Programme Policy Officer (Child Safeguarding and Child Protection Mainstreaming)

Organizational context: The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives and building a pathway to peace and prosperity. WFP operates in diverse and challenging environments, providing food assistance and addressing the impacts of conflict, disasters, and climate change. The organization values integrity, collaboration, commitment, humanity, and inclusion, fostering a multicultural and inclusive work environment.

Job purpose: The Programme Policy Officer (Child Safeguarding and Child Protection Mainstreaming) will play a crucial role in strengthening WFP's commitment to zero tolerance for child exploitation, abuse, and harm. This position will lead the development and operationalization of WFP's Child Safeguarding Framework, including the Executive Director's Circular, and provide technical support to integrate child protection considerations into programme design and implementation. The officer will ensure WFP assistance is delivered in a safe, inclusive, and child-sensitive manner, contributing to corporate guidance, capacity strengthening, and the translation of safeguarding commitments into practical operational approaches across various programme areas.

Responsibilities: The role involves leading the development and operationalization of the World Food Programme's (WFP) Child Safeguarding Framework. This includes drafting, revising, and gaining approval for an Executive Director's Circular on Child Safeguarding, and coordinating consultations with various internal and external stakeholders. Key responsibilities include developing supporting guidance, tools, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to implement the circular, and establishing governance and accountability mechanisms. The position also supports corporate learning initiatives and donor engagement on child safeguarding standards. A significant part of the role is strengthening the integration of child safeguarding and protection considerations into programme design and implementation, providing technical support to Country Offices, advising on child-sensitive programming across various areas like school meals and emergency assistance, and promoting risk analyses to identify child protection issues. Furthermore, the role focuses on enhancing capacity and learning within the Gender, Protection, and Inclusion (GPI) unit by supporting training on child safeguarding and people-centred approaches, identifying capacity gaps, and developing practical learning materials. Finally, it involves supporting the generation and dissemination of evidence on child safeguarding, fostering collaboration with child protection actors, and integrating these considerations into corporate frameworks and learning exchanges between Country Offices.

Education: A postgraduate qualification is required in fields such as development studies, gender, international development, sociology, or other related development areas.

Work experience: Requires a postgraduate qualification in development studies, gender, international development, sociology, or related fields. Must have at least 10 years of progressive experience in protection, with a minimum of 5 years focused on child protection technical assistance, program design, implementation, monitoring, reporting, or evidence generation. Experience in humanitarian settings and policy work is desirable. Proficiency in English is required; French is a plus.

Skills: Child Safeguarding, Child Protection Mainstreaming, Programme Design, Policy Development, Capacity Building, Training Delivery, Partnership Development, Evidence Generation, Humanitarian Assistance, Risk Analysis, Interpersonal Communication, Facilitation Skills, Technical Advisory, Guidance Development, Teamwork, Accountability, Proactive Initiative

Required languages: English, French

Desired languages: English, French