JOB TITLE & GRADE LEVEL: Programme Policy Officer (Climate Resilience Specialist), SC8

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Service Contract (SC)

UNIT/DIVISION: Programme Unit – Integrated Resilience Programme

DUTY STATION (City, Country): Lilongwe, Malawi

REPORTS TO: Activity Manager, Integrated Resilience Programme

DURATION: 12 months (Renewable)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide. WFP Malawi is undergoing a strategic repositioning aimed at strengthening its alignment with national priorities, enhancing inter-agency collaboration, and supporting the Government of Malawi in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, with a particular emphasis on Zero Hunger (SDG 2), in line with Malawi Vision 2063 and its first ten-year implementation plan (MIP-1).

WFP’s Malawi Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2024–2028 seeks to ensure the food and nutrition security of vulnerable people and communities while building resilience through the transformation of food systems. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2024–2028, the CSP sets out five mutually reinforcing outcomes and continues WFP’s strategic shift from direct implementer to enabler of nationally owned, sustainable systems, with phased handover of interventions informed by capacity assessments.

Malawi faces increasing climate-related challenges, including erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, floods, cyclones and rising temperatures, which significantly threaten food security, livelihoods and community resilience. These shocks exacerbate the vulnerabilities of rural households, disrupt agricultural production and heighten the risk of hunger and malnutrition, undermining progress towards Zero Hunger (SDG 2).

In response, WFP Malawi implements an Integrated Resilience Programme under CSP Outcome 3 (Activity 5), which addresses the root causes of food insecurity and builds sustainable food systems. Leveraging its field presence and partnerships, WFP delivers Food Assistance for Assets (FFA), the Integrated Risk Management Programme (IRMP), Smallholder Agriculture Market Support (SAMS) and the Zero Hunger Village (ZHV) model through a coordinated and mutually reinforcing approach. This work links to anticipatory action and shock-responsive social protection under Outcome 1 and to national capacity strengthening in climate services and early warning under Outcome 4. WFP Malawi also co-leads the UNSDCF strategic priority area on adapting to climate change, reversing environmental degradation and supporting energy transition.

JOB PURPOSE:

To advance this agenda, WFP Malawi seeks to recruit a Programme Policy Officer (Climate Resilience Specialist) to provide technical leadership and oversight for WFP Malawi’s climate adaptation portfolio, particularly projects funded through climate finance mechanisms, ensuring evidence-based design, compliant and timely implementation, robust monitoring and strong partnerships, so that climate adaptation interventions protect and strengthen food systems, livelihoods and nutrition outcomes for vulnerable populations.

THE ROLE:

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Activity Manager, Integrated Resilience Programme, and in collaboration with the country office leadership, the RAM/M&E, Supply Chain, Finance, Partnerships, Gender & Protection and Safeguards teams, and the sub-offices, the Programme Policy Officer (Climate Resilience Specialist) will ensure that gender equality, protection, AAP and environmental and social safeguards are systematically mainstreamed across all climate resilience and adaptation interventions, and will:

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):

A. Strategic leadership and portfolio management

• Provide technical leadership on climate adaptation and mitigation across the adaptation portfolio, ensuring alignment with the WFP Strategic Plan, the CSP, Government policies and donor requirements.
• Lead annual and multi-year work planning, budgeting, risk management and results tracking for climate resilience projects and the Zero Hunger Village model.
• Coordinate with internal teams (Programme, RAM/M&E, Supply Chain, Finance, Partnerships, Gender & Protection, Safeguards) to ensure integrated delivery.

B. Project design, implementation and compliance

• Oversee day-to-day implementation of climate adaptation projects and the ZHV model, guiding field teams and cooperating partners on climate-smart interventions such as climate services, anticipatory action, climate-resilient livelihoods, watershed management, ecosystem restoration, water security and shock-responsive systems.
• Ensure compliance with donor policies and standards (e.g., Adaptation Fund, Green Climate Fund), WFP governance, Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS), risk management, fiduciary requirements, visibility and audit readiness.
• Develop and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), technical guidance and operational tools for climate activities.

