relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Knowledge of UN system policies and functions pertaining to promotion of Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment and Gender Equality, Protection/AAP, and Environmental and Social Safeguards.
Language: Oral and written working knowledge of English. Fluency in either Dari or Pashto.
This position is National Officer role and UN Common System VA. The role is based in Kabul.
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.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.