Programme Policy Officer P3 (food Systems and Climate Resilience), Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

Organizational Context

WFP supports the Kyrgyz Republic's National Development Programme 2030 by leveraging its expertise in food security, nutrition, resilience, and logistics. The organization focuses on scaling up nutrition-sensitive school meals linked to local procurement and supporting adaptive social protection systems. WFP contributes to food security and rural development by building climate-resilient food systems, supporting smallholder farmers, and integrating anticipatory action and disaster risk reduction.

Job Purpose

The Programme Policy Officer will lead WFP Kyrgyz Republic’s Food Systems and Climate Resilience portfolio, providing strategic direction and accountability for programme delivery. This role involves leading a multidisciplinary team to design and implement scalable programme models that integrate policy influence with field delivery, focusing on resilient livelihoods, climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and nutrition-sensitive school meals. The officer will act as a trusted technical partner to the Government and development partners, translating global evidence into nationally owned solutions, mobilizing resources, and ensuring interventions are planet-friendly, inclusive, and shock-responsive, aligning with donor policy frameworks and partnership modalities.

Responsibilities

The Programme Policy Officer (Food Systems and Climate Resilience) plays a crucial role in shaping and implementing WFP's strategies at the country level. Key responsibilities include translating corporate policies into actionable country strategies, ensuring alignment with national priorities and WFP's strategic plan. This involves providing technical leadership and expertise in programme design, focusing on innovative approaches like leveraging school meals for nutrition and transforming food systems. The role requires building and maintaining strategic partnerships with governments, UN agencies, IFIs, research institutions, civil society, and the private sector to foster locally led solutions and co-financing opportunities. A significant aspect involves enhancing WFP's leadership in food systems and climate resilience forums through participation and the dissemination of information products. The officer is responsible for managing operational research, evidence generation, and learning agendas, translating findings into programme improvements and policy messages. Resource mobilization is another critical function, positioning food systems transformation as an investable priority and tracking project resources. Additionally, the role involves advising on and supporting capacity development for WFP staff and partners, leading and developing a team, and ensuring efficient use of financial resources. The officer also contributes to emergency preparedness and manages an integrated portfolio, ensuring compliance with donor conditions and timely implementation of projects focused on climate-sensitive livelihoods, disaster risk management, and sustainable food systems.

Work Experience

Experience required includes implementing or overseeing technical programs in food systems, agriculture, nutrition-sensitive social protection, and community engagement. Candidates should ideally understand value chain enhancement and farm-to-school approaches for school meals. Proven experience in delivering technical assistance and capacity-strengthening to national partners is essential. Additionally, experience in implementing programs and contributing to the design of food system operations, in collaboration with national or international partners and government entities, is necessary. Input into policy discussions and decisions regarding Value Chains and community-level social behavior change communication is also required.

Skills

Food Systems Analysis, Climate Resilience Building, Social Protection Programs, Nutrition-Sensitive School Meals, Disaster Risk Management, Agricultural Value Chain Development, Community Engagement, Policy Dialogue, Resource Mobilization, Partnership Building, Emergency Preparedness, Data Analysis and Reporting, Capacity Building, Project Management, Team Leadership

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