DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
19 May 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 West Africa Standard Time (Lagos)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).
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The World Food Programme (WFP) Nigeria Country Office is implementing its Country Strategic Plan (2023-2027), which, under Strategic Objective 3 (SO3), prioritizes resilience building, sustainable livelihoods, and food systems strengthening for vulnerable populations in conflict-affected regions of Northeast (NE) and Northwest (NW) Nigeria. Under this plan, WFP is working to enhance community resilience by improving agricultural production, restoring natural resources, and promoting climate-resilient infrastructure.
Central to these efforts is Asset Creation for Livelihoods (ACL), which supports communities to build productive, climate-resilient assets such as water harvesting systems, soil and water conservation structures, post-harvest facilities, and other community-driven livelihood infrastructures. These assets help improve food security, restore degraded environments, and strengthen local capacities to withstand climatic and conflict-related shocks.
Within this framework, the Programme Policy Officer (Engineering) will serve in the Resilience and Livelihoods Unit at the Damaturu Sub-Office, providing essential engineering leadership. The officer will oversee the design, supervision, quality assurance, and capacity building for ACL and other resilience-related infrastructure across WFP's operational areas, ensuring high-quality, technically sound, and sustainable project implementation.
JOB PURPOSE
To provide specialized civil and agricultural engineering expertise to support the effective design, implementation, and quality assurance of WFP's resilience and livelihood infrastructure projects. The Officer will ensure that community assets built under ACL and related interventions meet technical standards, are fit for purpose, and contribute to improved livelihoods and resilience of targeted populations.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):
A. Engineering Design, Planning and Technical Support
• Provide engineering and project management services for ACL and resilience activities, ensuring compliance with WFP standards, national codes, and environmental safeguards.
• Lead the technical design and costing for small-scale civil and agricultural Infrastructure, including:
• Solar-powered irrigation schemes
• Soil and water conservation structures
• Watershed restoration and flood/gully control assets
• Water harvesting systems (earth dams, ponds, check-dams, contour bunds)
• Post-harvest and small-scale processing facilities
• Conduct feasibility studies, site assessments, surveys, and technical analyses to guide project planning.
• Prepare engineering drawings, Bills of Quantities (BoQs), scopes of work, tender dossiers, and technical specifications for construction procurement.
B. Field Supervision, Quality Assurance and Safety
• Oversee construction and rehabilitation of livelihood assets to ensure conformity with approved designs and safety requirements.
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to assess progress, materials quality, workmanship, and compliance.
• Certify completed works, ensuring proper documentation (as-built drawings, test reports, material verification).
• Identify engineering risks, propose mitigation measures, and guide partners accordingly.
C. Support to Cooperating Partners, Government and Communities
• Provide technical backstopping to implementing partners on design, implementation, and maintenance of community assets.
• Conduct technical capacity assessments and deliver training on irrigation management, water harvesting, asset maintenance, and construction quality.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of Irrigation Water Users Associations (IWUAs) and other community structures for sustainable asset management.
• Promote community participation and ownership throughout the project cycle.
D. Procurement and Contract Management Support
• Support the Procurement and Cooperating Partners Management Units during bidding/partnership processes, including development of technical specifications, responding to bidder queries, and conducting technical evaluations.
• Engage with contractors/suppliers during implementation to ensure quality and adherence to contractual obligations.
• Maintain detailed engineering records (site logs, photos, inspection reports, test results, certifications).
E. Data, Reporting and Knowledge Management
• Compile engineering data and inputs for monthly, quarterly, and donor reports.
• Document lessons learned, develop knowledge products, and promote adoption of innovative water and land management technologies.
• Contribute to inter-agency technical working groups and WFP internal coordination fora.
F. Cross-Cutting Responsibilities
• Ensure compliance with WFP's Environmental and Social Safeguards, including sustainable construction and resource-use practices.
• Integrate gender, protection, nutrition, and social cohesion considerations in asset design and implementation.
• Perform any other related duties as assigned to support WFP's resilience and livelihood activities.
Reporting Lines:
The Engineer directly reports to the Resilience & Livelihoods Team lead in Damaturu SO and works in close coordination with the Agricultural Engineer at WFP Area office in Maiduguri.
WFP Leadership Framework - Key Capabilities
• Leads by Example with Integrity - Upholds WFP values and technical standards in all engineering decisions.
• Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments - Ensures timely and quality delivery of engineering activities.
• Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative Working Culture - Works effectively with partners and communities.
• Applies Strategic Thinking - Ensures engineering solutions align with long-term resilience objectives.
• Builds and Maintains Sustainable Partnerships - Engages stakeholders to enhance asset sustainability.
STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Advanced University degree in Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering and Building Engineering or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
Language: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language, National Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station's language, if different
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:
• 5 to 10 years of progressively responsible experience in rural engineering, irrigation development, watershed management, construction supervision, or related fields.
• Experience designing and supervising small and large-scale civil works in rural or emergency settings.
• Experience with resilience building, food systems, or humanitarian/development programmes is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience working with communities, government partners, and NGOs.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
• Strong skills in engineering design tools (AutoCAD, GIS, MS Project, etc.).
• Understanding of climate-resilient agricultural technologies and dryland water management.
• Strong analytical, project management, and problem-solving abilities.
• Knowledge of construction safety standards and environmental compliance.
• Excellent communication, coordination, and interpersonal skills.
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.