Programme Policy Officer (Research Data and Knowledge Management) CST 1, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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

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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 extreme weather shocks.

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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).

CONTRACTUAL INFORMATION

Job title: Programme Policy Officer (Research, Data and Knowledge Management)

Grade: CST 1

Type of Contract: International Consultant

Unit: RAM (Ethiopia Country Office)

Duty Station (City, Country): Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Duration: Eleven (11) Months

Number of Available Positions: One (01)

This position is advertised exclusively to non-Ethiopian nationals.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Ethiopia faces persistent humanitarian and development challenges driven by recurrent climate shocks, conflict, displacement, economic pressures and public health crises, resulting in widespread food insecurity and vulnerability. In response, the World Food Programme (WFP) is implementing its 2026–2030 Country Strategic Plan (CSP), a USD 3.3 billion initiative that adopts a systems-based approach to addressing hunger and strengthening resilience. The CSP supports the Government of Ethiopia through integrated interventions focused on: (i) emergency food and nutrition assistance for crisis-affected populations; (ii) improved human capital development through nutrition, health and education support; (iii) resilient livelihoods and food systems; (iv) strengthened national capacities for disaster risk management, social protection and food systems governance; and (v) the provision of logistics and operational services that enhance humanitarian and development responses. Across all strategic outcomes, the CSP prioritises resilience-building, recognising that stronger communities, institutions and food systems are better equipped to withstand and recover from shocks.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Provide strategic leadership and technical oversight for research, monitoring, evaluation, learning, knowledge management and programme data to ensure that high-quality evidence is generated, governed, shared and used across the Country Office. The role will strengthen results-based management, programme quality, accountability and organisational learning; support evidence-informed programme design, implementation, reporting, resource mobilisation and decision-making; and ensure alignment with the WFP Ethiopia Country Strategic Plan (2026–2030), corporate policies and standards, donor requirements and relevant national frameworks.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

1. Strategic Leadership and Programme Performance

• Support the development, review and implementation of CSPs, budget reviews, results frameworks and performance-management systems aligned with CSP priorities and corporate objectives.
• Support integrated planning, programme prioritisation, performance reviews and evidence-informed decision-making through timely analysis, data and learning.
• Ensure the establishment and maintenance of results-management frameworks, including theories of change, results frameworks, logframes, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, performance-measurement frameworks and monitoring and evaluation plans.
• Guide the development and review of Annual Performance Plans, Annual Country Reports, donor proposals, donor reports and other corporate reporting products.
• Ensure evidence-generation priorities are aligned with strategic programme objectives and organisational commitments.
• Promote adaptive management and course correction through systematic analysis and use of programme performance data.

2. Data Analysis, Learning and Knowledge Management

• Lead the analysis and interpretation of programme data to inform strategic decision-making, programme improvement and resource mobilisation.
• Develop and implement learning agendas, learning strategies and knowledge-management frameworks.
• Lead the preparation and dissemination of knowledge products, case studies, learning briefs, evidence summaries and lessons-learned documentation.
• Establish and maintain knowledge repositories, learning platforms and knowledge-sharing systems, including the knowledge hub.
• Facilitate learning events, reflection sessions, after-action reviews and communities of practice.
• Foster a culture of organisational learning, innovation, knowledge sharing and evidence-based programming across the Country Office and field locations.

3. Monitoring, Research, Evidence Generation and Quality Assurance

• Lead the development and implementation of research agendas, evidence-generation strategies and learning priorities that inform programme innovation, policy engagement and strategic decision-making.
• Oversee the design and delivery of research studies, assessments, surveys, reviews and other evidence-generation initiatives to strengthen programme effectiveness and organisational learning.
• Promote the generation, synthesis, dissemination and use of evidence to support adaptive programming, continuous improvement and knowledge management.
• Serve as the secretariat and technical lead for the Evidence Task Force, fostering a culture of evidence-informed decision-making and cross-functional learning.
• Ensure that quality-assurance standards and methodological rigour are applied across research, evidence-generation and performance-measurement activities.
• Champion the systematic integration of research findings, evaluations, lessons learned and emerging evidence into programme design, implementation and strategic planning.
• Provide technical support for complementary evidence-generation activities, including third-party monitoring, remote monitoring, post-distribution monitoring, outcome monitoring, surveys, studies, reviews and assessments, in coordination with relevant Country Office functions.

