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).

BACKGROUND:

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger (SDG 2) in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need. WFP has been present in Sri Lanka since 1968 and helped the country in emergency response and protracted recovery interventions in the aftermath of man-made disasters and recurrent natural disasters (droughts and floods/landslides).

Despite sound health indicators in Sri Lanka - in comparison to its South Asian neighboring countries - maternal, new-born and child malnutrition continue to pose a major challenge for the country, characterized by a high level of acute malnutrition, mild to moderate levels of chronic malnutrition and widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Since 2020 Sri Lanka has faced several waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a multidimensional impact on public health, the economy and human and social rights. Additionally, Sri Lanka is currently facing an unprecedented economic crisis that might jeopardize the country’s achievements toward food security and nutrition have done so far against the SDG agenda 2030.

The scope remains for progress in strengthening food security and nutrition given Sri Lanka’s continued alarming status on nutrition, especially wasting levels, realizing gender equality, and eliminating geographic and socio-economic disparities.

The WFP country strategic plan for 2023–2027 seeks to provide protective food assistance and other support as required in the short term and to restore and improve food security and nutrition by developing in-country capacity and reducing vulnerability through an integrated social protection and nutrition-specific and sensitive approach that layers and sequences programming. This aims to improve food security and nutrition by empowering vulnerable communities and individuals to cope with shocks, diversify livelihood and strengthen government capacity through technical support to ensure that gender-informed risk-sensitive planning is integrated into public investment policies and local development initiatives, redressing structural and socio-cultural inequalities.

Under CSP outcomes SO2 and SO4, WFP aims that by 2027, targeted groups in Sri Lanka have improved nutrition from strengthened nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific programmes focusing on, in particular, the first 8,000 days of life the national and sub-national institutions and stakeholders in Sri Lanka will enhance their capacity to enable adaptive and resilient food systems to improve food security and nutrition. The Programme Associate will assist WFP Sri Lanka in improving nutrition and capacity strengthening activities collaborating with the other internal and external partners.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide technical assistance in the development and implementation of various activities and processes within the nutrition, School based progamme and other country officer programmes supporting integration and alignment with wider programme policies and guidelines.

• Provide specialized project/programme planning and management support to ensure that the various activities are nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive and are performed within the established targets following WFP’s policies and procedures according to standards.

• Within nutrition and SBP, prepare a range of reports, data entry and data analysis and highlight trends/issues ensuring deliverables adhere to corporate standards and quality control.

• Ensure and/or perform accurate, timely recording of data and consistency of information presented to stakeholders within the nutrition and SBP.

• Liaise with internal counterparts to support effective collaboration, implementation and monitoring of ongoing project activities and expenditure tracking.

• Coordinate and communicate with local partners including national and regional level implementing agencies, NGOs, private sector and government institutions.

• Support the capacity building of WFP staff, cooperating partners and national and local level government staff and other identified target groups.

• Act as a point of contact for resolution of a range of operational queries and problems within nutrition and SBP.

• Review the work of other support staff, field teams, providing practical advice and guidance, to contribute to delivering objectives to agreed standards and deadlines.

• Follow standard emergency preparedness and response activities to ensure WFP is able to quickly respond and deploy needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education: A degree in nutrition, social sciences, Agriculture or a related field is preferrable or Completion of secondary school education and a post-secondary certificate in the same areas.

Experience:

• At least six years of relevant work experience in the fields of Nutrition, agriculture, health promotion, food science or social science.

• Has worked with technical teams (i.e. nutrition, M&E, School nutrition etc.)

• Contributed to implementation of programmes.

• Has observed or assisted with policy discussions.

Language: Fluency in English language and working knowledge of Sinhala and/or Tamil

Position Title :Programme Associate - School meal Programme and nutrition

Contract Type :Service Contract (SC)

Contract Duration :01 Year (with possible extension)

Duty Station :Colombo

Nationality :Sri Lankans only

Date of Publication :23.02.2026

Deadline of Application :10.03.2026

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 recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.

• If you experience challenges while submitting your online application, please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org for technical support only.

• Please note that applications sent to this email address cannot be considered.

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

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.