Programme Policy Officer (Gender, Protection and Inclusion) NOA, Dushanbe

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

28 October 2026-23:59-GMT+05:00 Tajikistan Time (Dushanbe)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

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 extreme weather shocks.

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 Policy Officer (Gender, Protection and Inclusion)

 

TYPE OF CONTRACT & LEVEL: Fixed-Term, NOA

 

UNIT: Programmes

 

DUTY STATION: Dushanbe, Tajikistan

 

DURATION: One year (Extendable)

This vacancy announcement is for Nationals from Tajikistan.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

WFP offers a competitive compensation package including tax free salary, pension, leave, and medical insurance.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

 

Tajikistan faces persistent structural challenges to food and nutrition security, driven by limited arable land, high dependence on food imports, widespread rural poverty, and frequent exposure to natural hazards including floods, landslides, and earthquakes. Climate change compounds these risks, and approximately 1.52 million people require food and nutrition assistance.

WFP currently implements its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023–2026 in line with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the same period, pursuing a strategic shift from direct implementation towards strengthening national and subnational capacities to deliver food security and nutrition outcomes. WFP supports achievement of SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), and operates across the whole country through a network of field offices in Bokhtar, Gharm, Khorog, and Khujand complementing the country office in Dushanbe.

WFP’s programme portfolio covers emergency preparedness and response, resilience and livelihoods, nutrition, and school meals. Across these areas, WFP is placing greater emphasis on anticipatory action, shock-responsive social protection, evidence generation, and support to national systems for risk-informed planning and response. As WFP Tajikistan transitions to its next CSP for 2027–2030, it is further positioning itself as a technical and operational partner to the Government, with a stronger focus on nationally led solutions and earlier action ahead of crises.

WFP is committed to ensuring that its programmes are people-centred, inclusive, accountable and responsive to the diverse needs of women, men, girls, boys, older persons, persons with disabilities and other groups at risk of exclusion. In line with WFP’s Protection and Accountability Policy, Gender Policy, Community Engagement Strategy for Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), Disability Inclusion Roadmap and commitments on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), WFP Tajikistan seeks to strengthen the integration of gender, protection, inclusion and accountability to affected populations across its humanitarian, resilience and livelihoods portfolio.

The National Programme Policy Officer will play a key role in advancing gender, protection, and inclusion priorities under the Country Strategic Plan (CSP), providing technical and operational support to ensure that programmes are designed and implemented in ways that promote equitable participation, meaningful inclusion, protection from harm and accountability to affected populations.

The incumbent will report to the Head of Programme and work closely with programme, field office, monitoring, partnerships, supply chain and other functional teams across the Country Office. The role will also coordinate with relevant regional and headquarters technical counterparts on gender, protection, inclusion, accountability and safeguarding priorities.

 

 

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Contribute towards the development of programme strategies, projects, plans and processes related to gender equality, protection, disability inclusion, accountability to affected populations (AAP), Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and safeguarding, ensuring alignment with WFP corporate policies, standards, guidance and country office priorities.

 

2. Provide project management and technical support to gender, protection and inclusion initiatives and mainstream these across the programme cycle, including assessments, design, implementation, monitoring, reporting and learning, ensuring programmes promote equitable participation, women’s leadership and economic empowerment, digital and financial inclusion, protection from harm and the inclusion of marginalized and at-risk groups. Lead and advance WFP Tajikistan’s work with adolescents and youth across relevant programme workstreams.

 

3. Support and oversee data collection, monitoring and analytical systems to ensure rigorous quality standards are maintained and that gender, protection and inclusion considerations are integrated into vulnerability assessments, food security analyses, targeting, prioritization, monitoring and learning processes. Coordinate and support gender, protection and inclusion analyses, formative research, risk assessments, community consultations and evidence generation to inform programme design, adaptation and continuous improvement. Support the application of findings and mitigation measures from cross-cutting analyses, including the Integrated Cross-Cutting and Risk Analysis (ICARA), and ensure lessons learned and good practices inform programme improvements.

