Programme Policy Officer (Child Safeguarding and Child Protection Mainstreaming)

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 vision emphasizes diversity and inclusion, ensuring that its workforce reflects the communities it serves. The organization has received numerous accolades, including the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing its efforts to combat hunger and promote security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security globally. WFP is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment that values the contributions of all employees, regardless of their background or identity.

Job Overview:
The Programme Policy Officer (Child Safeguarding and Child Protection Mainstreaming) will play a crucial role in enhancing WFP's approach to child safeguarding and integrating child protection considerations into design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design and implementation. This position is vital in response to increasing donor expectations and emerging safeguarding standards within the humanitarian sector. The officer will lead the development and institutionalization of WFP's Child Safeguarding Framework, ensuring that the organization upholds its commitment to zero tolerance for child exploitation, abuse, and harm. The role involves providing technical support to strengthen child protection mainstreaming across various program areas, ensuring that WFP assistance is delivered in a safe, inclusive, and child-sensitive manner. The officer will work closely with the Design and Capacity Strengthening Team in the Gender Protection and Inclusion Unit, focusing on translating safeguarding commitments into operational practices that enhance the safety and well-being of children in WFP's programs.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key accountabilities and responsibilities of the Programme Policy Officer include:

• Leading the development and operationalization of WFP's Child Safeguarding Framework, including drafting, revising, and facilitating the approval process for the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Executive Director's Circular on Child Safeguarding.
• Coordinating consultations with various stakeholders, including HQ divisions, Regional Bureaux, Country Offices, and external partners to ensure comprehensive input and collaboration.
• Developing supporting guidance, tools, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and implementation materials necessary for the operationalization of the Circular.
• Establishing governance, accountability, and implementation arrangements for child safeguarding within WFP's operations.
• Contributing to corporate learning and awareness-raising initiatives related to child safeguarding, ensuring that all staff are informed and trained on these critical issues.
• Engaging with donors and partners to uphold child safeguarding commitments and standards across WFP's programs.
• Providing technical support to Country Offices in integrating child safeguarding and child protection considerations into program design and implementation, ensuring that relevant risks and opportunities are addressed.
• Advising on child-sensitive program design across various areas, including school meals, resilience, emergency assistance, and social protection.
• Promoting the use of integrated context and risk analyses to identify risks affecting children and opportunities to enhance program quality. 1
• Supporting the integration of child safeguarding and child protection considerations into People-Centred Approaches (PCA) trainings and related capacity-strengthening initiatives. 1
• Delivering and supporting trainings on child safeguarding, child protection mainstreaming, safe referrals, and people-centred programming. 1
• Collaborating with Regional and Country Office colleagues to identify capacity gaps and learning priorities, and developing practical tools and guidance for Country Offices and partners. 1
• Generating and disseminating evidence on child safeguarding and child protection mainstreaming across WFP operations, strengthening collaboration with specialized child protection actors, UN agencies, and NGOs. 1
• Contributing to the integration of child safeguarding and child protection considerations in corporate frameworks, including minimum standards and the Corporate Strategic Plan (CSP). 1
• Supporting learning and exchange between Country Offices on best practices and operational innovations related to child safeguarding.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Programme Policy Officer position include:

• A postgraduate qualification in development studies, gender, international development, sociology, or other development-related fields.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in protection, with a minimum of 5 years focused on providing technical assistance, program design, implementation, monitoring, reporting, or evidence generation on child protection.
• Previous experience working in emergency and humanitarian settings, demonstrating the ability to navigate complex environments effectively.
• Familiarity with WFP operations, including providing technical support in Gender Protection and Inclusion (GPI) initiatives, is highly desirable.
• Experience in policy development and implementation is also beneficial.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a postgraduate degree in relevant fields such as development studies, gender studies, international development, sociology, or other related disciplines. This educational background is essential to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding child safeguarding and protection in humanitarian contexts.

Experience:
The position requires a significant level of experience, specifically at least 10 years in progressively responsible roles within the protection sector. Out of these, a minimum of 5 years should be dedicated to providing technical assistance, program design, implementation, monitoring, reporting, or evidence generation focused on child protection. Candidates should have a proven track record of working in emergency and humanitarian settings, which is crucial for understanding the unique challenges faced in these environments. Previous exposure to WFP operations and experience in policy development are also highly valued.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within WFP and with external stakeholders. Proficiency in French is considered desirable, as it may enhance communication and collaboration with French-speaking partners and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is a Regular Consultant level II role, with a duration of 11 months. The assignment is home-based, allowing for flexibility in work arrangements. WFP emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. The organization offers an attractive compensation package, which will be detailed in the Terms and Conditions section of the vacancy announcement. WFP is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. All applications must be submitted through WFP's online recruiting system, and candidates are advised to ensure their profiles are complete and accurate before applying.