Programme Policy Officer
Organizational Context
The World Food Programme (WFP) Zambia Country Office is implementing its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023–2028, focusing on strengthening national institutions and systems to address food insecurity and malnutrition. WFP's Strategic Plan (2026–2029) emphasizes an enabling role, supporting governments and partners to progressively assume greater responsibility for programme delivery, particularly in school meals and social protection.
Job Purpose
The Programme Policy Officer will provide strategic leadership, programme management, and technical oversight for WFP Zambia's Government Capacity Strengthening and National Systems portfolio under Strategic Outcome 3. This role is crucial for developing and implementing integrated capacity-strengthening approaches, working collaboratively with government institutions and partners to identify and address institutional and systems-level gaps. The incumbent will ensure WFP's technical assistance is coherent, evidence-based, and aligned with national priorities and the WFP Strategic Plan, translating WFP's enabling role into concrete institutional improvements, stronger delivery systems, and sustainable financing. A key responsibility involves facilitating coordinated engagement across government, UN agencies, development partners, and WFP technical teams to achieve measurable capacity outcomes and strengthen national ownership of school meals and social protection programmes.
Responsibilities
The role involves providing strategic leadership for Strategic Outcome 3 (SO3), focusing on strengthening national systems and government capacity. This includes leading WFP's engagement with government institutions to enhance national ownership of school meals and social protection programs, positioning WFP as a key partner in policy development and institutional reform. A core responsibility is conducting institutional capacity assessments and designing/implementing government-led capacity-strengthening strategies to improve governance, operational effectiveness, and sustainability of national programs. The position will offer strategic and technical oversight for WFP's support to national school meals programs, covering policy, financing, nutrition, procurement, and linkages with smallholder farmers. It also entails leading WFP's technical support for national social protection and safety-net systems, including social registries, targeting, and shock-responsive mechanisms. Developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with various stakeholders, facilitating coordinated technical assistance, and leading resource mobilization efforts are crucial. The role promotes evidence-based programming, innovation, and knowledge management, ensuring systematic integration of cross-cutting issues like gender equality and climate resilience. Overall accountability for program planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, resource utilization, risk management, and results achievement rests with this position, alongside leading and developing multidisciplinary teams to foster a high-performance culture.
Work Experience
The role requires at least seven years of progressive professional experience in international development, programme policy, government capacity strengthening, institutional development, education, social protection, or food security. Demonstrated experience in providing strategic leadership and technical assistance to government institutions, including capacity assessments and policy support, is essential. Proven experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs, engaging with various partners, and translating evidence into practical strategies is also necessary. Experience supervising teams and managing resources is required.
Skills
Government Capacity Strengthening, Institutional Development, Policy Support, Programme Management, Social Protection Systems, School Meals Programmes, Partnership Management, Resource Mobilization, Evidence-Based Programming, Team Leadership