Country Director, D2, DRC

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

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 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.

DRC is a critical operation currently under Level 3 Emergency status activated in October 2017 to respond to the needs of 15.6 million people who are food insecure and in need of humanitarian assistance.  DRC is a multiple faceted large-scale complex operation powered by over 650 staff across 19 field offices. The operation targets 7.6 million people with 6.9 million people assisted in 2019. The country manages a combined portfolio of one of WFP’s largest emergency operations targeting internally displaced populations, refugees, health-related emergencies coupled with resilience and peace-building interventions under the triple-nexus agenda. The activities range across emergency, recovery and development interventions supporting governments and various partners.

The position offers the opportunity to leverage WFP’s significant operational capacities in food security and nutrition, supply chain and common services provision (Logistics Cluster & UNHAS), and strong partnerships with other UN agencies and implementing partners towards achieving SDG 2 and 17 and contributing towards WFP’s goal of ‘Saving Lives, Changing Lives’.

•  Develop and oversee the implementation of country strategies, policies and plans, aligned with government, WFP and wider national and UN strategies, policies and processes as appropriate. Ensure timely and effective responses to meet changing food security and nutrition needs.
• Contribute to the development of wider WFP strategies and policies ensuring that operational realities inform planning.
• Demonstrate ownership of, promote and deploy WFP corporate initiatives and strategies.
• Hold accountability for effective management of WFP operations within the area of assignment to ensure timely and effective delivery of food assistance. 
• Provide effective leadership to a Country Office to ensure the continued development of a cohesive and high performing WFP country team.
• Identify and build productive relationships with partners at a national level, and at regional and global levels as appropriate, to raise resources for WFP and enable the effective positioning of WFP to achieve country goals.
• Actively work with government agencies to build knowledge and capacity to meet food assistance needs within the country and to prepare for and respond to hunger related emergencies.
• Under the guidance and coordination of the Resident Coordinator (RC), participate and actively contribute, as a member of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and Humanitarian Country Team (including Cluster Agency responsibilities), to strengthening of UN country coherence and promoting of joint planning to meet the zero hunger challenge.

• Build productive relationships with beneficiaries, civil societies, and national NGOs. 
• Positively represent WFP in the media to build awareness and advocate for WFP activities in fighting hunger in the country. 
• Take concrete actions which promote health and wellbeing within the workplace and mitigate risks related to stress, health and safety.
• Take appropriate measures to foster a safe and harmonious work environment, in which employees are protected from exposure to any form of abusive conduct (harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination), and act as role model in reflecting respect toward all employees.
• Take lead to ensure that evaluation, audit and compliance recommendations are efficiently implemented within the CO.
• Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men.
• Develop and maintain appropriate emergency preparedness plans and activities to ensure readiness and ability to take timely and appropriate actions in the event of a food assistance emergency.
• Other as required.

• Education: Advanced University degree in Economics, International Development, Social Sciences or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or advanced training/courses.
• Language: Fluency (level C) in English and French language.

• Minimum of 15 years of professionally responsible experience
• Led strategy planning and operations within a large and complex country or equivalent environment
• Gained broadening experiences through various roles in HQ, RB or CO, including as a Deputy Country Director
• Gained significant experience in management of a number of large scale, diverse and complex programmes in diverse emergency and developmental contexts
• Has led in managing the finances and other support services of an office or Division
• Has significant experience in developing and implementing internal controls and exercising delegation of authority in a variety of contexts
• Gained significant people leadership and management experience, effectively uniting large and diverse multi-national and multi-discipline teams by delivering on country workforce plans
• Led significant and complex negotiations with donors/ government officials, partners, media outlets, etc. on a diverse range of issues
• Led in giving media statements and leading news briefings to ensure appropriate representation of WFP externally in high profile situations of acute sensitivity
• Led large and complex fundraising initiatives which have had a significant positive impact within area of responsibility
• Led a large and highly complex emergency-oriented operation, in a hardship duty station
• Has led a large emergency-oriented operation, in a hardship duty station
• Previous working experience in Democratic Republic of the Congo desirable
• Demonstrated ability to deliver change and results in operationally sensitive contexts.
• A leader with a high degree of integrity and forethought in his/her approach to making decisions.
• A strong sense of diplomacy and instincts for organizational dynamics in order to manage complex and trusted relationships tactfully and effectively. 
• Excellent presentation, public speaking and overall communication skills.

The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of one year.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. For more details please visit icsc.un.org. 

14 June 2020

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.