Programme Policy Officer (Cooperating Partners Management)
Organizational Context
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives and building pathways to peace and prosperity. This role is within the Operational Partners Unit, Delivery Assurance HQ, based in Dakar, Senegal. The position supports WFP's programme quality and accountability by providing technical advisory services, policy translation, and operational field support related to partnership management and assurance systems.
Job Purpose
The Programme Policy Officer (Cooperating Partners Management) will provide crucial technical guidance, policy advice, and regional field support to Country Offices across WACARO, LACRO, and other regions as needed. The primary objective is to ensure effective and compliant partnership management, assurance, and capacity strengthening, aligning with WFP's corporate policies, Executive Board decisions, and risk management frameworks. This role will interpret and adapt policies for NGO partnerships, provide technical advice on complex issues, and support the implementation of assurance standards and compliance mechanisms. Furthermore, the officer will contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives for partners, promote risk-informed decision-making, and foster programme quality by leveraging evidence and field feedback. The position plays a key role in coordinating with regional hubs and Headquarters units, acting as a technical focal point for partnership and assurance matters, and contributing to knowledge management within the organization.
Responsibilities
The Programme Policy Officer (Cooperating Partners Management) role at WFP focuses on ensuring the quality and accountability of WFP's programs through effective partnership management. This position provides crucial technical guidance and policy advice to Country Offices, particularly in the West, Central Africa, and Latin America and Caribbean regions, as well as other areas as needed. Key responsibilities include interpreting and supporting the implementation of WFP's corporate policies on NGO partnerships, assurance, and localization. The officer will offer technical advice on partnership and program quality issues, assist in partner selection, engagement, capacity assessments, and oversight. They will also monitor assurance standards, follow up on audit recommendations, and help mitigate operational and fiduciary risks. A significant part of the role involves supporting the design and implementation of capacity strengthening initiatives for partners, aligning with WFP's localization commitments. This includes developing and disseminating relevant tools and learning materials. The officer will promote evidence-based approaches, risk-informed decision-making, and contribute to analytical products. They will act as a technical focal point, coordinate with regional hubs and headquarters, and participate in relevant workshops and forums. Additionally, the role involves providing technical supervision and contributing to knowledge management by documenting best practices and lessons learned. The position requires a Master's degree, at least three years of relevant professional experience in humanitarian or development contexts, including field experience, and strong analytical and communication skills in English and French.
Work Experience
Requires at least three years of post-graduate professional experience in development or humanitarian contexts, with a minimum of two years in international field settings. Demonstrated experience is needed in integrating operational partnership considerations into program design, implementation, and oversight across humanitarian-development-peace contexts. Experience engaging strategically with cross-functional teams to translate policy into practice and facilitating workshops or training for capacity strengthening is also required. Familiarity with diverse cultural and political contexts is essential.
Skills
Partnership Management, Assurance Systems, Capacity Strengthening, Policy Translation, Risk Management, Programme Quality, Localization, Cross-functional Collaboration, Intercultural Communication, Training Facilitation, Report Writing, Language Proficiency (English, French, Spanish)