DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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 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.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

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:
Climate Project Design Specialist
TYPE OF CONTRACT:
WAE Consultancy (CST II)
UNIT/DIVISION:
Programme Division / Climate and Resilience Service
DUTY STATION (City, Country):
GHQ LACRO, Home-based
DURATION:
6 months contract (maximum of 45 working days)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

WFP’s presence in Latin America and the Caribbean is characterized by very small, small, and medium sized country offices (CO). Except for Haiti, all COs are in middle income countries (MICs) facing chronic undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies and recurrent emergencies exacerbated by widespread inequities, climate change, economic vulnerability, lack of access to nutritious food, inadequate consumption of food and migration, among others.

The role of WFP in the region has evolved over the years and in many ways, COs serve as models of how WFP can continue to engage in MICs globally and the added value the organization brings in such contexts. Operations in the region have increasingly focused on transitioning from direct operations to a capacity strengthening, technical assistance and policy support for governments.

Resilience building is a crosscutting priority for WFP in the region, aimed at reducing the impacts of complex and interconnected risks on vulnerable populations. WFP has adopted resilience as a guiding framework to help communities better manage shocks, adapt to changing conditions, and reduce long-term dependence on humanitarian assistance. In line with WFP’s Strategic Plan, programming prioritizes reducing needs and enhancing resilience by safeguarding food security and nutrition, strengthening the capacities of at-risk communities to withstand and recover from crises, and protecting the natural and physical capital that underpins livelihoods.

Building on successful pilots implemented in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru, WFP—together with UNDRR and UNEP, and in partnership with the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO)—is developing a joint proposal to mobilize resources from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The proposed initiative aims to scale up proven, inclusive, and risk-informed food system solutions in Amazonian region and municipalities, addressing climate and disaster risks while promoting sustainable development outcomes.

The initiative aims to strengthen climate-resilient food systems and improve food security and nutrition (FSN) for vulnerable populations in the Amazon, reaching 30–70 municipalities through combined regional and municipal interventions. Using ecosystem-based and disaster risk reduction (DRR) approaches, it focuses on reducing climate and disaster risks and safeguarding critical ecosystems through three pillars: (i) risk-informed food systems action plans; (ii) meso-level parametric insurance for municipal resilience; and (iii) local procurement of sustainably sourced foods for school feeding programmes.

In this context, WFP seeks to engage a consultant to lead the design and drafting of a Full-sized Project package ready for submission to the GEF. The consultant will play a central role in shaping the programmatic and strategic aspects of the proposal, ensuring alignment with GEF requirements, WFP priorities, and partner contributions.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.The Consultant will work closely with WFP’s Climate and Resilience Team and key strategic partners in the LAC region to lead the design and the drafting of a high-quality GEF-9 Full-sized Project (FSP) to strengthen climate-resilient food systems while improving food security and nutrition (FSN) for vulnerable populations in the Amazon, reaching an estimated 30–70 municipalities through a combination of regional and municipal-level interventions.

2. Develop a refine concept note aligned with the GEF-9, integrating disaster risk reduction (DRR) and ecosystem-based approaches to resilience building and food systems transformation, based on existing documentation, pilots results, and background analyses to serve as a basis for internal discussion and partner engagement.

3. Organize and facilitate national and municipal-level consultations, as needed, with national and municipal stakeholders and strategic partners to validate country-specific priorities, ensure alignment with national/local policies and strategies, and secure stakeholder engagement and ownership.

4. Organize and facilitate a regional consultation with ACTO Member Countries, in line with their respective institutional procedures, to consolidate regional rationale, governance arrangements, and shared components of the proposal.

5. Integrate technical inputs and strategic guidance from WFP and partners into a coherent, fund-aligned project design, ensuring consistency in the positioning of interventions that advance food systems transformation, nature-based solutions, and community-level infrastructure within a DRM framework.

6. Lead the design and drafting of the Project Identification Form (PIF) for a Full-Sized Project, translating the agreed Concept Note and targeted technical inputs and consultations results into a coherent project rationale, theory of change, components, indicative budget, and institutional arrangements, in line with GEF requirements.

7. Prepare the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) request, outlining the proposed preparatory activities required for full project development, including technical studies, stakeholder engagement, and design work.

8. Other tasks for the Resilience and Climate Team, as requested.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

1. Inception note and workplan, detailing the proposed methodology, consultation approach (national/municipal and regional), timeline, and coordination arrangements with WFP and partners for the duration of the assignment.

2. One (1) concept note aligned with GEF-9 programming direction on Food Systems, prepared as an initial discussion document and subsequently refined, informed by existing project documentation, pilot results, and background analyses.
3. Brief consultation summary note(s) capturing the outcomes of national, municipal, and regional consultations, confirming policy alignment, technical validation, consolidation of the regional approach and political ownership across levels.
4. One (1) comprehensive, GEF-ready Full-Sized Project package, developed in close coordination with WFP and partners, including a completed Project Identification Form (PIF); and draft Project Preparation Grant (PPG) request that incorporates feedback from targeted consultations and internal review.
5. Final presentations and briefing materials to support WFP and partners in internal decision-making, advocacy, and submission processes to the GEF.
Note: All deliverables shall be prepared in English and Spanish.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:
Advanced University degree in environmental sciences, international development, food security, or other related fields.

Experience:

At least 7 years of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in climate finance, resilience programming, or related areas.

Proven experience in drafting successful proposals and concept notes for environmental - multilateral donor agencies, desirable familiarity with the GEF.

Demonstrated expertise in food systems, disaster risk management, and/or environmental sustainability, particularly in development contexts.

Experience working with local governments and regional organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Knowledge & Skills:

Strong knowledge of nature-based solutions, climate-resilient livelihoods, and integrated resilience programming.

Understanding of regional strategies and policies related to food security, climate change, and/or resource management.

Strong project management skills, with ability to deliver outputs within tight deadlines and budget constraints.

Excellent analytical and writing skills, with ability to produce high-quality technical documents.

Skilled in facilitating dialogue and building consensus among diverse actors (UN agencies, governments, civil society).

Focused on delivering high-quality outputs that meet donor requirements and

advance WFP’s strategic objectives.

Languages:
Fluency (level C) in both oral and written communication in Spanish and English.

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.