Programme Policy Officer (Child Safeguarding and Child Protection Mainstreaming), Rome, Italy

WFP - World Food Programme; Roma; Remote; EUR 45,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

World Food Programme seeks a Programme Policy Officer to advance child safeguarding and protection mainstreaming across its programmes. The role requires coordinating with HQ, regional offices and partners, drafting guidance, and ensuring safeguarding is integrated into design and implementation, while delivering capacity strengthening and knowledge sharing.

The assignment emphasizes safeguarding policy development, cross-functional collaboration, and effective support to country offices in

Qualifications

• Education: postgraduate qualification in development studies, gender, international development, sociology or related fields.
• Experience: at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in protection, including technical assistance, programme design, implementation, monitoring, reporting, or evidence generation on child protection.
• Languages: English is required, French desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and operationalization of WFP's Child Safeguarding Framework.
• Lead the drafting, revision, consultation, clearance and approval process for the Executive Director's Circular on Child Safeguarding.
• Coordinate consultations with HQ divisions, Regional Bureaux, Country Offices and external stakeholders.
• Develop supporting guidance, tools, SOPs and implementation materials required to operationalize the Circular.
• Support governance, accountability and implementation arrangements for child safeguarding.

Education

Postgraduate qualification in development studies, gender, international development, sociology or related field

Job description

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

1 October 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)

ABOUT WFP

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.

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.

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 (Child Safeguarding and Child Protection Mainstreaming)

TYPE OF CONTRACT

Regular Consultant

UNIT/DIVISION

Gender Protection and Inclusion

DUTY STATION

Home based

DURATION

11 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

In line with increasing donor expectations, emerging safeguarding standards across the humanitarian sector, and WFP's Strategic Plan 2026–2029 commitment to uphold zero tolerance for child exploitation, abuse and harm, this assignment will support the strengthening of WFP's approach to child safeguarding, while also advancing the integration of child protection considerations into programme design and implementation. The Programme Policy Officer will lead the development and institutionalization of WFP's Child Safeguarding Framework, including the elaboration, consultation, approval and operationalization of the Executive Director's Circular on Child Safeguarding. The position will also provide technical support to strengthen child protection mainstreaming across selected programme areas, ensuring that WFP assistance is delivered in a safe, inclusive and child-sensitive manner. Sitting within the Design and Capacity Strengthening Team in GPI, the consultant will support corporate guidance, capacity strengthening, CSP design and country office support, with a particular focus on translating safeguarding commitments into operational practice.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development and operationalization of WFP's Child Safeguarding Framework
• Lead the drafting, revision, consultation, clearance and approval process for the Executive Director's Circular on Child Safeguarding
• Coordinate consultations with HQ divisions, Regional Bureaux, Country Offices and external stakeholders
• Develop supporting guidance, tools, SOPs and implementation materials required to operationalize the Circular
• Support the establishment of governance, accountability and implementation arrangements for child safeguarding
• Contribute to the development of corporate learning and awareness-raising initiatives related to child safeguarding
• Support engagement with donors and partners on child safeguarding commitments and standards
• Strengthen integration of Child Safeguarding and Child Protection Considerations into Programme Design
• Provide technical support to Country Offices on integrating child safeguarding and child protection considerations into programme design and implementation
• Support CSP development and review processes, including FAR roll-outs, ensuring that relevant child protection risks, barriers and opportunities are reflected where appropriate
• Advise on child-sensitive programme design across relevant programme areas, including school meals, resilience, emergency assistance and social protection
• Promote the use of integrated context and risk analyses to identify risks affecting children and opportunities to improve programme quality
• Strengthen GPI Capacity and Learning
• Deliver and support trainings on child safeguarding, child protection mainstreaming, safe referrals and people-centred programming
• Work with Regional and Country Office GPI colleagues to identify capacity gaps and learning priorities
• Support the development of practical tools, guidance and learning materials for Country Offices and cooperating partners
• Evidence, Learning and Partnerships
• Support learning and exchange between Country Offices on good practices and operational innovations
• Strengthen collaboration with specialized child protection actors, UN agencies and NGOs
• Contribute to the integration of child safeguarding and child protection considerations in corporate frameworks, including FAR and GPI minimum standards
• Support learning and exchange between Country Offices on good practices and operational innovations

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT

• Executive Director's Circular on Child Safeguarding finalized and approved
• Child protection considerations integrated into relevant GPI frameworks, including minimum standards and FAR
• Technical support provided to CSP development and review processes on child safeguarding and child protection mainstreaming
• PCA and other relevant GPI training materials updated to reflect child safeguarding and child protection considerations

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education: A postgraduate qualification in development studies, gender, international development, sociology other development-related fields.

Experience: At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in protection, of which at least 5 years are focused on providing technical assistance, programme design, implementation, monitoring, reporting, or evidence generation on child protection. Previous experience working in emergency and humanitarian settings. Previous exposure to WFP operations, including providing technical GPI support. Experience in working on policies desirable.

Knowledge & Skills: Proactive attitude, with initiative and a sense of accountability. Ability to provide technical advice that is actionable and can be understood by diverse stakeholders. Ability to develop user-friendly guidance. Team player. Excellent interpersonal, communication and facilitation skills (written and oral). Ability to work productively and in an organized fashion.

Languages: English is required, French is desirable.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

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