 

4. Research and analyse policy and operational issues related to gender, protection, disability inclusion, accountability, safeguarding and PSEA, supporting the development of programmes, operational guidance and risk mitigation measures. Identify, assess and monitor risks related to exclusion, discrimination, gender-based violence, child protection concerns, retaliation, safeguarding risks and other programme-related protection risks, and support the implementation of appropriate mitigation actions.

 

5. Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reports, assessments, donor deliverables, guidance notes and other programme documentation on gender, protection and inclusion activities, including monitoring progress and results under the Framework for Accountability for Results (FAR), to enable informed decision-making and accountability to stakeholders.

 

6. Liaise and coordinate with internal counterparts, including Programme, RAM and other technical units, to ensure effective integration of gender, protection and inclusion considerations across programmes and operations. Monitor ongoing projects and support the development and review of tools, standard operating procedures, assessments, training materials and other resources related to gender, protection, inclusion, accountability and safeguarding.

 

7. Support the identification, development and management of partnerships and collaborative relationships with government counterparts, local authorities, community leaders, civil society organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities, women’s organizations, cooperating partners and other stakeholders to strengthen inclusive programming, local ownership and improved assistance outcomes. Represent WFP in relevant inter-agency coordination mechanisms, technical working groups and consultations related to gender, protection, disability inclusion, accountability, safeguarding and PSEA.

 

8. Lead and support capacity strengthening of WFP staff, cooperating partners, community structures, producer groups, government counterparts and other stakeholders on gender equality, protection mainstreaming, disability inclusion, accountability to affected populations, safeguarding, PSEA and related minimum standards. Support partner capacity assessment, compliance monitoring and awareness-raising initiatives.

 

9. Serve as a technical resource person and focal point on Gender, Protection and Inclusion, providing guidance and advice to staff and partners. Act as one of the Country Office focal points for Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), overseeing risk analysis, awareness-raising activities, partner engagement and compliance, maintenance of referral pathways, and other related tasks as required. Support field monitoring missions to assess programme quality, accessibility, community engagement, gender, protection and inclusion outcomes, and compliance with corporate commitments.

 

10. Other related tasks.

 

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

 

Education:  Advanced university degree in gender studies, social sciences, international development, public policy, development studies, humanitarian affairs or another relevant field OR First University Degree with additional years of relevant work experience.

Experience, Knowledge & Skills:

• At least one year of professional experience in gender, protection, accountability, safeguarding, inclusion, social development or related areas with an advanced university degree OR at least 3 years of relevant professional experience with a first university degree.
• Experience supporting humanitarian, resilience or development programmes, preferably in complex or fragile settings.
• Experience working with government counterparts, NGOs, civil society organizations, community structures, local authorities or organizations of people with disabilities.
• Experience designing and delivering training, facilitating workshops and supporting capacity strengthening for staff, partners or community stakeholders.
• Experience conducting or supporting assessments, research, risk analysis or programme analysis related to gender, protection, social inclusion or accountability.
• Experience in livelihoods, resilience, value chains, women’s economic empowerment or financial inclusion programmes is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of gender equality, protection mainstreaming, disability inclusion, accountability to affected populations, PSEA and safeguarding in humanitarian and development programming.
• Knowledge of people-centred programming, community engagement, safe and accessible feedback mechanisms and risk-informed programme design.
• Familiarity with CSP implementation, FAR, results-based management and the use of evidence to improve programme quality.
• Excellent facilitation, coordination, stakeholder engagement and capacity-strengthening skills.•Strong analytical, drafting, reporting and communication skills, with the ability to translate technical analysis into practical programme guidance.
• Ability to work effectively in sensitive political, cultural and operational contexts, including through field-based engagement and cross-functional collaboration.

 

Languages:    Languages: Fluency in English, as well as Tajik and/or Russian. Fluency in both Tajik and Russian is an advantage.

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

 

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.