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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.
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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).
JOB TITLE: National Programme Policy Officer – Social Protection and Disaster Risk Financing
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Service Contract (SC8)
DIVISION: Programme Unit
DUTY STATION: Vientiane, Laos PDR
DURATION: 12 months (non-renewal)
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Service Contract (SC8)
DIVISION: Programme Unit
DUTY STATION: Vientiane, Laos PDR
DURATION: 12 months (non-renewal)
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is highly vulnerable to recurrent natural hazards, including tropical storms, floods, droughts, landslides, and other climate-related shocks. The frequency and intensity of these hazards have increased in recent years, resulting in significant impacts on food security, livelihoods, infrastructure, and the resilience of vulnerable communities, particularly in remote and rural areas. Climate change continues to exacerbate these risks, increasing the likelihood of both sudden-onset and slow-onset emergencies.
The World Food Programme (WFP) in Lao PDR supports the Government's efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness, emergency response capacities, resilience-building, and social protection systems through its Country Strategic Plan (CSP). WFP works closely with the Government of Lao PDR and development partners to strengthen shock-responsive social protection (SRSP), disaster risk financing and insurance (DRFI), and cash-based transfer systems.
As WFP transitions to its new Country Strategic Plan (2027–2031), greater emphasis is being placed on resilience building, systems strengthening, and national capacity enhancement. A key priority is strengthening the links between sovereign and regional disaster risk financing and insurance (DRFI) mechanisms, including instruments such as the Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF), and other risk transfer solutions, and shock-responsive social protection (SRSP) systems to improve the timeliness, scale, and effectiveness of assistance to vulnerable populations affected by disasters.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
To support this agenda, WFP seeks a National Programme Policy Officer – Social Protection and Disaster Risk Financing to support the design, implementation, and coordination of initiatives that strengthen the connection between financing mechanisms ("money in") and social protection delivery systems ("money out"). Working closely with the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture and Environment, and Labour and Social Welfare, development partners, and WFP technical teams, the incumbent will contribute to policy development, programme implementation, capacity strengthening, partnership engagement, and knowledge generation to support more resilient and shock-responsive national systems.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
The National Programme Policy Officer – Social Protection and Disaster Risk Financing will report directly to the Social Protection Specialist leading WFP's social protection portfolio and will work across WFP units, field office teams, as well as relevant government counterparts and development partners.
The incumbent will be responsible for the following:
Provide technical support to WFP's social protection portfolio, with a focus on SRSP and DRFI preparedness, ensuring alignment with national, regional and corporate strategies, policies, and technical guidance.
- Support WFP Lao PDR in building and maintaining effective partnerships with Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and other relevant Ministries to strengthen adaptive and shock-responsive social protection systems and identify opportunities for integrating DRFI mechanisms and social protection delivery systems.
- Support the design and implementation of initiatives that strengthen the link between DRFI mechanisms ("money in") and social protection systems ("money out"), including sovereign and regional risk financing and insurance instruments such as SEADRIF, contingency financing arrangements, and other risk transfer solutions relevant to the Lao PDR context.
Support WFP's transition towards longer-term national systems strengthening, including strengthening national capacities for shock-responsive social protection, disaster preparedness, cash-based transfer readiness, and adaptive social protection approaches.
- Provide support to policy and operational analysis to inform the development of national social protection policies, strategies, programmes, and financing mechanisms related to disaster preparedness and response.
- Contribute to effective national engagement and collaboration with government, UN agencies, development partners, financial institutions, NGOs, and other stakeholders working on social protection, disaster risk financing and insurance, climate resilience, and disaster risk management.
- Support the development, management, and dissemination of knowledge products, technical guidance, policy briefs, presentations, and learning materials that strengthen WFP's credibility and positioning as a key partner in social protection, DRFI, and resilience building.
- Support the design and delivery of capacity strengthening and learning initiatives that enhance the ability of government counterparts, WFP staff, and partners.
- Capture, document, and share knowledge, lessons learned, best practices, and evidence generated through SRSP and DRFI initiatives to support programme improvement, scaling, and policy development.
- Support monitoring, reporting, and communication activities related to SRSP and DRFI interventions, including donor reporting, briefing materials, presentations, and technical updates.
- Perform any other duties as required in support of WFP's social protection, resilience, disaster preparedness, and emergency response objectives.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Advanced University degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, International Development, International Relations, Economics, Social Sciences, Disaster Risk Management, Finance, Insurance, or other fields relevant to SRSP and DRFI; or a First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or relevant training/certification in social protection, disaster risk financing, insurance, climate resilience, or related fields.
- Five (5) or more years of relevant professional experience related to national development programmes, policies, strategies, plans, and institutional systems in the areas of social protection, disaster risk management, disaster risk financing and insurance, food security, nutrition, climate resilience, and/or emergency response.
- Experience working across policy development and programme cycle management, including programme design, implementation, coordination, monitoring, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
- Experience with UN organizations, government institutions, development partners, or NGOs working in social protection, social policy, safety nets, disaster risk management, disaster risk financing and insurance, climate resilience, or related fields is highly desirable.
- Knowledge of current thinking and developments in shock-responsive social protection, adaptive social protection, public policy, social protection systems, and cash-based assistance.
- Knowledge of disaster risk financing and insurance concepts and approaches, including contingency financing, sovereign or regional risk financing mechanisms, insurance solutions, and their linkages with social protection systems.
- Knowledge of regional and country capacity strengthening approaches and effective knowledge transfer models, concepts, and principles.
- Knowledge of key national and regional policy frameworks, institutions, and stakeholder landscapes related to social protection, disaster risk management, and resilience.
- Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written outputs and deliver presentations in English and Lao.
- Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, demonstrating professionalism and credibility with internal and external partners.
- Demonstrated initiative and interest in exploring innovative approaches to strengthen social protection, disaster preparedness, and resilience systems.
- Ability to work independently in a timely and organized manner and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, fostering open dialogue and valuing diverse perspectives regardless of gender, culture, background, experience, or country assignment.
- Moderate to proficient computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
LANGUAGES
- Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Lao.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.
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
- All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.
- We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
- If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.
- At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.
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.