DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS8 October 2025-23:59-GMT+02:00 Central Africa Time (Bujumbura)
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).
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:
These jobs are found in Headquarters (HQ), Regional Bureaux (RBs) or Country Offices (COs) and job holders report to a more senior Programme Policy Officer.
Job holders are likely to be working under the close support and guidance of a more experienced professional staff member receiving guidance and regular feedback on work performed. They are typically involved in programme or policy activities or similar nature and analytical work of limited complexity.
Background and country context:
The United Nations World Food Program is the world's largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide. Its mission is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger by 2030.
WFP Burundi country strategic plan (CSP 2024โ2027) has been approved by the board in February 2024. WFP Burundi is supporting the Government in pursuing its vision of improving living conditions and reducing inequalities, with the aim of fostering sustainable and equitable economic growth based on well performing food systems, strong human capital and better management of the environment and disaster risk reduction activities.
Work under the โchanging livesโ agenda will seek to contribute to better nutrition and human capital development for Burundians through the promotion of healthy diets, particularly targeting vulnerable groups such as children, women, adolescents, and malnourished and food-insecure individuals, including in hard-to-reach locations, through interventions that will support food systems transformation in a sustainable and equitable way.
WFP will address food system challenges with a focus on smallholder farmers, particularly women, to enhance their links to markets through home-grown school feeding and nutrition programmes, including support for supply chains for fortified foods. Resilience building activities will be gender transformative and sensitive to nutrition, climate and aiming at strengthening social cohesion. WFP will support capacity strengthening at all levels in the areas of systems development and coordination mechanisms.
WFP Burundi is seeking for a National Professional Program Policy Officer to support implementation of CSP following outcome, outputs and activities
Strategic Outcome 2 : People in Burundi have improved nutrition, health and education outcomes that contribute to human capital throughout the year.
- Output 5.1: Pre-primary and primary schoolchildren benefit equitably from nutrition sensitive school-based programmes, resulting in healthy and nutritious diets and improved school outcomes.
- Output 5.2: Targeted schools receive support to establish climate-friendly facilities, including for water, sanitation and hygiene, that can help mitigate the impact of climate change.
- Activity 5: Promote safe and nutritious school meals to pre-primary and primary school-aged children in targeted areas
JOB PURPOSE:
To provide support to policy and programme activities that effectively meet integrated home-grown school feeding in alignment with program purpose (โwith people at the heart of integrated programming, we enable food systems transformation in Burundi and restoring hope and creating opportunities for self-reliance) and vision (schools and crisis response are focus of integrated programming that enables the self-reliance of households).
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):
Position Overview:
Under the direct supervision of the Head of the School Feeding Section, the job holder will undertake the following responsibilities:
1. Serve as a Technical Expert: Provide strategic guidance and data on school feeding and related issues, ensuring the effective implementation of WFP's Home-Grown School Feeding interventions
2. Support Programme Development: Contribute to the design and alignment of proposals, plans, and processes with WFP's policies and guidelines, promoting sustainable and impactful school feeding programs.
3. Coordinate Donor-Funded Initiatives: Oversee funding from multiple donors, ensuring a harmonized approach that aligns with WFP standards and integrates with broader programs.
4. Monitor and Evaluate Programs: Conduct programme reviews and evaluation missions, collaborating with WFP units, field offices, and stakeholders to uphold quality standards and ensure effective data gathering, monitoring systems
5. Support Policy /operational Research and Analysis: Research and evaluate policy and operational issues to assist in the formulation of policies, programs, and activities related to Home-Grown School Feeding.
6. Ensure Accurate Reporting: Prepare timely and quality reports for donors and stakeholders, enabling informed decision-making and consistency in communications.
7. Foster Collaboration: Liaise with internal counterparts to facilitate integration, monitor ongoing interventions, and enhance programme complementarity.
8. Develop Partnerships: Identify, cultivate, and manage partnerships that enhance collaboration and improve Integrated homegrown school feeding.
9. Build Capacity: Strengthen the capacities of WFP staff, partners, and national governments to effectively respond to Home-Grown School Feeding needs while providing technical guidance and support.
10. Facilitate Government Initiatives: Assist the government in implementing School Meal Coalition commitments, monitoring progress, and coordinating efforts, including chairing the East African School Meal Coalition.
11. Promote Communication and Coordination: Maintain robust communication with regional bureaus, headquarters, governments, United Nations agencies, donors, public/private institutions, and NGOs to advance education and school feeding objectives.
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:
- Has gained experience in implementing technical programs (i.e. nutrition, etc.).
- Has implemented programmes and provided input into designing operations.
- Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.
- At least 3 years' experience in the management/development of humanitarian and/or development projects/programs.
- Good computer skills tools (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook and any other software used by the United Nations).
- Must be of Burundian nationality. A valid identity card or passport must be attached to the profile.
- Proven experience in school meals program and various modalities, in accounting, finance and local procurement
- Good knowledge and understanding of gender, social protection, program integration and protection in a humanitarian and development context
STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Education
Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
Language: Fluency (level C) in French language. Proficiency (level C) in English language. Fluency in Kirundi (local) language. A knowledge of Swahili is an asset.
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.
- Output 5.1: Pre-primary and primary schoolchildren benefit equitably from nutrition sensitive school-based programmes, resulting in healthy and nutritious diets and improved school outcomes.