4. Data Management, Governance and Digital Systems

• Provide strategic oversight of data governance, data quality assurance, data integrity and information-management systems.
• Lead the management and continuous improvement of corporate and programme-related information systems, including COMET, Partner Connect, monitoring databases and digital data-collection platforms.
• Ensure the implementation of data-quality standards, validation protocols and compliance requirements.
• Oversee COMET data-management processes, including results-framework management, indicator tracking, output and outcome reporting, data-quality assurance, performance monitoring, results reporting and reconciliation.
• Coordinate and oversee COMET–LESS reconciliations for in-kind assistance and COMET–WINGS reconciliations for cash-based transfers, ensuring consistency among programme records, beneficiary data, financial systems, operational reporting and corporate reporting requirements.
• Develop and maintain data-management policies, SOPs, guidance and governance frameworks.
• Promote data analytics and digital solutions that enhance programme effectiveness and accountability.
• Ensure the secure storage, management, accessibility and authorised use of organisational data. Coordinate management-cleared data submissions to external stakeholders and inter-agency platforms, including UN INFO and the UN Ethiopia Project Database, in accordance with WFP data-protection, privacy and information-security requirements.

5. Stakeholder Engagement, Capacity Strengthening and Accountability

• Lead strategic engagement with government institutions, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, academic institutions and research organisations to enhance evidence generation and use.
• Represent the Country Office in technical forums and working groups, including the UN monitoring and evaluation working group, and in inter-agency initiatives related to monitoring, evaluation, research, learning, knowledge management and data management.
• Build and sustain strategic partnerships that support policy influence, innovation, evidence generation and programme quality.
• Develop and implement comprehensive capacity-strengthening strategies for staff, cooperating partners, government counterparts and other stakeholders.
• Lead training, coaching, mentoring and professional development initiatives in monitoring, evaluation, research, learning, knowledge management and data management.
• Establish communities of practice and peer-learning networks to promote continuous learning and knowledge exchange.
• Provide strategic technical advice to management, programme teams and partners on results-based management and evidence use.
• Support accountability and feedback mechanisms, including SugarCRM, to strengthen programme quality, responsiveness and organisational learning.
• Ensure that community feedback and accountability data are analysed and incorporated into programme improvement and decision-making.

6. People, Resource and Operational Management

• Lead and develop high-performing multidisciplinary teams across the Country Office and field operations.
• Manage recruitment, workforce planning, coaching, mentoring, succession planning and performance-management processes.
• Manage budgets, workplans and operational resources to ensure effective delivery of the unit's mandate.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, learning and continuous improvement.
• Promote diversity, inclusion, staff development and knowledge sharing throughout the organisation.

KEY DELIVERABLES

• A costed annual research, monitoring, evaluation and learning plan aligned with the CSP results framework and the Analysis, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan and Budget.
• A Country Office evidence and learning agenda, with prioritised studies, evaluations, reviews and learning questions, and a clear mechanism for tracking management use of findings.
• A functioning knowledge-management framework and repository, including standard operating procedures, governance arrangements and a regular pipeline of learning products.
• Timely, quality-assured corporate and management reporting, including CSP performance analysis, Annual Country Report inputs, dashboards and donor reporting contributions.
• Documented data-governance, validation and reconciliation procedures for COMET, Partner Connect, LESS, WINGS and other relevant programme information systems.
• A capacity-strengthening plan for Country Office, field-office and partner personnel, with progress and learning documented and reported.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• Experience leading monitoring, evaluation, research, learning, knowledge-management or programme-performance functions in complex humanitarian and development contexts.
• Experience designing and applying theories of change, results frameworks, monitoring systems, mixed-method studies and data-quality assurance processes.
• Experience translating complex evidence into concise analysis, management recommendations, knowledge products and donor or corporate reports.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams, budgets, workplans, partnerships and organisational change or learning initiatives.
• Experience using enterprise information systems, data-visualisation tools and digital knowledge platforms; experience with WFP systems such as COMET and Partner Connect is desirable.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: Advanced university degree in monitoring and evaluation, statistics, economics, development studies, public policy, social sciences, information management, data science, international development or another relevant field; or a first university degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training or courses.

Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Monitoring and evaluation, research, learning, knowledge management, results-based management, programme performance management, or data management.
• Demonstrated experience in leading evidence generation and performance management functions within humanitarian and development contexts, including the management of complex portfolios and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven experience in research and evaluation design, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, data governance, quality assurance, corporate reporting, and the effective communication and utilization of evidence to inform decision-making.
• Experience with WFP corporate systems, including COMET and Partner Connect, is highly desirable.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Has facilitated communication with technical teams (i.e., nutrition, VAM, etc.).
• Has contributed to implementation of program.
• Has observed or assisted with policy discussions.

Language: Fluency (level C) in English. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language is desirable.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

 

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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

 

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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.

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• 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.