JPO Programme Policy Officer (Emergency Response) - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

10 June 2026-23:59-GMT+03:00 East Africa Time (Addis Ababa)

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).

CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND

Ethiopia is currently facing one of the most complex and overlapping humanitarian crises in the region, driven by multiple and interlinked shocks. The country continues to grapple with the devastating impacts of conflict, recurrent droughts, seasonal floods, and soaring commodity prices, all of which have severely undermined food security and livelihoods. The humanitarian situation remains highly dynamic, with needs evolving rapidly across different regions. Conflict-induced displacement and destruction of assets in Afar and Tigray have left communities with limited access to food and income sources, while successive droughts in the eastern and south-eastern lowlands have eroded coping capacities among pastoralist communities, particularly in the Somali region. In addition, flooding in low-lying areas and inflationary pressures have further compounded vulnerabilities, leaving millions in urgent need of assistance.

In response to these challenges, the World Food Programme (WFP) is leading the food assistance response in Ethiopia, implementing a comprehensive portfolio of interventions designed to address immediate needs while supporting longer-term resilience. These include general food assistance, targeted nutrition programmes for vulnerable groups, school feeding initiatives to keep children in education, and livelihood support activities aimed at restoring productive capacities. WFP’s operations prioritize the most food-insecure regions—Afar, Amhara, Somali, and Tigray—where the convergence of shocks has been most severe. Planning and targeting are informed by seasonal food security assessments and continuous monitoring of the food and nutrition situation, ensuring that interventions remain adaptive and evidence-based.
Collaboration is central to WFP’s approach. WFP works closely with local and international cooperating partners to deliver assistance efficiently and at scale, while also investing in capacity strengthening for national institutions to enhance programme quality and sustainability. This includes supporting government-led systems and building local implementation capacity to ensure that humanitarian responses are not only timely but also resilient to future shocks. Through these efforts, WFP aims to stabilize food security, protect livelihoods, and contribute to a broader humanitarian reset that aligns with Ethiopia’s recovery and development priorities.

The Programme Policy Officer, under the overall supervision of Head of Crisis Response, Ethiopia Country office, , will support on strategies that enhance the capacity of local partners and national institutions in responding to the emergency crisis in the country.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Title of Post: Programme Policy Officer (Emergency Response)
Grade: P2
Supervisor: Head of Crisis response
Unit: Programme
Division/Country Office: Ethiopia Country Office
Duty Station: Addis Ababa
Duration of assignment: Two years

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Crisis Response, or a designate appointed by him/her, the JPO will ensure that programmes are aligned to local contexts, support local partners and national institutions in responding to the emergency food needs in Ethiopia, including for asylum and refugees.

The JPO will have the following responsibilities:

A. Operational Support

• Provide assistance in the planning, coordination, and implementation of emergency food assistance activities to ensure timely and efficient delivery.
• Support compliance with WFP operational guidelines, national priorities, and international humanitarian standards throughout all phases of response.
• Assist in maintaining updated operational plans, schedules, and documentation for emergency interventions.

B. Contingency Planning & Preparedness

• Contribute to the development and regular updating of contingency plans for sudden-onset emergencies, including flood preparedness and other climate-related risks.
• Assist in conducting risk assessments and scenario analyses to inform preparedness actions.
• Support pre-positioning of food and maintain accurate inventory records for emergency stockpiles.

C. Data Management & Analysis

• Collect, clean, and organize operational and food security data from area/field/sub offices offices and partners.
• Prepare basic analytical summaries, charts, and dashboards to support evidence-based decision-making and resource prioritization.
• Ensure timely data entry and maintain databases for emergency preparedness and response activities.

D. Monitoring & Evaluation

• Support field monitoring missions by coordinating logistics and compiling monitoring checklists and reports.

Assist in analyzing monitoring findings and documenting operational challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations for improvement.
• Maintain accurate records of monitoring activities and ensure compliance with WFP’s accountability standards.

E. Partnerships & Capacity Building

• Provide administrative and coordination support for partnership engagement, including scheduling meetings, preparing briefing notes, and maintaining partner contact lists.
• Assist in organizing training sessions, workshops, and capacity-building initiatives aligned with WFP’s localization strategy and emergency preparedness objectives.
• Track training attendance and maintain records of capacity-building activities.

F. Reporting & Documentation

• Prepare draft inputs for internal and external reports, including situation updates and contributions to Annual Country Reports (ACRs), ensuring accuracy and adherence to WFP reporting standards.
• Maintain organized records of operational activities, reports, and correspondence for easy reference and audit readiness.
• Support the development of presentations and briefing materials for internal and external stakeholders.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• Operational Readiness & Timely Support: Emergency food assistance activities and contingency plans are implemented on schedule, with resources pre-positioned and risks assessed.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Accurate data collection, analysis, and reporting enable informed prioritization and resource allocation.
• Accountability & Capacity Strengthening: Monitoring findings, partnership engagement, and training initiatives contribute to improved program efficiency and compliance with WFP standards.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education: Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance.
Experience: Minimum of two years relevant professional working experience in programme, or relevant fields.
Languages: Fluent (level C) in English.
Behavioural competencies: leads by example with integrity, drives results and delivers on commitments, fosters inclusive and collaborative teamwork, applies strategic thinking, builds, and maintains sustainable partnerships.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

• Exposure to the international arena either by direct work for an international institution/organization or by interacting with international stakeholders.
• Intermediate level of one, or more, of the following official languages: French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese.
• WFP’s international professionals are required to serve in different locations around the world during their career (including in hardship duty stations); willingness to be mobile would maximise opportunities for long-term retention into the Organization.

SUPERVISION

The supervisor with the JPO will develop a detailed work plan with regular support, discussion and mentoring. JPO will work with different teams and will be provided with guidance and coaching.

TRAINING COMPONENTS

In addition to the on-job-training, mentoring, WFP has online portal with several relevant training resources.

LEARNING ELEMENTS

At the end of the assignement assignment, the JPO should have obtained:

• Very good knowledge of WFP programmatic implementation in a complex operational environment, resilience, livelihood, and asset creation activities

• Familiarization with WFP’s core policies on food assistance, humanitarian principles and gender. This includes an understanding of the organizational set-up of WFP and (Country Office, Sub Offices, direct implementation, cooperating partners etc…).

• General understanding of WFP’s overall operations and activities in the region of assignment

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.