Programme Policy Officer (School Meals)

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 its mission. WFP's core values include Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion, and it strives to create a diverse and inclusive work environment. The organization has received numerous accolades, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, recognizing its efforts in combating hunger and promoting security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security globally. WFP is committed to personal and professional development for its employees, offering various training and mobility opportunities, and aims to ensure effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions worldwide.

Job Overview:
The Programme Policy Officer (School Meals) position is crucial for the operational success of the McGovern-Dole School Meals programme, which aims to provide nutritious meals to school-aged children in Pakistan. The officer will be stationed at the WFP Country Office in Islamabad and will play a key role in supporting provincial-level operational planning, ensuring timely implementation of the programme, and facilitating monitoring and evaluation processes. This role involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Project Manager and other Programme Policy Officers, to ensure that the school meals initiative aligns with WFP and USDA policies. The officer will also be responsible for developing data gathering and monitoring systems to maintain high-quality standards across the programme, contributing to policy development, and preparing reports for stakeholders. The overarching goal of the programme is to improve enrollment, attendance, literacy, and health outcomes for children while supporting the provincial government in establishing a sustainable school meals framework.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist the Project Manager and Head of School Meals in developing plans and processes for school meals, ensuring alignment with WFP and USDA policies.
• Provide project management support for all school meals activities, ensuring alignment and complementarity of approaches and reporting results.
• Collaborate with M&E teams to develop data gathering and monitoring systems for the programme, ensuring rigorous quality standards.
• Conduct research and analysis on policy and operational issues to inform the development of governance documents for managing school meals programmes.
• Prepare accurate and timely reports on programme activities to facilitate informed decision-making among stakeholders.
• Liaise with Supply Chain teams for procurement and commodity tracking.
• Identify and manage partnerships at the country office level for school meals initiatives.
• Support capacity building for WFP staff, partners, and provincial governments in developing policies and guidelines for school meals.
• Undertake any other tasks relevant to the position.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 1 year of post-graduate professional or managerial experience, preferably in a government ministry or department. Experience in preparing technical documents such as MoUs, SOPs, and guidance materials is essential. Previous experience working with the UN or other international agencies in Pakistan is highly desirable. Strong writing skills and the ability to lead document preparation are crucial, along with diplomatic and negotiation skills.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in Political Science, International Development, Development Economics, International Relations, Law, Marketing, Communications, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first university degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience and/or training may be accepted.

Experience:
The position requires at least 1 year of relevant professional experience, particularly in roles related to government operations or international development. Candidates should have experience in project management and policy development, ideally within the context of school meal programs or similar initiatives.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Urdu is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
This is a fixed-term contract for 12 months, with the possibility of extension. The position is open exclusively to Pakistani nationals. WFP offers a competitive benefits package, including salary, pension, medical insurance, and various types of leave. All educational documents must be verified by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, and appointment is contingent upon submission of HEC-verified degrees. The role is based in Islamabad, Pakistan, and involves collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the school meals programme.