DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS24 February 2026-23:59-GMT-05:00 Eastern Standard Time (Panama)
WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.
ABOUT WFP
The World Food Programme is the worldโs largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.
To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.
WHY JOIN WFP?
WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).
ABOUT GENDER, PROTECTION AND INCLUSION AT WFP
This position is based in Panama and reports to the Gender, Protection, and Inclusion Officer.WFP is known for delivering food assistance rapidly to people in need and for building resilience to communities vulnerable to shocks. To respond effectively in the challenging contexts where WFP operates, staff need to know the fundamentals of food assistance programming, as well as intersectional skills in corporate crosscutting themes. These include protection, accountability to affected populations, localization, conflict sensitivity, digital financial inclusion, and informed engagement when working with Indigenous Peoples and minority groups and people with disabilities.
The Latin America and Caribbean region include 13 country offices (including a multi-country office), from where WFP plays implementing, enabling, and convening roles. Issues related to protection and accountability to affected populations are varied, and WFP needs to respond to and advise on responding to the diverse needs of diverse people, including Indigenous and Afrodescendants, people with disability, rural people, people in human mobility, et al., all with approaches that are sensitive to gender, protection, and inclusion (GPI).
THE ROLE
To design and manage programmes of moderate size or complexity that effectively meet food assistance needs, or contribute to policy formulation and/or provide technical advice or oversight on programme strategy and implementation.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):
Contribute to formulation of WFP-wide programme policies in line with both organisational strategy and the practical realities of operating in the field; or translate programme policy into Regional/Country level practices. Developing programme guidance and implementation modalities and operations, to ensure a clear and strong connection between HQ and field operations.
Provide advice and support to COs on moderately complex issues to clarify ambiguities and ensure that policy and programme operations are consistent with WFP policies, Executive Board decisions, and other relevant guidance.
Provide technical advice or mobilise technical expertise on programme and policy issues including assessment and analysis, the choice of objectives, activities, transfer modalities and appropriate food products, the deployment and testing of innovative approaches and the development of strategies to support government efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition.
Assist counterparts in governments and other partners in identifying where food assistance can be usefully employed and provide support and technical expertise for the planning, formulation and implementation of moderately complex food assistance programmes to strengthen government and community ownership and effectiveness of food security and nutrition programmes at national and sub-national levels.
Establish and maintain operational partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve assistance packages and support advocacy work.
Enhance WFPโs leadership status in forums relating to area of specialism, for example food security, nutrition, livelihoods, resilience or engagement in humanitarian, transition and development contexts through direct participation, briefings, information products and other materials.
Manage operational research and evidence building on issues relevant to food assistance.
Manage the preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical reports, publications, and a variety of information products or proposals for internal or external use.
Contribute to resources mobilisations efforts for WFP projects, including clearly articulating the need for food assistance and related programme opportunities, and follow up on the resource situation of projects including commodity and cash availability, seeking advice from senior colleagues where necessary.
Advice and support the development of functional training in areas of expertise to enhance the capacity of WFP staff and partner to design and deliver effective food assistance programmes.
Lead, motivate and develop a team of staff to enable high performance.
Ensure the best use of assigned financial resources for achievement of set objectives within a moderate budget.
Contribute to Country Office Emergency Preparedness i.e. early warning, risk analysis, and contingency planning in order to respond to humanitarian crises and needs.
Other as required.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Education: Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with 5 years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
Language: Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty stationโs language, if different.DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE
Has experience working across the Program portfolio including VAM/Nutrition.
Has led a Sub Office or a small country/area office programme team or a component of a country office programme portfolio.
Has engaged in policy discussions and provided input into policy decisions.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Advocating to regional management, including risk and compliance teams, and across programmes and operations teams for GPI strategic anchorage, in line with GPI global policies.
2. Provide GPI technical inputs to regional documents, policies, trainings materials, partnerships. Liaise with SEA and conflict sensitivity experts at HQ level as needed.
3. Deliver capacity building support to regional teams to streamline minimum GPI knowledge across services as needed.
4. Coordinate with GPI Global HQ team to ensure a consistent implementation of GPI policies in the region, advising on regional specifics as relevant.
5. Liaise with Country Office management, in coordination with Global HQ and POCQ teams to ensure timely engagement of GPI in strategic planning, particularly for the Framework on Accountability for Results (FAR) rollout.
6. Review CSPs to ensure appropriate level of GPI strategic anchorage and technical expertise feeds the documents.
7. Engage with Country Office management and Global HQ to ensure capacity gaps are addressed through TDY, surge deployments, stand by partners or other HR mechanisms as relevant.
8. Actively engage with GPI coordination forum at regional level, and develop strategic partnerships to enhance WFPโs influence, knowledge and capacities on GPI and related topics.
9. Perform other duties as required.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Number of openings: 1
Based in: Panama City, Panama
Type of Contract: Fixed Term
Level: NOC
Duration: 12 months.
This position is open only to Panamanian citizens.
You can consult the UN Salary Scale for Panama page for your reference. Fixed-Term appointments are for a continuous period of one year or more and shall have a specified expirationdate. The initial appointment is subject to a probationary period of one year. Successful candidates will be placed in a roster for two (2) years.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.
Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: global.inclusion@wfp.org
NO FEE DISCLAIMER
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.
If you experience challenges while submitting your online application, please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org for technical support only.
Please note that applications sent to this email address cannot be considered.
We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.