Programme Policy Officer – Enabled Government and Partner Programmes (CST I)

About the role

The WFP Zambia Country Office is seeking an experienced Programme Policy Officer to provide strategic leadership for its Government Capacity Strengthening and National Systems portfolio under Strategic Outcome 3. Reporting to the Head of Programme, the incumbent leads engagement with government institutions and development partners, guides the design and implementation of institutional and systems-strengthening interventions, and ensures coherence between technical assistance, national priorities, sustainable financing and measurable results. The deadline for applications is 16 November 2026.

Key responsibilities

• Lead institutional capacity assessments and the design and implementation of government-owned capacity-strengthening strategies.
• Oversight of support to the National School Meals Programme, including policy and institutional strengthening, SABER-informed capacity development, sustainable financing, programme costing, decentralized procurement and links with smallholder farmers.
• Technical support to national social protection and safety-net systems, including social registries, targeting, delivery mechanisms and shock-responsive protection.
• Build partnerships with ministries, UN agencies, development partners, financial institutions, civil society, academia and the private sector.
• Lead resource mobilization and strategic partnerships for SO3 priorities.
• Promote evidence-based programming, evaluations, research and results frameworks.
• Accountability for planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, compliance, risk management and results.
• Lead, supervise and develop multidisciplinary programme teams, integrating gender equality, disability inclusion, protection, accountability to affected populations, environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public and Social Policy, Public Administration, Economics, International Development or a related field.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in international development, programme policy, government capacity strengthening, institutional development, education, social protection, food security or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience providing strategic leadership and technical assistance to government institutions, and managing complex, multi-stakeholder programmes.
• Experience supervising teams and managing programme resources.
• Fluency (level C) in English.
• Experience in Southern Africa or comparable contexts is desirable.

Required skills

• Country capacity strengthening, institutional development and systems thinking.
• Knowledge of school feeding, social protection, national safety nets and shock-responsive programming.
• Strategic planning, policy analysis, programme integration and results-based management.
• Stakeholder engagement, negotiation, facilitation and partnership building.
• Advantage: knowledge of sustainable financing, digital delivery systems, evidence generation and South-South cooperation.