C. Government and stakeholder engagement

• Serve as technical focal point with Government (e.g., the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services), UN agencies, IFIs, NGOs, academia and the private sector.
• Support policy dialogue, coordination platforms (e.g., climate working groups) and alignment with national frameworks, including the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), National Adaptation Plan (NAP), disaster risk management policy and sector strategies.
• Strengthen the capacity of government and community institutions in climate risk management and adaptation.
• Support the preparation of field level agreements and memoranda of understanding with NGO partners and government departments.

D. Monitoring, evaluation, evidence and learning

• Lead the development and implementation of results frameworks, M&E plans, baselines, midlines, endlines and learning agendas for climate projects.
• Ensure the integration of climate risk analytics (e.g., vulnerability mapping, seasonal forecasts, early warning data), outcome monitoring and cost-effectiveness/value-for-money assessments.
• Produce high-quality donor and corporate reports, knowledge products, case studies and lessons learned, and facilitate adaptive management.

E. Integration of cross-cutting priorities

• Mainstream gender, protection/AAP, disability inclusion and youth in design and delivery, ensuring meaningful participation and equitable benefit.
• Apply ESS instruments, grievance redress mechanisms and safeguards monitoring, ensuring do-no-harm and conflict sensitivity.
• Promote nutrition- and market-sensitive approaches within climate programming and, where relevant, link to social protection systems.

F. Partnerships, resource mobilisation and communications

• Support proposal development, concept notes and resource mobilisation for climate resilience, including the Green Climate Fund and other climate funds.
• Manage technical contributions to donor briefings, visibility plans and communications content (human interest stories, factsheets, social media).
• Coordinate partner performance management, capacity assessments and technical backstopping.

G. Operations, budgeting and procurement

• Work with Supply Chain and Finance to plan climate-related procurement (e.g., tools, seedlings, equipment, services) and track budget utilisation.
• Prepare and review TORs for service providers and consultants, technical specifications and deliverable-based contracts.
• Maintain risk registers and mitigation plans, and ensure audit compliance.
• Perform other related duties as required.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS:

The incumbent is expected to deliver the following during the contract period:

• Annual work plan and budget for the climate portfolio (GCF and Adaptation projects) approved and disseminated.
• Updated SOPs and technical guidance for key interventions (e.g., climate services, watershed management, anticipatory action).
• M&E framework and data collection tools operational; quarterly progress reports submitted on time.
• High-quality financial and narrative donor reports submitted on schedule.
• Government and partner capacity-building plan executed, with training materials and session reports delivered.
• ESS instruments (screening, ESMPs, grievance redress mechanism) implemented, with incident logs and mitigation actions documented.
• At least two knowledge products and learning events per year, with lessons integrated into adaptive management.
• At least two concept notes or proposals per year prepared for resource mobilisation.

The position requires regular travel to project sites and sub-offices.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• Has managed Adaptation Fund, GCF or bilateral climate projects, including compliance, M&E and stakeholder engagement.
• Has led the implementation of climate adaptation or resilience programmes, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Has coordinated with government, managed partners and delivered capacity building.
• Has provided input into climate or disaster risk management policy discussions.

STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: Advanced university degree in Climate Science, Environmental Management, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Disaster Risk Management or a related field, or First University degree with additional years of relevant work experience.
• Experience: At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in climate adaptation and resilience programming.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• Technical expertise in at least two of the following: climate services/early warning systems, anticipatory action, community-based adaptation, ecosystem and watershed management, water resources, nature-based solutions, social protection linkages and livelihood diversification.
• Proven track record in government coordination, partner management and capacity building.
• Strong analytical, writing and reporting skills; familiarity with WFP corporate systems is an asset.
• General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures governing administration.
• Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet and project management software, as well as standard WFP software packages and systems.

Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is required