DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
24 August 2026-23:59-GMT+03:00 East Africa Time (Kampala)
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).
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The Programme Officer – Cooperating Partnerships position establishes an effective second‑line oversight function between operational partnership processing and delegated approvals, contributing to enhanced fiduciary assurance and improved transparency and accountability in partner engagement.
The position will report directly to the head of programme and will supervise the CPMT team. It will work in close collaboration with Cooperating Partners, as well as Area Offices, Finance, Supply Chain, Compliance/Risk, and the Regional Office.
This role will provide technical leadership, oversight, and assurance, over downstream partnership processes, ensuring that Partnership processes comply with WFP corporate policies and country‑specific SOPs, include effective segregation of duties across the partnership lifecycle, and that Fiduciary and reputational risks are proactively identity, mitigated and escalated. The position will also advance the recent Uganda localisation policy ensure that we move forward on this important objective of our Country Strategic Plan
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Partnership Governance,coordinationand team supervision
Provide functional supervision, coaching, and technical guidance to CPMT staff.
Ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities within CPMT, particularly between operational processing and oversight functionsand monitor implementation ofsegregation‑of‑dutiesprinciples across CPMT functions
Provide technical oversight and guidance for all downstream partnership processes, ensuring consistency with WFP corporate frameworks and Country Office SOPs
Oversee the development and periodic updating of partnership SOPs, guidance notes, and tools.and supporttraining ofCPMT, programme, and field staff on partnership governance, FLAs, and budget oversight.
Oversee that partner capacity assessments, performancereview anddue diligence processes are conducted in line with corporaterequirements, ensuringobjectivity and consistency.
Support the implementation of the Country Office Localisation Policy within the CSP 2026-2030, ensuring progress towards ourobjectivesin collaboration with HQ and the regional bureau.
Foster a culture of integrity, accountability, and professionalism.
2 LocalisationStrategyImplementation
Advancethe implementation of the WFP Uganda Localisation Strategy (2026–2030), promotingequitablepartnerships and increased engagement of national NGOs, community-basedorganisations, refugee-ledorganisations, government institutions, and local private sector actors.
Monitor progress against localisation targets andindicators, andprovidetechnical advice on integrating localisation principles into partnerselection, capacity strengthening, and partnership management processes.
Liaise with HQ, the Regional Bureau, and relevant internal units to ensure alignment with WFP corporate localisation commitments and share good practices and lessons learned.
3 Partner Selection, Field Level Agreement (FLA) Quality Assurance
Review and provide technical clearance oncooperatingpartner selection processesfacilitatedthrough the UN NGO portal.
Provide independent technical and fiduciary review ofcooperatingpartner project proposals and budgets.
Review FLAs, amendments, and addenda to ensure they reflect approved proposals, budgets, and risk mitigation measures, advise oncorrective actions where contractual or compliance issues areidentified
Provide quality assurance and technical clearance prior tosubmission for signatureby delegated authority.
Provide technical leadership and secretariat oversight to the Cooperating Partner Committee (CPC) and ensure CPC submissions are complete, compliant, and supported by adequate analysis and documentation.
4 ComplianceandAssurance
Act as a technical focal point for audits, internal reviews, and oversight missions related tocooperatingpartnerships.Andsupport implementation and tracking of audit and assurance recommendations affecting partnerships.
Advise on risk mitigation measures forhigh‑riskor complex partners.Review significant performance issues, integrity concerns, or partner disputes and advise on escalation and corrective actions
Promote consistent application of partnership standards across all operational areas
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Education
Advanced universitydegreesin International Development, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Finance, Economics, or relatedfield
Experience
Minimum 6–8 yearsof relevant professional experience in programme operations, partnership management, compliance, or risk management.
Demonstrated experience reviewing partner proposals, budgets, and contractual arrangements.
Experience working within UN agencies, especially WFP in Cooperating PartnerManagement,is highly desirable.
Proven ability to handle sensitive issues with discretion and sound judgment.
Knowledge and Skills
Strong understanding of UN partnership and compliance frameworks.
Analytical skills and ability to provide independent technical assessment.
Strong interpersonal and coordination skills in multicultural environments.
Ability to translate policy requirements into practical operational guidance.
Languages
Fluency (Level C) in 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.
The UN World Food Programme is a global leader in emergency response and resilience. We deliver food and cash assistance in crises while strengthening national systems so communities can withstand future shocks.
