Asociado Senior de Programas

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 are committed to the mission of eradicating hunger and malnutrition. WFP's vision emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and a healthy work environment, where employees are selected based on merit and are encouraged to contribute to the organization's goals. WFP has received numerous accolades, including the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing its efforts in combating hunger and promoting peace.

Job Overview:
The Senior Programme Associate will play a crucial role in the strategic coordination and comprehensive management of the project 'Paths to Peace and Prosperity in Colombia'. This position involves ensuring that the project meets its goals, objectives, and indicators while adhering to the administrative, technical, and financial frameworks set by WFP. The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing various components of the project, supervising the work of implementing partners on the ground, consolidating technical and financial reports, and ensuring the efficient and transparent use of resources. This role requires collaboration with programmatic teams, functional units within WFP, Rotary Clubs, implementing partners, and other key stakeholders to promote inter-institutional collaboration, capacity strengthening, and community participation. The Senior Programme Associate will also be tasked with identifying challenges and risks early on, implementing timely corrective measures, and applying strategies that ensure the quality, sustainability, and coherence of the project within WFP's portfolio in Colombia.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The main responsibilities of the Senior Programme Associate include: coordinating and supervising the execution of the project to ensure all thematic and geographical components progress according to established work plans, goals, objectives, and indicators; ensuring that administrative, technical, and financial implementation complies with WFP's corporate frameworks, promoting efficiency, transparency, and accountability; coordinating and monitoring the performance of the contracted implementing partner to verify the quality of interventions and adherence to agreements with WFP; consolidating, analyzing, and presenting technical and financial reports to WFP, ensuring the quality and relevance of information for accountability and decision-making; building and maintaining effective relationships with Rotary, WFP, component leaders, area offices, local partners, and communities to foster collaboration; ensuring the effective functioning of the technical team by assigning tasks, monitoring compliance, and promoting a coordinated and participatory work environment; overseeing monitoring processes, data collection, and analysis to measure project results, effects, and impact; continuously monitoring project progress, identifying challenges, bottlenecks, risks, or issues affecting implementation, and making timely decisions to adjust as necessary; preparing and actively participating in technical committees and project steering committees, presenting reports, progress, challenges, and adjustment proposals; proactively informing WFP about progress, achievements, difficulties, and corrective measures taken; ensuring the participation and proper engagement of beneficiary communities, promoting inclusion, sustainability, and social ownership of the project; overseeing the implementation of the project's communication component, ensuring proper dissemination of progress, results, and best practices in coordination with WFP's communication units and Rotary; representing the project in technical and inter-institutional spaces to promote visibility, strategic dialogue, and coordination with key actors; systematically documenting best practices, lessons learned, and recommendations to contribute to the continuous improvement of the project and institutional knowledge generation; ensuring project sustainability and an orderly closure, promoting capacity transfer to partners, local institutions, and communities, and facilitating the continuity of initiated processes.

Required Qualifications:
The minimum standard qualifications for this position include: completion of secondary education; a university degree in economics, social sciences, political science, international relations, development cooperation, or related fields is desirable; a master's degree in areas related to development, public policy, governance, peacebuilding, project management, or similar fields is also desirable. Candidates should have a minimum of seven years of professional experience in coordinating, directing, or managing development and/or humanitarian projects, preferably with international cooperation agencies, United Nations, international NGOs, or public institutions. Proven experience (at least five years) in coordinating projects related to peacebuilding, social protection, socio-economic integration, or local development with a territorial and community focus is essential. Experience in comprehensive project management, including planning, technical execution, administrative and financial oversight, monitoring indicators, and reporting to donors is required. Candidates should also have experience in inter-institutional coordination and strategic relationships with local partners, government institutions, community organizations, the private sector, and international actors. Experience in leading multidisciplinary teams and supervising implementing partners/cooperatives, ensuring technical quality, achievement of objectives, and efficient resource use is also necessary.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have completed secondary education, with a university degree in relevant fields such as economics, social sciences, political science, international relations, or development cooperation being desirable. A master's degree in related areas such as development, public policy, governance, peacebuilding, or project management is also preferred.

Experience:
Candidates should possess a minimum of seven years of professional experience in project coordination, direction, or management, particularly in development and humanitarian contexts. This experience should ideally be with international cooperation agencies, United Nations, international NGOs, or public institutions. A proven track record of at least five years in coordinating projects related to peacebuilding, social protection, socio-economic integration, or local development is essential, along with comprehensive project management experience.

Languages:
Fluency in Spanish (oral and written) is mandatory. A high level of English (C1 or equivalent) is also required, with the ability to read and understand technical documents, prepare inputs in English, and engage in work-related conversations in international contexts being necessary.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Bogotá, Colombia, with a contract type of Service Contract (SC) for a duration of six months, with the possibility of extension subject to performance and funding availability. The level of the position is SC

• The announcement corresponds to a currently available vacancy in Bogotá, but aims to establish a roster of qualified candidates for future opportunities in other cities where operational needs may arise. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee immediate hiring but allows for candidates to be contacted for relevant new vacancies. WFP is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.