Risk & Compliance Officer, NOB

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, established to save lives in emergencies and to use food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. WFP operates in numerous countries around the globe, focusing on alleviating hunger and promoting sustainable development. The organization is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. WFP has a strong emphasis on creating a healthy and inclusive work environment, guided by its core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion. The organization has received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, highlighting its significant contributions to humanitarian efforts worldwide. WFP invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training and mentorship programs, ensuring that they are well-equipped to meet the challenges of their roles and contribute effectively to the organization's mission.

Job Overview:
The Risk & Compliance Officer will play a crucial role in supporting the establishment of risk management activities within the WFP Malawi office. This position is integral to ensuring compliance with policies and procedures, enhancing the overall effectiveness of operations, and optimizing the use of WFP resources. The officer will report directly to the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Country Director and will be responsible for embedding risk management into planning and decision-making processes across all aspects of WFP operations. This includes monitoring key risk appetite metrics, updating risk registers, and coordinating risk assessments in collaboration with relevant managers. The role requires a proactive approach to identifying and evaluating risks, developing mitigation strategies, and preparing risk information for management and external stakeholders. The officer will also contribute to training programs aimed at enhancing understanding of risk management and compliance among colleagues and partners, ensuring that WFP's policies and regulations are adhered to effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Risk & Compliance Officer will have a diverse set of responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Contributing to the integration of risk management into the planning and decision-making processes of the WFP office.
• Monitoring key risk appetite metrics and updating risk registers regularly.
• Coordinating the collection and analysis of feedback on risk performance and proposing new implementation approaches.
• Supporting managers in conducting regular and ad hoc risk assessments to identify and evaluate risks, develop mitigation actions, and assess the effectiveness of internal controls.
• Preparing risk information for management to share with external stakeholders.
• Engaging with functional experts and risk management focal points to identify trends and emerging issues.
• Assisting in the preparation of guidance and checklists in line with WFP policies for risk and control assessments.
• Utilizing risk management tools to link risk, oversight, and evaluation information.
• Contributing to the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for managing risk and accountability processes. 1
• Preparing comprehensive reports on compliance with internal controls and key oversight themes. 1
• Supporting the annual Executive Director’s Assurance exercise survey and preparing for internal and external audits. 1
• Promoting adherence to the Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy and assisting in fraud risk assessments. 1
• Performing other duties as required, including potentially serving as a focal point for Business Continuity Management and Organizational Conflicts of Interest.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for the Risk & Compliance Officer position must possess a strong understanding of governance, organizational structures, and strategies of international organizations. They should have experience in program/project management and be familiar with monitoring and reporting activities, including knowledge of performance metrics and measurement. Additionally, candidates should have participated in risk analysis and mitigation strategy development, demonstrating analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving skills. A background in assessing and recommending effective internal controls and mitigation actions is preferred, especially in organizations utilizing modern enterprise risk management frameworks.

Educational Background:
The educational requirements for this position include an advanced university degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Audit, or related fields. Alternatively, candidates with a first university degree in these subjects, combined with additional years of relevant work experience and/or training in audit, performance, and risk management, will also be considered. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate has the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively manage risk and compliance within the organization.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least three years of post-graduate professional experience in finance, audit, and risk management, with a particular interest in international humanitarian development. This experience is crucial for understanding the complexities of risk management in a humanitarian context and for effectively contributing to the organization's mission.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, with a proficiency level of C. This is essential for effective communication within the organization and with external stakeholders. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position is a fixed-term contract for a duration of 12 months, with the possibility of renewal. It is a full-time role based in Lilongwe, Malawi. The WFP is committed to recruiting internationally and provides an attractive compensation package, which will be detailed in the Terms and Conditions section of the vacancy announcement. The organization also emphasizes the importance of providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.