Programme Assistant SC5 (kurunegala)

Organizational Context

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives and building a pathway to peace and prosperity. WFP operates in diverse, multicultural environments, emphasizing inclusivity and investing in employee development. The organization is committed to its core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion, working with partners to positively impact the lives of those it serves.

Job Purpose

The Programme Assistant (SC5) in Kurunegala will provide crucial support to WFP's operations in Sri Lanka, a nation highly vulnerable to natural disasters. This role is essential for the successful implementation of a multi-million dollar program aimed at assisting 87,000 people affected by climate change impacts and natural disasters like cyclones and floods. The incumbent will work closely with government counterparts and cooperating partners to monitor and coordinate project activities, ensuring timely distribution of assistance and effective capacity building. Key responsibilities include collecting and analyzing field data, resolving operational issues, facilitating communication, and contributing to emergency preparedness and response efforts. This position directly supports WFP's mission to build resilience and ensure vulnerable communities are better prepared for future shocks.

Responsibilities

The Program Assistant (Field) plays a crucial role in supporting World Food Programme (WFP) operations at the local level. Key responsibilities include fostering close collaboration with government counterparts and actively participating in coordination and planning meetings relevant to WFP's Country Strategic Plan. The role involves providing essential monitoring, implementation, and coordination support for all WFP projects within the field location. This includes verifying the movement and distribution of food and non-food items, resolving on-site issues, and escalating complex problems to the Country Office. A significant part of the job involves collecting, analyzing, and reporting on field-level program data to inform decision-making and reviews. The assistant acts as a liaison with cooperating partners, community leaders, and internal counterparts to gather feedback, discuss distribution and capacity-building efforts, and ensure effective communication. They are also tasked with suggesting improvements to field monitoring processes and operational procedures for enhanced program efficiency. Furthermore, the role entails organizing and participating in meetings with stakeholders on commodity pipelines and food entitlements, allocating tasks to field staff, and providing on-the-job training. The assistant delivers training to cooperating partners on WFP operational practices and monitoring tools, ensuring accurate data recording and acting as a primary point of contact for operational queries. They support communication with local partners, NGOs, and government institutions to ensure smooth implementation, prepare detailed field mission reports, follow emergency preparedness procedures, and facilitate timely financial data sharing and reconciliation with partners to ensure accountability and compliance with WFP standards.

Work Experience

Requires five years of progressive experience, including one year at a lower grade. Must have experience facilitating communication with technical teams, contributing to program implementation, observing or assisting with policy discussions, and engaging in field coordination.

Skills

Field Coordination, Program Monitoring, Data Analysis, Report Preparation, Stakeholder Communication, Logistics Support, Emergency Preparedness, Training Delivery, Financial Reconciliation, Community Engagement

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