Programme Associate (Sustainable School Feeding), SC-6

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

24 July 2026-23:59-GMT+02:00 Central Africa Time (Kigali)

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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).

JOB TITLE: Programme Associate (Sustainable School Feeding)
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Service Contract, Level 6
UNIT/DIVISION: Karongi Field Office
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Karongi, Rwanda
DURATION: 12 months, with possibility of extension, subject to successful performance and availability of funds.

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency fighting hunger. WFP reaches more than 150 million people per year - delivering humanitarian food assistance and working with smallholder farmers, communities, and governments to improve nutrition and build resilience to crises. As conflict, climate change and economic shocks drive up the number of hungry people in Eastern Africa, finding innovative solutions to the complex humanitarian and development challenges in the region is essential, now perhaps more than ever.
In Rwanda, WFP supports the Government with its ambitious goals to ensure food security and nutrition and equitable access to sustainable livelihoods for all. In this effort, WFP Rwanda works closely with diverse stakeholders to provide general food and nutrition assistance to over 135,000 refugees, asylum seekers and returnees; to strengthen national disaster risk management, social protection, school meals and nutrition programmes; to transform food systems; and to support emergency preparedness and response.

JOB PURPOSE:
To provide effective specialized support and technical analyses to policy and programme activities that effectively meet food assistance needs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive):

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Field Office, and technical supervision of Sustainable School feeding (SSF) Project Manager in Kigali, the Programme Associate will be responsible for providing effective specialized support and technical analyses to policy and programme activities linked to the SSF Programme within the delegated authority. Specifically, the Programme Associate will be responsible for the following key duties:

• Provide technical support and assist in the development and implementation of various activities and processes linked to the SSF Programme at the field office level, supporting alignment with wider programme policies and guidelines.
• Act as a focal point for all SSF-related field activities under the Karongi FO, in close consultation with the WFP field office and country office (CO) school feeding unit.
• Provide specialized project management support to specific and/or defined programmes to ensure that the various activities are performed within the established targets following WFP’s policies and procedures.
• Within the specific area of responsibility, prepare a range of reports and data analysis (e.g. food assistance needs, resource utilization, programme status, performance) and highlight trends/issues ensuring deliverables adhere to corporate standards and quality control.
• Ensure and/or perform accurate, timely recording of data within the specific technical area of work (e.g. assistance programmes, food security and vulnerability assessments) and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
• Liaise with internal counterparts to support effective collaboration, implementation and oversight of ongoing project activities.
• Coordinate and communicate with local partners, agencies, NGOs, government institutions and JADF to perform SSF-related activities in a timely and effective manner.
• Support the capacity building of WFP staff, implementing partners, school staff, and district/sector government within the specific technical area.
• Act as a point of contact for resolution of a range of operational queries and problems related to SSF support within the geographic area of responsibility.
• Attend and actively participate, together with the Head of Field Office, in the quarterly district technical level committee meeting on school feeding and the district-level school feeding committees
• Attend and actively participate, together with the Head of Field Office, in the quarterly planning and evaluation meetings for the Joint Action Development Forum (JADF), specifically advocating for School feeding programme inclusion in planning and evaluation, community mobilization and resource allocation.
• Facilitate monthly meetings at the field level with implementing partners and district coordinators.
• Coordinate quarterly joint oversight visits in the field with all relevant implementing partners and district coordinators.

OTHER POST REQUIREMENTS:

• Demonstrates ability to identify key variables and contextual factors that affect programme implementation throughout the lifecycle to inform quality programme design or re-design.
• Demonstrates ability to implement, under guidance, food assistance programmes deploying the full range of transfer modalities with an understanding of basic principles guiding modality selection and implementation.
• Understands basic technical concepts and data and their relevance to the school Feeding programme.
• Displays capacity to provide inputs into the development, implementation, and realignment of the programme.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES:

Capability Name:
Programme Lifecycle & FoodAssistance

Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level:
Demonstrates ability to identify key variables and contextual factors that affect food assistance problems and programmes throughout the lifecycle to inform quality programme design or re-design.

Capability Name:
Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash,Vouchers)

Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level:
Demonstrates ability to implement, under guidance, food assistance programmes deploying the full range of transfer modalities with an understanding of basic principles guiding modality selection and implementation

Capability Name:
Broad Knowledge of Specialized Areas

Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level
Understands basic technical concepts and data and their relevance to food assistance programmes.

Capability Name:
Emergency Programming

Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level:
Displays capacity to provide inputs into the development, implementation and realignment of high quality emergency programmes.

Capability Name:
Strategic Policy Engagement w/Government

Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level:
Understands and applies basic principles of engagement with government counterparts at the national or local level.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• Has worked with technical teams (e.g., related to nutrition, education, VAM, or other relevant areas)
• Has contributed to implementation of programmes.
• Has experience working in remote areas
• Has observed or assisted with policy discussions.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to develop and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders, conveying an informed and professional demeanour toward internal and external partners and stakeholders

STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

Bachelor’s University degree in education, Nutrition, Project Management, Agriculture, International Development, International Relations, Sociology, or other related fields

Experience:

At least 6 years of relevant experience in relevant fields

Language:

Fluency (Level C) in both oral and written communication in English and Kinyarwanda

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

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

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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.