Food Security Cluster - Sector Coordination

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

27 July 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 West Africa Standard Time (Bangui)

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ABOUT WFP
The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.
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WHY JOIN WFP?

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

Background and Purpose

The Food Security Cluster/Sector Coordinator (CC) plays a vital role in ensuring timely, coherent and effective food security interventions by mobilizing and supporting stakeholders to deliver a coordinated and strategic response to a humanitarian crisis. The role of the Food Security Cluster Coordinator, as set out in the IASC Generic Terms of Reference and the main core functions, is to lead food security coordination along with the support team (includes an Information Management Officer (IMO), but may vary according to country specific situation) and a wide range of stakeholders in:

1. Facilitating a timely, coherent effective and coordinated food security response by mobilizing stakeholders in a strategic manner

2. Enhancing coordination through the reinforcement of linkages and synergies between relevant food security actors as well as between humanitarian and development partners

3. Ensuring that food security is appropriately represented in the overall humanitarian response

4. Supporting service delivery

5. Informing strategic decisions of the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and Humanitarian Country Team (HCT)/Country Management Team (CMT)

6. Coordinating and Planning Cluster strategies, including contingency planning and preparedness

7. Monitoring and Evaluating Cluster/Sector performance

8. Building national and FSC members capacity in relevant areas

9. Supporting advocacy for food security needs

10. Accountability to affected people

The Food Security Cluster/Sector Coordinator will work impartially with all members of the Food Security Cluster (FSC) and represents all members of the group equally, and as a whole. S/he will work closely with the UN Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator and the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) or their designated official, and with all other humanitarian stakeholders including other cluster leads.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the Food Security Cluster/Sector: actively ensure membership and engagement of key partners at national and sub-national level, organize regular cluster meetings, and ensure overall coordination of the food response in an emergency.
• Establish an inclusive governance structure for the FSC (including co-leadership with national authorities where possible, establishing a Strategic Advisory Group, inviting NGO to co-chair)
• Contribute to the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) and Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) by managing the process for the FSC supported by the IMO, with inputs from, and in close consultation with, the cluster partners.
• Ensure monitoring of the FS response (for both quantitative and qualitative aspects), and report on its implementation
• Ensure timely, inclusive and regular information sharing and discussion with the cluster partners through various modalities including cluster meetings, email dissemination of cluster products (dashboards, maps, assessments, etc.) and establishment of relevant technical working groups.
• Facilitate and support needs assessments such as EFSA /CFSAM/SMART/MIRA, etc, and actively promote the analysis and utilization of this information for decision-making
• Coordinate and promote mainstreaming of cross-cutting and cross-sectoral issues (e.g. gender, age, HIV and AIDS, human rights, disability, environment, early recovery, protection, nutrition) and appropriate participatory and community-based approaches in cluster/inter-cluster needs assessments, analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring
• Actively promote the application of common standards (e.g. SPHERE standards and CHS), and harmonization of programmatic responses (SOPs on modality of delivery, Minimum Expenditure Basket, minimum assistance package)
• Contribute to country level contingency planning and coordinate cluster/sector-wide emergency preparedness and response
• Ensure the development of regular food security reports (Sitreps, Bulletins, newsletters, etc.)
• Undertake advocacy and resource mobilization on behalf of the FSC partners in a neutral and impartial manner.
• Contribute to the effective management of country based pooled funding schemes by leading the process for the FSC
• Identify funding for the FSC team in order to have a running FSC, in close collaboration with the Cluster Lead Agencies (FAO and WFP). Actively track FSC funding status in consultation with CLAs to ensure continuity of operations
• Identify capacity gaps and needs and provide training and capacity building opportunities to FSC partners
• Supervise and guide the IMO and provide guidance to the co-chair and other Cluster team members, ensure a smooth and inclusive relationship of the Cluster team with all partners, and report regularly to the CLAs
• Together with the IMO, support gFSC initiatives such as CCPM (Cluster Coordination Performance Monitoring) and the global cluster annual overview.

Deliverables

Food Security needs analysis and response plan Food Security Cluster/Sector workplan with key deliverables Cluster-relevant Contingency plans, SOPs and harmonized packages Multi-sector joint planning with other clusters, as relevant Food security sitrep, newsletters/bulletins (stand-alone and inter-sector) Advocacy notes and round table meetings minutes (with key actors, such as donors, government) if relevant FSC resource mobilization strategy and business case Handover report with shared folder with documents at the end of the assignment

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in food security, agriculture, economics, humanitarian affairs or related field.
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in humanitarian response at a mid or senior level. Experience in food security related topics is mandatory and experience with inter-agency coordination is desirable
• Working knowledge of English; knowledge of another UN language based on country of deployment (French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese).

Technical/Functional Skills

• Ability to work and plan at both operational and strategic level;
• Understanding of the international humanitarian response architecture, including humanitarian principles, coordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform and action, and funding mechanisms (e.g. Humanitarian Programme Cycle - HPC, Central Emergency Response Fund and Flash Appeals, Pooled funds);
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context.
• Ability to express and summarise ideas orally and in writing in a diplomatic and inclusive manner;
• Ability to interact with a number of different stakeholders and represent the FSC in strategic meetings and discussions;
• Ability to lead workshops, meetings and to present outcomes on behalf of a group of stakeholders;
• Good understanding of FS Assessments, Survey, and Monitoring and Evaluation

Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
• Cultural and Gender awareness and sensitivity

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.
• We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
• If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.
• At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.