Business Support Assistant - Ditwa Response

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 individuals who are committed to the mission of alleviating hunger and promoting security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security. WFP's core values include Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion, which guide its operations and interactions with partners and communities. The organization has received numerous accolades for its work, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, highlighting its significant contributions to humanitarian efforts worldwide. WFP is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Job Overview:
The Business Support Assistant - Ditwa Response will play a crucial role within the emergency surge team, directly supervised by the Deputy Country Director. This position is integral to the humanitarian response framework, specifically aimed at delivering timely and effective assistance to communities impacted by Cyclone Ditwa and subsequent flooding. The incumbent will be responsible for supporting field operations in Badulla District, ensuring that program activities are executed efficiently and in accordance with organizational standards and emergency protocols. The role requires close collaboration with program and operational teams to maintain continuity of services, facilitate coordination, and uphold accountability throughout the emergency response process. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to WFP's mission and values while effectively managing the demands of a dynamic and challenging work environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key responsibilities of the Business Support Assistant include providing essential support for emergency response operations, ensuring the smooth functioning of surge activities. This involves collecting, sorting, and disseminating correspondence, reports, and other materials promptly to meet the urgent demands of the Ditwa Cyclone response. The incumbent will respond to routine queries and escalate critical issues to ensure timely and accurate service during the emergency surge period. Additionally, the role includes maintaining office files, documents, and records in accordance with established systems and processes, ensuring that information is current and readily available for response teams. The assistant will undertake standard data entry tasks to maintain organized and accessible information for emergency operations and assist in logistical arrangements for field missions, meetings, and events related to the Ditwa emergency response. Other related duties may be assigned by the supervisor to support ongoing emergency relief efforts.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must have completed secondary school education and possess three or more years of experience in general administrative work. The role requires a high level of integrity and the ability to maintain confidentiality, as well as proficiency in standard office equipment and MS Office applications. Candidates should demonstrate sensitivity towards ground-level situations and community needs, along with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as a team player. Attention to detail is crucial for identifying data discrepancies, and the ability to work to deadlines while following clear instructions is essential. Strong oral and written communication skills in Sinhala and/or Tamil and English are mandatory, with prior experience in WFP sensitization work during emergencies being highly desirable.

Educational Background:
The minimum educational requirement for this position is the completion of secondary school education. This foundational education is essential for understanding the administrative tasks and responsibilities associated with the role, as well as for effective communication and coordination within the team and with external stakeholders.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of experience in general administrative work. This experience should ideally include exposure to emergency response operations, providing the candidate with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of humanitarian assistance and support the operational needs of the organization during critical times.

Languages:
Proficiency in Sinhala and/or Tamil and English is mandatory for this position. Strong communication skills in these languages are essential for effective interaction with local communities and stakeholders, as well as for collaboration with team members. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not required.

Additional Notes:
This position is open exclusively to Sri Lankan nationals, and applications must be submitted by the deadline of 18 February 202

• The role is full-time and involves working within a dynamic and challenging environment, responding to the immediate needs of communities affected by disasters. WFP offers an attractive compensation package, and candidates are encouraged to apply through the online recruitment system, as CVs or spontaneous applications via email will not be accepted. The organization is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.