Programme Policy Officer (Blended Finance Specialist)

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 and employs thousands of staff members who are committed to the mission of eradicating hunger and improving security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security. WFP is recognized for its efforts in providing food assistance and is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, emphasizing its commitment to humanitarian work and the importance of collaboration with various partners to achieve its goals. WFP's vision includes fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities it serves, ensuring that all employees are treated with respect and dignity, and promoting equal employment opportunities regardless of race, gender, or background. WFP also invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through training, mentorship, and career advancement opportunities, making it a desirable workplace for individuals passionate about humanitarian work and social impact.

Job Overview:
The Programme Policy Officer (Blended Finance Specialist) will play a crucial role in the World Food Programme's efforts to enhance food systems resilience in the Philippines. This position focuses on designing and implementing blended finance solutions that align with national and local priorities, particularly for smallholder farmers and fisherfolk who are often vulnerable to climate and economic shocks. The specialist will be responsible for developing a blended finance facility that combines public funding, concessional finance, and private-sector investment to create sustainable financial products tailored to the needs of smallholders. This role requires a deep understanding of the financial landscape, the ability to conduct feasibility assessments, and the capacity to engage with various stakeholders, including government agencies, financial institutions, and local communities. The ultimate goal is to ensure that financing solutions are not only financially viable but also climate-smart and supportive of local development plans. The position demands a high level of independence and initiative to achieve programmatic objectives and to foster collaboration across different units and partners.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Blended Finance Specialist will report to the Head of Climate Change and Resilience and will be responsible for a variety of key tasks, including: designing a blended finance model that meets programmatic objectives; identifying partners to provide risk-sharing instruments; collaborating with financial service providers to develop bundled financial products; leading the development of technical guidelines for risk-sharing mechanisms; conducting market analysis and demand forecasting; ensuring compliance with national regulations; advocating for enabling frameworks for climate finance; coordinating the development of dashboards to track financial mobilization; engaging with stakeholders to co-develop financing solutions; providing technical advice on blended finance and financial inclusion; and contributing to internal guidance and knowledge products. The role requires strong project management skills, the ability to synthesize complex information, and effective communication with diverse stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong educational background and relevant experience in finance or development finance. A minimum of five years of postgraduate professional experience in blended finance, innovative financing, or impact investing is required. Proven experience in designing de-risking instruments for financial institutions and working with financial products is essential. Familiarity with institutional procurement, climate finance, and gender-responsive financing approaches is highly desirable. Strong analytical skills, project management capabilities, and the ability to engage with multiple stakeholders are critical for success in this role.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in Finance, Development Finance, Economics, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree with an additional two years of relevant work experience may be considered. Continuous professional development through trainings or courses related to finance and development is also beneficial.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of postgraduate professional experience in areas such as blended finance, development finance, or impact investing. Experience in project management, multi-stakeholder coordination, and establishing partnerships is essential. Familiarity with the financial sector in the Philippines and experience in assessing financial institutions' products and performance are also important.

Languages:
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are mandatory. Proficiency in Tagalog is considered an advantage, as it will facilitate communication with local stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
This position is a Service Contract (SC) at grade SC-10 and is limited to a duration of seven months. It is open exclusively to Filipino nationals. The role offers an attractive compensation package, and WFP emphasizes a commitment to diversity and inclusion in its hiring practices. The organization provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. Candidates are reminded to submit their applications exclusively through the online recruiting system, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further stages of the recruitment process.