DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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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.

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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).

JOB TITLE: Programme Officer (Social Protection)

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Service Contract / SC-9

UNIT/DIVISION: Programme Unit

Duty Station (City, Country): Dodoma, Tanzania

DURATION: ​12 Months

Background and purpose of the assignment:

WFP's Strategic Plan is guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth in the 2030 Agenda, in particular SDG 2 on ending hunger and SDG 17 on revitalizing global partnerships for implementation of the SDGs. In Tanzania, WFP’s Country Strategic Programme (CSP 2022-2027) supports the Government of Tanzania to ensure that crisis-affected populations can meet their essential food and nutrition needs in anticipation of, during and in the aftermath of shocks and build resilience to shocks and stressors by 2027. To achieve this goal, WFP provides technical assistance to the national government to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of relevant government institutions to monitor and respond to stressors and crises at the national and subnational levels.

In recent years, Tanzania has made significant strides in enhancing its social protection system, with the approval of new social protection policies aimed at strengthening the delivery of services to vulnerable population. In this context, the Tanzania Country Office (CO) is implementing the Adaptive Social Protection Project as part of the Changing Lives Transformation Fund (CLTF). It aims at supporting social protection programmes to become more adaptive and responsive to climate shocks, including by enhancing its delivery mechanisms.

Purpose of the assignment:

This role supports the Changing Lives Transformation Fund (CLTF) Adaptive Social Protection initiative, ensuring effective integration of social protection, resilience and climate adaptation strategies. The Programme Associate (Social Protection) will play a key role in delivering capacity strengthening initiatives for government institutions and partners, with a strong focus on WFP’s Social Protection Policy building blocks, including delivery mechanisms, shock-responsive approaches and linkages to climate resilience. The Programme Associate will ensure that WFP’s support is aligned with national policies and systems, contributing to strengthening coordination platforms and fostering strategic partnerships. The incumbent will help facilitating stakeholder engagement, and collaboration with WFP teams, and local authorities to ensure coherent implementation and dissemination of the CLTF initiatives.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of Social Protection Officer and Activity 2 Manager, the incumbent will leverage technical expertise in social protection programme design and implementation and maintain strong engagement with national actors. The Programme Associate (Social Protection) will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Act as the social protection focal point at WFP’s Liaison Office in Dodoma, ensuring effective communication between field operations and the Country Office.

• Represent WFP in relevant technical working groups and forums, fostering strategic partnerships with government institutions, UN agencies, and other stakeholders engaged in social protection.

• Design a stakeholder engagement strategy, based on updated mapping of national actors, systems, and programmes relevant to social protection and resilience.

Technical Programme Design and Implementation

• Support collaboration with WFP teams for the design, adaptation, and implementation of social protection programmes that integrate food security, DRR, anticipatory action, nutrition, and resilience objectives.

• Provide technical inputs to programme frameworks, operational guidelines, and delivery mechanisms, including targeting, financing social protection, cash transfer models, integrated beneficiary registries, digital social protection systems, public works, ensuring alignment with national social protection strategies and systems.

• Contribute to the development of innovative approaches for adaptive and shock-responsive social protection, linking to disaster risk management and climate resilience.

Capacity Strengthening and Policy Support

• Lead design and roll-out of national and sub-national training programmes and simulations on social protection.

• Support capacity-building initiatives for government institutions, partners, and WFP staff on social protection, adaptive systems, and linkages with resilience and disaster risk management.

• Assist government counterparts and social protection coordination groups in assessing gaps and designing evidence-based solutions for inclusive and effective social protection systems.

Research, Analysis, and Knowledge Management

• Contribute to analytical work to inform programme design and policy dialogue, including assessments, feasibility studies, and evaluations.

• Prepare and disseminate high-quality reports, policy briefs, and knowledge products that position WFP as a thought leader and trusted partner in social protection.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

• Support engagement with government, donors, and development partners to strengthen collaboration and mobilize resources for social protection initiatives.

• Contribute to the development of proposals and concept notes for funding opportunities.

• Perform any other tasks as required to advance WFP’s social protection objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced degree in International Development, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Sociology, Economics, or other related field, or first University Degree with additional years of related work experience.

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of experience in social protection programming, including related to national programmes, policies, strategies and institutional structures. Proven experience in design and implementation of social protection programmes; strong technical knowledge of social protection policy frameworks, delivery mechanisms, financing mechanisms, M&E systems, and linkages with food security and resilience; experience with adaptive and shock-responsive systems will be valued; demonstrated ability to work with national actors, including government ministries, social protection agencies, and development partners; additional experience around food security, humanitarian response and Cash Based Transfer (CBT) will be valued.

Knowledge & Skills:

Strong analytical and communication skills with the ability to translate complex concepts into actionable strategies; lead planning and coordination with multi-stakeholder projects; stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills; guide multi-sectoral assessments, advocacy and representation experience, monitoring and reporting.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Swahili.

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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.