Back Programme Officer - Early Warning

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS12 November 2025-23:59-GMT+02:00 South Africa Standard Time (Maseru)

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 world’s 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).

  Provide expert support for seasonal forecasting and ensuring last-mile delivery of climate information at national, district, and community levels. The candidate will act as a vital link between technical climate data and end-user needs, facilitating effective decision-making to enhance food security and resilience among vulnerable populations.

  The Programme Officer-Early Warning will work under the overall supervision of the Project Coordinator and receive technical guidance from the Principal Meteorologists in LMS, Director Early Warning in DMA and Head of VAM/M&E at WFP.

  Key Responsibilities

  1.Coordination and Technical Support

  • Serve as the technical liaison between the IACoV II project team, LMS, and DMA on climate services and early warning systems.
  • Facilitate coordination between LMS, DMA, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment of climate services with disaster risk reduction and food security strategies.
  • Enhance collaboration between meteorological services and disaster management authorities for timely sharing of forecasts and alerts.
  • Support integration of seasonal and short-term forecasts into national and local disaster preparedness and response planning.
  • Lead the development of a climate change media press kit to ensure coherent messaging and effective dissemination of climate-related information.

    2. Climate Information Development and Dissemination

    • Lead the development of tailored climate products in collaboration with LMS and other partners to meet the needs of end-users, including local planners and vulnerable communities.
    • Support and oversee meteorological data processing and interpretation to produce actionable insights for anticipatory action and early warning.
    • Support implementation of impact-based forecasting and protocols for triggering anticipatory actions based on forecast thresholds and risk indicators.
    • Support development and dissemination of user-friendly climate advisories and early warning messages through appropriate channels (e.g., SMS, radio, bulletins, community platforms).
    • Work with DMA, MEF, MAFSN information departments/units, knowledge management teams to identify dissemination platforms and service providers based on community needs assessments.

      3. Capacity Building and Outreach

      • Build capacity among DMA, LMS, National Climate Change Committee out reach cluster and other stakeholders (including extension workers, village disaster management teams (VDMTs), district observers, local authorities, and community leaders) to interpret and use climate information for disaster preparedness and risk reduction.
      • Support the LMS climate change unit, DMA information unit to plan and provide trainings to media, NGOs, community leaders, and other stakeholders on effective communication of climate change impacts and variability.
      • Facilitate DMA training workshops and simulation exercises to test and refine early warning protocols.
      • Support anthropologically informed climate perception studies to understand user needs and barriers to climate information uptake.

        4. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

        • Collaborate with M&E teams to track and evaluate climate service activities for evidence-based decision-making.
        • Support identification of indicators to measure the effectiveness of climate-informed disaster risk reduction efforts.
        • Contribute to development of monthly, quarterly and annual project reports.

          QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

          Education: Advanced degree in meteorology, climate science, disaster risk reduction, or a related with minimum professional experience of three years in disaster risk reduction, food security, early warning systems, or climate services. Or first degree with added experience.

          Skills and Abilities:

          • Strong stakeholder engagement and coordination skills
          • Proven ability to build capacity through training and mentorship
          • Excellent facilitation and documentation skills
          • Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks
          • Commitment to inclusive and participatory approaches

            WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

            📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

            ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

            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.