Programme Policy Officer - School Feeding

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 is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. The organization has received numerous accolades, including the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, 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 worldwide. WFP's mission is driven by its core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion, which guide its operations and interactions with partners and communities.

Job Overview:
The Programme Policy Officer for School Feeding will play a crucial role in supporting the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) in Mozambique, particularly in the implementation and scaling of the National School Feeding Programme (PRONAE). This position involves providing strategic and technical support to enhance the effectiveness of school feeding initiatives, ensuring that they align with national objectives and contribute to the overall improvement of educational outcomes. The officer will be responsible for coordinating multi-stakeholder engagement, managing external technical assistance, and ensuring high-quality outputs in various thematic areas such as financing, communications, and monitoring. The role requires a strong analytical mindset to develop reports and strategic outputs that inform decision-making and advance the national school feeding agenda. The officer will also be involved in resource mobilization efforts and will work closely with government counterparts to facilitate the transition towards a more efficient operational model for school feeding.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Programme Policy Officer will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Leading the coordination and quality assurance of external technical assistance services, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality outputs across key thematic areas.
• Managing relationships with external service providers and consultancy firms, ensuring alignment with agreed scopes of work and quality standards.
• Providing strategic guidance to the MEC on the design and implementation of technical assistance activities, ensuring coherence with PRONAE objectives.
• Developing analytical products and strategic outputs, including reports and evidence-based materials required under the Technical Assistance framework.
• Organizing and managing key events, workshops, and missions to support technical assistance implementation.
• Contributing to the strategic positioning of school feeding within the education sector and other coordination mechanisms.
• Supporting resource mobilization efforts and reporting for technical assistance activities and broader school feeding initiatives.
• Building the capacity of WFP national staff through coaching and on-the-job training to enhance their responsibilities in programme management.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in international relations, economics, social sciences, or other relevant fields. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of five years of post-graduate professional experience, particularly in working closely with government and partners on school feeding programmes. Knowledge of food security, school feeding, and school health and nutrition is essential. Experience working with Mozambican national institutions and in a multicultural team environment is highly valued. Excellent reporting skills are also required to effectively communicate findings and recommendations.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree in relevant fields such as international relations, economics, social sciences, or similar disciplines. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the complexities of food security and educational policies, as well as for engaging effectively with various stakeholders involved in school feeding initiatives.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have at least five years of post-graduate professional experience. This experience should include specific involvement in school feeding programmes and collaboration with government entities and partners. Candidates should demonstrate a strong understanding of the operational and strategic aspects of implementing school feeding initiatives, as well as experience in managing multi-stakeholder engagements and technical assistance.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and Portuguese is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication with government counterparts, stakeholders, and partners involved in the school feeding programme. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not required.

Additional Notes:
The contract type for this position is CST Level I, with a duty station in Maputo, Mozambique. The duration of the contract is six months. Female-qualified candidates are highly encouraged to apply, reflecting WFP's commitment to gender equality and diversity in the workplace. The application deadline is set for 26 July 2026, and candidates are reminded that all applications must be submitted through WFP's online recruiting system. The organization does not charge any fees during the recruitment process, and reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities.