Programme Policy Officer (Cooperating Partners Management)

The Programme Policy Officer provides technical guidance, policy advice, and regional field support to Country Offices on partnership management, assurance, and capacity strengthening to ensure compliance with WFP corporate policies and risk management frameworks. The role supports programme quality and accountability through advisory services and operational field support across multiple regions including West, Central Africa, and Latin America and Caribbean.

Responsibilities

• Interpret, adapt and support the implementation of WFP corporate policies, guidance and normative frameworks related to NGO partnerships, assurance, localization and programme risk management.
• Provide technical advice to Country Offices on moderately complex partnership and programme quality issues, clarifying policy ambiguities and supporting compliant, risk-informed operational solutions.
• Provide ongoing regional field support to WACARO and LACRO Country Offices and other regions as needed, including remote and mission-based support, to address partnership, assurance and compliance challenges.
• Support Country Offices in the planning and management of operational partnerships, including partner selection, engagement modalities, capacity assessments and oversight arrangements.
• Follow up on assurance standards, spot checks, audit follow-up and compliance mechanisms, supporting Country Offices to address audit recommendations and mitigate operational and fiduciary risks.
• Review and contribute with technical input on partnership-related documentation and submissions to ensure alignment with corporate requirements.
• Provide technical advice to Country Offices on assurance, risk mitigation, and compliance considerations related to government-implementing partnerships and other non-NGO delivery modalities, in line with corporate guidance.
• Support the design and implementation of partner capacity strengthening initiatives aligned with WFP’s localization commitments, assurance requirements, and operational priorities.
• Contribute to the development, refinement and dissemination of tools, guidance notes and learning materials related to partnerships, assurance and compliance.
• Promote practical, evidence-based approaches to capacity strengthening that balance accountability requirements with partner realities.
• Promote the use of evidence, lessons learned and field feedback to inform technical advice, policy application and programme improvement.
• Support Country Offices in adopting risk-informed approaches to partnership and programme management across emergency and non-emergency contexts.
• Contribute to analytical products, briefing notes and internal reports related to programme quality, partnerships and assurance.
• Act as a technical focal point for partnership, assurance and capacity strengthening issues for WACARO and LACRO Country Offices, liaising with Regional hubs and Headquarters units to ensure coherent and consistent advice.
• Participate in regional workshops, webinars and coordination fora related to partnerships, assurance, programme quality and localization.
• Maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and partners as required.
• Provide technical supervision, coaching and quality assurance support to junior staff and consultants within the area of responsibility.
• Contribute to knowledge management by documenting good practices, lessons learned and emerging operational issues.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in international affairs, business administration, social sciences, development studies, or a related field; or an advanced university degree with an additional two (2) years of relevant professional experience and/or professional development.
• At least three years of post-graduate, progressively responsible professional experience in development or humanitarian contexts, including at least two (2) years in international field settings.
• Demonstrated experience integrating operational partnership considerations into programme design, implementation, and oversight across humanitarian–development–peace contexts.
• Demonstrated experience engaging at a strategic level with cross-functional teams to translate policy into operational practice and to advance organizational priorities and advocacy.
• Proven experience facilitating workshops, delivering training, and supporting capacity strengthening initiatives for country offices and field operations.
• Strong understanding of the social, cultural, and political contexts shaping programme and partnership implementation in the WACARO and LACRO regions.
• Experience providing technical guidance and advisory support to diverse audiences, including country office teams, senior management, and regional technical units.
• Experience in emergency settings (desirable).
• Strong knowledge and practical application of localization, country capacity strengthening, people-centred approaches, conflict sensitivity, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA).
• Knowledge of risk management, internal control frameworks, and assurance principles, with ability to support risk-informed programme and partnership decision-making.
• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and independently, contributing to team environments and providing contextual, demand driven support across units and functions.
• Ability to interact respectfully and productively with individuals from diverse national, cultural, and professional backgrounds, including those with varying levels of experience and seniority.
• Strong organizational and planning skills, with ability to set priorities, coordinate tasks, and adapt to evolving assignments and unforeseen challenges.
• Effective communication and negotiation skills.
• Understanding of the United Nations system and the roles of its various agencies in advancing localization and related themes.
• Strong analytical and writing skills in both French and English, possibly in Spanish in addition.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); knowledge of tools such as Canva or SPSS would be an asset.
• Flexibility to travel frequently and on short notice, as required by the assignment.
• Fluent (level C) verbal and written English and French are required.
• Working knowledge of Spanish (level B or above) would be advantageous.

Skills

• Operational Partnership Management
• Programme Design
• Programme Implementation
• Programme Oversight
• Humanitarian-Development-Peace Integration
• Strategic Engagements
• Policy Translation
• Advocacy
• Workshop Facilitation
• Training Delivery
• Capacity Strengthening
• Contextual Analysis
• Technical Guidance
• Advisory Support
• Localization
• Country Capacity Strengthening
• People-Centred Approaches
• Conflict Sensitivity
• Protection from Sexual Exploitation
• Risk Management
• Internal Control Framework
• Assurance Principles
• Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
• Organizational Planning
• Task Coordination
• Communications Skills
• Negotiation Skills
• United Nations System Knowledge
• Analytical Writing
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Canva
• SPSS

Languages

English, French, Spanish