DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS9 June 2025-23:59-GMT+02:00 Central Africa Time (Lusaka)
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).
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT:
In July 2023, the World Food Programme (WFP) Zambia commenced a new five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP), informed by, and aligned with national and United Nations priorities and global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It embraces the Governmentโs long-term Vision 2030, aligns with 16 key strategic areas of the 8th National Development Plan (NDP8); and contributes to the joint Zambia-United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). WFPโs overarching strategy seeks to strengthen the governmentโs capacities to meet its national priorities through stronger systems, expertise, and resources for implementation. This means a decisive shift of WFPโs country positioning towards the provision of innovative, sustainable, upstream technical assistance to support nationally owned solutions. The CSP addresses both SDG2 and SDG17, and WFPโs Strategic Results 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. WFP will implement seven activities to achieve five Strategic Outcomes (SO) under the CSP. These SOs include: (SO1) responding to crises and shocks ensuring that crisis-affected people, including refugees, are able to meet their urgent food and nutrition needs; (SO2) addressing the root causes of malnutrition; (SO3) building the resilience, enabling environment and market access for smallholder farmers, especially women; (SO4) supporting government institutions to provide social protection systems (including home grown school meals) and disaster preparedness and response; and (SO5) improving access to supply chain services for humanitarian and development actors.
JOB PURPOSE:
To perform specialized and/or standardized policy and programme-related processes and activities to support the effective delivery of WFPโs assistance packages and trainings.
At this level, job holder is responsible for the completion of a range of specialized and/or standardized processes and activities requiring some interpretation of standard guidelines and practices. The job holder will work under minimum supervision, perform basic analyses and compile reports to support information consistency and smooth implementation of programmes/projects
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive):
Work with key partners and government line ministries to provide food assistance modalities that include Cash based transfers, vouchers and or food in kind to people living in crisis such as refugees, drought affected households and others
Support activities that enhance production and productivity of smallholder farmers and persons in crisis including provision of climate services, Climate Smart Agriculture techniques and technologies, natural resource management, post-harvest management and technologies, access to inputs (seed, pest control, irrigation, etc) In liaison with SO3 and extension staff from the Government and NGO partners, provide training to smallholders in Post-Harvest Handling and Storage (PHHS) and facilitating access to appropriate hermetic sealed storage solutions. Build capacity of agrodealers and establish an efficient private sector led distribution network for PHHS equipment in districts where projects will be implemented. Provide technical support to Government (MoA) and partners at field level in backstopping trainings for smallholders in production of drought tolerant value chains, post-harvest loss management, access and appropriate use of hermetic storage technologies such as Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags. Organize, coordinate and manage technical assessments for the rural financial services such as credit and savings and provide linkage to the village savings and loans associations. Support business development for the processing of nutritious foods. Support implementation of social protection initiatives such school gardens and the Home-Grown School Meals programme Support access to predictable and profitable markets to persons living in crisis and smallholder farmers Support integration of nutrition, gender and disability in all projects and programmes and incorporation of social behavioural change (SBC) for nutrition across all activities Provide oversight of cooperating partners as guided by the Head of Field Offices to ensure effective implementation Monitor project implementation in liaison with the Monitoring Assistant Write stories and update reports to contribute to reporting, visibility and resource mobilisation Attend district level stakeholder meetings as guided by the Head of Field Office
REPORTING:
The Programme Assistant will directly report to the Head of Field Office.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
- University Degree in one or more of the following disciplines: Development Studies, Project Management, Agriculture, Agriculture Economics or equivalent qualifications from a recognized institution.
Experience:
- Experience: At least 3 years programme experience in comparable and/or relevant position in the public service or private sector or an International Organization implementing activities at community level.
- Ability to use MS office programmes (word, excel, power point, Outlook).
Languages:
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Understanding of local languages an added advantage.
OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS
Knowledge and Skills:
- Demonstrate ability to analyze and write report as well as engage with external relevant stakeholders such as Government, UN Agencies, NGOs and Private Sector;
- Understanding of food security vulnerability and ability to link analysis to Programme design, in the context of WFP programmes and
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE
- Demonstrates ability to analyze and write reports as well as engage with external relevant stakeholders such as Government, UN Agencies, NGOs and private sector.
- Understand food security vulnerability and able to link analysis to Programme design, in the context of WFP programmes.
- Has contributed to implementation of programmes.
- Has observed or assisted with policy discussions.
- Understands basic technical concepts and data and their relevance to food assistance programmes.
- Displays capacity to provide inputs into the development, implementation and realignment of high-quality programme activities.
Female applicants are encouraged to apply
WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
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.
- Ability to use MS office programmes (word, excel, power point, Outlook).
- Experience: At least 3 years programme experience in comparable and/or relevant position in the public service or private sector or an International Organization implementing activities at community level.
- University Degree in one or more of the following disciplines: Development Studies, Project Management, Agriculture, Agriculture Economics or equivalent qualifications from a recognized institution.