DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS23 July 2025-23:59-GMT Greenwich Mean Time (Nouakchott)
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).
The role is based in Bassikounou, Mauritania Country Office, and reports administratively to Country Director and technically to the Regional Medical Officer based in Dakar โ Sรฉnรฉgal. The local healthcare system in parts of Mauritania is weak and cannot at present assure reliable access to the required level of health support in all the locations where WFP is operating. Working closely with the WACARO staff wellness team, WEL HQ team, and other actors as appropriate (Security / Human resources / administration units etc.), the Medical Officer will spearhead healthcare support to staff.
The Medical Officer will be responsible for the following key duties.
- Contributes to the design and coordination of delivery of medical services in Mauritania for efficient and effective promotion, prevention and protection of the health and safety of WFP staff following the Wellness Strategy and the Country Strategic objective.
- Manages, advises, and reports on all health and safety matters related to staff, liaising with WHO and Ministry of Health, preparing and delivering preventive communications.
- Spearhead compliance to applicable UN WFP medical protocols and recommendations (HIV/AIDS, first-aid training PEP kit country specific protocols including PICT and VCCT).
- Support the management and monitoring of the implementation of the Service Level Agreement or Memoranda of Understanding on shared UN field medical services to WFP staff.
- Coordinate with local medical facilities to ascertain proper medical care rendered and establish a referral list, whilst monitoring and verifying appropriateness, reasonableness and customary nature of major medical bills as required.
- Implement staff health training (e.g. malaria prevention, first aid training); Follow-up of occupational health and safety issues in terms of prevention and promotion
- The Medical Officer is NOT the primary care physician of WFP Staff; however, s/he does provide first aid emergency services in response to accidents occurring in the workplace.
- Provides orientation to staff /dependents on health issues
- Preventive medical guidance to staff on measures to be applied during field missions
- Surge capacity in emergency response including mass casualty incidents.
- Participates in pre planning of WFPs Emergency response operations (e.g., food distributions) to ensure appropriate health protection measures in place.
- Proposes, assesses, updates as needed SOPs for staff protection, in specific higher risk occupational settings (e.g., food distributions, ports and warehouses with casual laborers, drivers and cleaners).
- Coordinates with health sector colleagues on the UNCTs to improve healthcare access for UN staff and family members.
- Assesses and responds to increase of disease incidents among WFP staff, outbreaks or other environmental hazards that could have impact on WFPโs operations and recommend mitigating measures.
- Monitors WFP activities and needs involving health issues: Road traffic accidents involving physical harm to third parties, management of mortal remains
- Coordinates with staff counselor to implement programs on stress or other psychological concerns and coordinates assistance to staff.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
- Doctor in Medicine.
- Postgraduate medical qualification in one of the medical specialties, e.g., emergency medicine, internal medicine, occupational health and safety, public health or similar.
- Current registration license to practice medicine in own country or any UN member state is required.
Experience:
- Have vast experience in disease outbreak response and emergencies
- Minimum 5 years of progressive professional experience in healthcare, at least, 2 years should be in an international organization
- At least five (5) years progressive experience and practice in general medicine in developing countries or countries in conflict.
- An asset would be experience within the UN system, or similar NGO.
- Creation of training programmes, Workshop & presentation training
Technical Knowledge & Skills:
- Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter.
- Excellent communication, presentation and drafting skills.
- Experience in emergency management (crisis or disaster medicine), travel medicine, tropical and infectious disease.
- Knowledge of addressing the psychosocial needs of humanitarian workers.
- Project management
- Formal training in CPR and, preferably in BCLS and ACLS or equivalent emergency medical care
- Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results
- Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges
- Remains calm in stressful situations
Languages:
- Fluency (Oral and written) in French and English.
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
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.
Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
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
Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
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.
- Fluency (Oral and written) in French and English.