Back Programme Policy Officer (Social Protection)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS13 July 2025-23:59-GMT+09:00 East Timor Time (Dili)

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).

  The Programme Policy Officer (Social Protection) will report to the Social Protection Team Lead and Project Coordinator, with day-to-day coordination and oversight from MSSI leadership. The officer will be embedded within the MSSI, working alongside ministry staff to provide hands-on technical and operational support and to facilitate close collaboration between MSSI, WFP, ADB, and other relevant partners to ensure alignment with national priorities and effective delivery of project outputs. Specifically, the Programme Policy Officer will be responsible for the following:

  • Serve as an embedded technical resource within the MSSI, working closely with ministry staff on a daily basis to provide hands-on support, foster collaboration, and ensure seamless integration of project activities led by different partners and stakeholders.
  • ​Provide day-to-day technical and operational support to MSSI, WFP, and partners to ensure effective implementation of project activities and alignment with national priorities.
  • Support the planning, execution, and monitoring of social protection activities, including the development and rollout of the poverty and vulnerability framework, household survey, social registry, and training programs.
  • Assist in the preparation and refinement of operational manuals, guidelines, and project tools for targeting, registration, grievance redress, and process monitoring.
  • Serve as the primary liaison between MSSI and WFP, and key development partners to ensure smooth communication and alignment of activities.
  • Coordinate and facilitate meetings of the Steering Committee, Technical Task Force, and relevant working groups, including agenda preparation, minute taking, and follow-up on action points.
  • Support the organization of project events, workshops, and municipal coordination meetings, ensuring broad participation and effective information flow.
  • Assist in developing, updating, and tracking project work plans, timelines, and deliverables in line with the INSPIRE TA Action Plan.
  • Support the preparation and timely submission of progress reports, meeting summaries, and technical briefs for MSSI, WFP, and ADB.
  • Monitor project milestones, flag implementation challenges, and propose solutions to ensure timely delivery of outputs.
  • Contribute to the design and implementation of project M&E frameworks, including data collection, process monitoring, and reporting on key performance indicators.
  • Support the synthesis and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices from pilot activities, ensuring feedback from both national and municipal levels is incorporated into ongoing implementation.
  • Facilitate knowledge transfer and capacity building for MSSI staff and municipal partners, including supporting training sessions, workshops, and on-the-job learning.
  • Contribute to the development and refinement of operational manuals, guidelines, and project tools.
  • Support translation and interpretation of key project documents, reports, and communications between English and Tetum to ensure inclusive understanding and engagement across all stakeholders.
  • Ensure timely and clear information sharing between MSSI, WFP, ADB, and other partners at both national and municipal levels

    QUALIFICATIONS & DESIRED EXPERIENCE:

    EDUCATION:

    • Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, Public Administration, International Development, Nutrition/ Health, 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 in Tetum and English (written and spoken); Portuguese is an asset

        EXPERIENCE:

        • A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible work experience after obtaining a first university degree is desirable. At least one (1) year of experience should be at the postgraduate professional level.
        • Experience working with government institutions, international organizations, or development partners in project management, coordination, or capacity building roles.
        • Proven experience in effective engagement and coordination with government institutions, particularly in the context of social protection.
        • Strong, relevant experience in project management, including planning, implementation oversight, and delivery of multi-stakeholder projects.
        • Experience in facilitating inter-ministerial and interagency networks, partnerships, strategies, resource mobilization and communications initiatives.
        • Demonstrated experience in organizing meetings, supporting project planning and reporting, and facilitating multi-stakeholder coordination.
        • Experience in translation and communication between English and Tetum is highly desirable
        • International Financial Institution (IFI) and donor experience are considered an assets.
        • Willingness to be based in Dili, Timor-Leste, with frequent travel throughout the country, including to pilot municipalities

          KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

          • Strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively convey complex technical and operational concepts to a variety of audiences, particularly national policymakers and operational staff.
          • Good understanding of the latest policy debates, theory, design and implementation issues of social protection and safety nets
          • Knowledge of major humanitarian and development challenges and issues, specifically strategies for poverty and hunger reduction.
          • Knowledge of policy making processes and the ability to distil operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for governments and other partners.
          • Strong capacity for analysis, programme budgeting and forecasting, learning, research and innovation
          • Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)

            WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

            WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

            📚 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!

            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

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            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.