Programme Policy Officer (head of Programme), NOC - South Central Area Office,

Organizational Context

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest humanitarian organization globally, dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and fostering peace through food assistance. WFP supports communities recovering from conflict, disasters, and climate change impacts, prioritizing people and building diverse, skilled teams to deliver effective humanitarian aid and sustainable development outcomes.

Job Purpose

The Programme Policy Officer (Head of Programme) leads the strategic direction, management, and coordination of WFP's programme interventions within the South Central Area Office. This role involves developing and overseeing the Annual Performance Plan, ensuring alignment with the Country Strategic Plan, and providing strategic guidance on emergency response, human capital development, and resilience programmes. The incumbent will drive programme design, implementation, and monitoring, ensuring interventions are evidence-based, conflict-sensitive, and gender-responsive. A critical aspect is building and maintaining strategic partnerships with government, UN agencies, and NGOs, while also managing resources efficiently and leading a high-performing team. The purpose is to ensure effective, accountable, and results-based programme delivery that contributes to sustainable outcomes for vulnerable populations in Somalia.

Responsibilities

The Head of Programme for the SCAO (Sub-Area Coordination Office) holds a pivotal role in strategic leadership, management, and oversight of all WFP programme interventions within their designated geographical area. This includes leading the development, implementation, and review of the SCAO Annual Performance Plan, ensuring its alignment with the Somalia Country Strategic Plan and corporate priorities. The role demands providing strategic guidance on emergency preparedness, human capital development (including social protection, nutrition, and school feeding), early recovery, livelihoods, and resilience programmes. A key responsibility is advising senior management on emerging food security and nutrition challenges, proposing evidence-based solutions, and identifying opportunities for programme innovation and integration. The Head of Programme must ensure strong coordination among various WFP units, government counterparts, and cooperating partners for coherent implementation. This involves overseeing programme design, planning, and execution, ensuring interventions are evidence-based, conflict-sensitive, and gender-responsive. They guide beneficiary targeting, partner engagement, and promote integrated programming approaches. Furthermore, the role encompasses leading monitoring and performance management, building strategic partnerships, representing SCAO in coordination forums, and providing technical assistance to government initiatives. Resource management, including budget oversight and efficient utilization of financial, human, and operational resources, is critical. Finally, the Head of Programme is responsible for team leadership, capacity building of staff and partners, risk management, and ensuring compliance with WFP policies and donor requirements.

Work Experience

Requires at least five years of experience with an advanced degree, or seven years with a first degree, in programme management. Experience in humanitarian and development programming is essential. Demonstrated leadership, people management, and experience working with government institutions, UN agencies, donors, and NGOs are necessary. Experience in Somalia or fragile contexts is highly desirable.

Skills

Programme strategy, leadership, coordination, design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, partnership building, external relations, resource management, team leadership, capacity building, risk management, compliance, people management, humanitarian and development programming, and fluency in English and Somali.

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