Programme Innovation and Scale-up for Wasting and Maternal Nutrition

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 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).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

WFP is committed to achieving SDG 2.2 to end all forms of malnutrition, with a particular focus on fragile and humanitarian contexts where child wasting and maternal undernutrition remain highly prevalent. In line with the WFP Strategic Plan (2026–2030) and the Strategy to Improve Diets and Address Malnutrition (2024–2030), WFP is strengthening its approach through more integrated, scalable, and context-adapted programming that reinforces the continuum of care from prevention to treatment.

As WFP refines its approach to wasting, there is increasing emphasis on operational models that maximize equity, coverage, and efficiency while strengthening complementarity with UNICEF, WHO, and other partners. This includes expanding community-based platforms, strengthening preventive interventions, and advancing sustainable, locally appropriate food-based solutions.

The consultancy will support the operationalization of WFP’s wasting and maternal nutrition agenda, with a particular focus on adjusted program approaches, alternative models for MAM management and prevention, local food solutions, research uptake, and technical support to country offices.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Operationalization of Wasting and Maternal Nutrition new ways of programming

a. Enable country offices in adapting approaches for wasting prevention and management in line with new global approaches

b. Advance alternative and context-adapted approaches for MAM management and prevention.

c. Strengthen the integration of maternal nutrition within wasting programming and support preventive interventions delivered through food assistance, cash-based transfers, health, social protection, and food systems platforms.

d. Provide strategic review and quality assurance of programme documents, concept notes and funding proposals, ensuring alignment with corporate frameworks and technical standards.

e. Support country offices in designing high-quality and coherent programmes that prioritize equity, access and coverage.

2. Advance programmatic uptake of local food solutions for MAM management and prevention

a. Enable and support the uptake and scale-up of local food-based solutions for MAM management and prevention.

b. Provide technical guidance to country offices and document implementation experiences, lessons learned, and promising practices.

c. Contribute to evidence generation and knowledge products to inform future scale-up.

3. Global coordination and partnership

a. Lead WFP’s engagement in the Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC) MAM Sub-Working Group and other relevant technical platforms.

b. Contribute to the development of global guidance and technical alignment with UNICEF, WHO, and other partners.

c. Support inter-agency collaboration on integrated approaches to wasting and maternal nutrition.

4. Research and Evidence

a. Provide technical oversight and support to the interagency wasting prevention research initiative in Mali, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh

b. Facilitate the translation of research findings into operational guidance and programme improvements.

c. Support grant coordination, reporting, and dissemination of findings.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

1. Country offices enabled in adapting adjusted wasting programming approaches, with guidance provided and implementation experiences and lessons learned documented.

2. Technical guidance, knowledge products, or operational lessons generated to support the uptake and scale-up of local food-based solutions for MAM management and prevention.

3. Effective leadership of the GNC MAM Sub-Working Group ensuring delivery of global technical output in collaboration with partners.

4. Technical oversight is provided to the interagency research (JUNIPR), with findings translated into programmatic recommendations and guidance.

5. High-quality technical guidance and support delivered to ensure quality programming and alignment with corporate standards.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Nutrition, Public Health, Food Security, or a closely related field.

Experience:

At least 10 years of experience in nutrition programming, with a strong focus on wasting and maternal nutrition.

Demonstrated experience in programme design, implementation, and scale-up in humanitarian and/or fragile contexts.

Proven expertise in integrated approaches linking nutrition with food systems, social protection, and health systems.

Experience with innovative approaches to MAM management and wasting prevention.

Extensive experience engaging with global coordination mechanisms and UN partners and policy environment

Extensive Experience providing technical support to country offices and working across Global headquarters and country levels.

Experience in proposal drafting, review, donor engagement, and gender-responsive programming is desirable.

Knowledge & Skills:

Strong knowledge of the global nutrition architecture and guidance related to wasting and maternal nutrition.

Excellent analytical, coordination, facilitation, writing, and communication skills.

Ability to translate evidence into practical and scalable programme solutions.

Ability to work independently and deliver results in fast-paced, resource-constrained environments.

Languages:

Fluency in English (written and spoken) required. Working knowledge of another UN language.

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.