Head of Sub-Office
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Cotabato
Philippines
January 12, 2026
Full-timeJanuary 12, 2026
Programme Associate (School Meals)
World Food Programme (WFP) About
Founded in 1961 and assisting 80 million people in around 80 countries each year, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.
WFP’s efforts focus on emergency assistance, relief and rehabilitation, development aid and special operations. Two-thirds of its work is in conflict-affected countries where people are three times more likely to be undernourished than those living in countries without conflict.
In emergencies, WFP is often first on the scene, providing food assistance to the victims of war, civil conflict, drought, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, crop failures and natural disasters. When the emergency subsides, WFP helps communities rebuild shattered lives and livelihoods. WFP also works to strengthen the resilience of people and communities affected by protracted crises by applying a development lens in its humanitarian response.
WFP is the largest humanitarian organisation implementing school feeding programmes worldwide and has been doing so for over 50 years. Each year, WFP provides school meals to between 20 and 25 million children across 63 countries, often in the hardest-to-reach areas.
Job Description
Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. Established in 1961, WFP operates in over 80 countries, employing thousands of staff members who work tirelessly to ensure effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people globally. WFP's mission is centered around the principles of integrity, collaboration, commitment, humanity, and inclusion, fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities it serves. WFP has been recognized for its efforts, notably being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its work in combating hunger and promoting security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security. The organization is committed to personal and professional development, offering various training and mobility opportunities to its employees, and aims to create a healthy work environment that encourages growth and innovation.
Job Overview:
The Programme Associate (School Meals) position is crucial for supporting the implementation and scaling up of the School Meals initiative in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The role involves working closely with the Programme Policy Officer and the Integrated Resilience team to enhance the delivery of nutritious meals to school children, thereby addressing undernutrition and promoting food security. The Programme Associate will be responsible for providing technical and administrative support, ensuring effective coordination among stakeholders, and contributing to the overall success of the School Meals portfolio. This position requires a proactive approach to capacity strengthening, monitoring, and knowledge management, as well as the ability to engage with various partners to foster collaboration and ownership of the programme. The Programme Associate will also play a key role in documenting lessons learned and sharing best practices to inform future interventions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Programme Associate (School Meals) will undertake a variety of duties, including:
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a combination of education and experience that demonstrates their ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the Programme Associate role. Required qualifications include:
Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a minimum of secondary education, with a strong preference for candidates holding a bachelor’s degree in fields such as Development Studies, Nutrition, Public Health, Social Sciences, or Communications. This educational foundation is critical for understanding the complexities of the School Meals programme and effectively contributing to its implementation and evaluation.
Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of six years of relevant experience in project management, coordination, or programme implementation. This experience should ideally be within a public or private sector context, demonstrating the ability to work with government agencies and understand national policies related to nutrition and education. Familiarity with development or humanitarian projects, particularly in food security or public health, is highly advantageous.
Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English and Filipino is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of the local language in BARMM is considered desirable, as it will facilitate communication and engagement with local communities and stakeholders.
Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a Service Contract at the SC-6 grade level, with a duty station in Cotabato, Philippines. The contract duration is for 12 months, with the possibility of extension. The role is open exclusively to Filipino nationals. The compensation package will be in accordance with WFP’s salary scale and includes medical coverage, leave benefits, and other applicable entitlements. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment and supports individuals with disabilities by offering reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. Established in 1961, WFP operates in over 80 countries, employing thousands of staff members who work tirelessly to ensure effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people globally. WFP's mission is centered around the principles of integrity, collaboration, commitment, humanity, and inclusion, fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities it serves. WFP has been recognized for its efforts, notably being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its work in combating hunger and promoting security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security. The organization is committed to personal and professional development, offering various training and mobility opportunities to its employees, and aims to create a healthy work environment that encourages growth and innovation.
Job Overview:
The Programme Associate (School Meals) position is crucial for supporting the implementation and scaling up of the School Meals initiative in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The role involves working closely with the Programme Policy Officer and the Integrated Resilience team to enhance the delivery of nutritious meals to school children, thereby addressing undernutrition and promoting food security. The Programme Associate will be responsible for providing technical and administrative support, ensuring effective coordination among stakeholders, and contributing to the overall success of the School Meals portfolio. This position requires a proactive approach to capacity strengthening, monitoring, and knowledge management, as well as the ability to engage with various partners to foster collaboration and ownership of the programme. The Programme Associate will also play a key role in documenting lessons learned and sharing best practices to inform future interventions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Programme Associate (School Meals) will undertake a variety of duties, including:
- Capacity Strengthening & Coordination: Provide project management support for the Home-Grown School Meals programme, co-develop training modules, and implement capacity strengthening interventions. Facilitate collaboration with government partners and stakeholders, manage Field Level Agreements, and assist in rice distribution planning. Build relationships with local government units and community stakeholders to enhance programme impact.
- Monitoring and Knowledge Management: Contribute to timely reporting and documentation of the HGSF programme, co-develop corporate systems for tracking effectiveness, and assist in creating visibility materials for communications.
- Perform additional responsibilities related to social protection, markets, livelihoods, and other key areas as directed by management. This role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a combination of education and experience that demonstrates their ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the Programme Associate role. Required qualifications include:
- Completion of secondary education is mandatory, while a bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Nutrition, Public Health, Social Sciences, Communications, or a related field is highly desirable.
- At least six years of relevant experience in project management, coordination, or programme implementation, preferably within public or private sectors.
- Familiarity with national policies related to nutrition, education, or public health is essential, along with experience in supporting development or humanitarian projects.
Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a minimum of secondary education, with a strong preference for candidates holding a bachelor’s degree in fields such as Development Studies, Nutrition, Public Health, Social Sciences, or Communications. This educational foundation is critical for understanding the complexities of the School Meals programme and effectively contributing to its implementation and evaluation.
Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of six years of relevant experience in project management, coordination, or programme implementation. This experience should ideally be within a public or private sector context, demonstrating the ability to work with government agencies and understand national policies related to nutrition and education. Familiarity with development or humanitarian projects, particularly in food security or public health, is highly advantageous.
Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English and Filipino is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of the local language in BARMM is considered desirable, as it will facilitate communication and engagement with local communities and stakeholders.
Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a Service Contract at the SC-6 grade level, with a duty station in Cotabato, Philippines. The contract duration is for 12 months, with the possibility of extension. The role is open exclusively to Filipino nationals. The compensation package will be in accordance with WFP’s salary scale and includes medical coverage, leave benefits, and other applicable entitlements. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment and supports individuals with disabilities by offering reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.
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We are not liable for any decisions or actions taken by applicants in response to this job listing. By applying, you agree that all application processes, interviews, and potential job offers are managed exclusively by the listed employer or organization.
Beware of fraudulent job offers. Do not provide sensitive personal information or make any payments to secure a job.
