Programme Policy Officer (Humanitarian Access Specialist)

CONTRACTUAL INFORMATION

Job title: Programme Policy Officer (Humanitarian Access Specialist)

Type of Contract: International CST II

Unit: Field Coordination

Duty Station: Bahir Dar, Ethiopia (with frequent travel throughout Northern Ethiopia, including the Amhara, Tigray, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz regions)

Duration: Six (6) months

Reporting Line: Head of Area Office, Bahir Dar (administrative supervision) and Head of Field Coordination (technical supervision).

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

WFP is providing emergency food assistance across Ethiopia through a range of humanitarian and resilience-building interventions, including General Food Assistance (GFA), nutrition programmes, school feeding initiatives, and livelihood and resilience activities. These interventions are implemented in close collaboration with the Government of Ethiopia, cooperating partners, United Nations agencies, and other humanitarian actors to ensure the timely and effective delivery of assistance to populations affected by crises. Humanitarian support is being delivered in regions impacted by both natural hazards, such as droughts, floods, and climate-related shocks, as well as man-made crises, including conflict, displacement, and insecurity. Many of these areas continue to experience high levels of food insecurity and acute humanitarian needs, requiring sustained access and coordinated response efforts.

The ongoing humanitarian situation in northern Ethiopia, particularly in the Afar, Amhara, and Tigray regions, has further exacerbated vulnerabilities and increased food assistance needs among rural communities. Prolonged displacement, disruptions to livelihoods, and limited access to essential services have contributed to a deterioration of the humanitarian situation and increased needs among affected populations. Given the complex operating environment, ensuring safe, timely, and principled humanitarian access remains critical to reaching vulnerable populations and maintaining the continuity of life-saving assistance. WFP therefore works closely with national and local authorities, communities, and humanitarian partners to address operational constraints, strengthen coordination mechanisms, and facilitate the delivery of assistance to people most in need.

JOB PURPOSE

The Access Specialist will be responsible for supporting and strengthening WFP’s ability to achieve safe, timely, sustained, and principled humanitarian access to populations affected by food insecurity, displacement, conflict, and other emergencies in the Northern Ethiopia regions (Afar, Amhara and Tigray). The incumbent will provide technical leadership, operational coordination, stakeholder engagement, and analytical support to identify, mitigate, and address access constraints that may affect the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all inclusive)

Access Strategy and Planning

•   Support the development, implementation, and review of humanitarian access strategies, plans, and standard operating procedures to ensure the safe, timely, and principled delivery of WFP assistance.
•   Provide technical advice to management and operational teams on access-related risks, opportunities, and mitigation measures.
•   Contribute to contingency planning and preparedness initiatives in response to evolving operational contexts.

Context and Access Analysis

•   Monitor, analyze, and report on access trends, security dynamics, political developments, community perceptions, and other factors affecting humanitarian operations.
•   Conduct stakeholder and power-mapping analyses to identify key factors influencing access in operational areas.
•   Produce regular access reports, risk assessments, briefing notes, and analytical products to support evidence-based decision-making.

Stakeholder Engagement and Negotiation

•   Establish and maintain constructive relationships with government authorities, local administrations, community leaders, humanitarian partners, and relevant state and non-state actors.
•   Support dialogue and negotiations aimed at facilitating humanitarian access and resolving operational constraints.
•   Represent WFP in access-related coordination forums, working groups, and meetings as required.

Operational Support and Coordination

•   Provide operational guidance to field offices and programme teams on access-related issues affecting the implementation of food assistance, nutrition, school feeding, and resilience activities.
•   Coordinate with security, programme, logistics, supply chain, and partnership teams to ensure coherent and integrated approaches to access management.
•   Support the identification and resolution of access constraints impacting humanitarian operations.

Humanitarian Principles and Risk Management

•   Promote adherence to humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence in all access-related engagements.
•   Ensure access approaches are aligned with WFP policies, duty of care obligations, and risk management frameworks.
•   Advise management on potential operational, reputational, and contextual risks associated with access negotiations and engagement strategies.

Information Management and Reporting

•   Maintain access-related databases, trackers, and information management systems.
•   Prepare timely updates, situation reports, analytical assessments, and briefing materials for senior management and operational stakeholders.
•   Contribute to lessons learned, after-action reviews, and best-practice documentation.

Capacity Strengthening for WFP activities in Ethiopia (all regions)

•   Provide training, mentoring, and technical support to WFP staff and cooperating partners on humanitarian access concepts, stakeholder engagement, conflict sensitivity, and negotiation approaches.
•   Design and facilitate workshops and capacity-building sessions for staff and partners on humanitarian access issues, operational challenges, and emerging access trends.
•   Support the development of organizational knowledge and best practices related to humanitarian access.

Partnership and Coordination

• Strengthen collaboration with UN agencies, NGOs, government counterparts, and humanitarian coordination mechanisms to promote a coordinated approach to access challenges.
• Contribute to inter-agency discussions and initiatives aimed at improving humanitarian access and operational effectiveness.

Other Responsibilities

• Perform any other access-related duties as assigned to support WFP’s humanitarian response and operational objectives in Ethiopia.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

Advanced University degree in International Relations, Political Science, Peace and Conflict Studies, Security Studies, Development Studies, Humanitarian Affairs, Social Sciences, Law, Public Administration, or first-level university degree with additional years of relevant professional experience.

Experience:

At least 5 years progressively responsible professional working experience in:
Humanitarian access, humanitarian affairs, programme management, civil-military coordination, security risk management, conflict analysis, negotiations, or related fields.
Working in complex emergencies, conflict, or fragile settings with humanitarian organizations, UN agencies, NGOs, government institutions, or international organizations.
Humanitarian access negotiations, stakeholder engagement, conflict sensitivity, and operational coordination.
Conducting context, stakeholder, and risk analysis to support humanitarian operations and decision-making.
Supporting and coordinating multi-sectoral humanitarian responses in challenging operational environments.
Prior experience in Ethiopia or the Horn of Africa region is highly desirable.

Knowledge & Skills:

Strong understanding of humanitarian principles, protection concepts, and international humanitarian frameworks.
Excellent analytical, negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to engage constructively with diverse stakeholders, including government authorities, community leaders, humanitarian partners, and other relevant actors.
Strong report-writing, briefing, and information management skills.
Ability to work effectively under pressure, manage competing priorities, and adapt to rapidly changing operational contexts.
Demonstrated ability to develop practical solutions to complex access challenges while maintaining WFP’s humanitarian mandate and operational objectives.

Language:

Fluency in both oral and written communication 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.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 4 September 2026-23:59-GMT+03:00 East Africa Time (Addis Ababa).