About the opportunity
The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking an internationally recruited Programme Policy Officer to serve as Head of Programme for its Field Office in Bukavu, South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Operating in a complex and challenging humanitarian context marked by protracted conflict and displacement, the Head of Programme will lead the programme team to oversee approximately 300,000 vulnerable beneficiaries monthly through general food distributions, cash-based transfers, nutrition, school feeding, and resilience initiatives. The incumbent will cultivate strategic partnerships with UN agencies, government counterparts, and cooperating partners to ensure effective humanitarian service delivery.
Salary and benefits
- Attractive compensation package commensurate with international consultant contracts
- Opportunity to make a direct impact on humanitarian assistance and food security in a critical operational setting
- Professional development and engagement within a multicultural UN environment
Who can apply?
- Typically five (5) years or more of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian or development areas, including nutrition, social protection, project management, emergency assistance, or food security
- Demonstrated field experience in monitoring and evaluation, vulnerability analysis, and programme design
- Experience leading a mid-size to large team in field operations, preferably in a hardship duty station or emergency setting
- Fluent in French (oral and written, Level C)
- Fluent in English (oral and written, Level B)
Required documents
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cover Letter
When to apply
- Application deadline is 3 November 2026 at 23:59 GMT+01:00 (West Africa Standard Time, Kinshasa)
How to apply
- Ensure your Workday profile is accurate and complete, including employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade if applicable
- Submit your application exclusively through the online Workday recruiting system
Additional information
- This is an 11-month international consultancy appointment (International Consultant Level II)
- Duty station is Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
- WFP does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing, or other fees
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Strong background in managing complex humanitarian programmes or emergency food security operations in fragile contexts
- Demonstrated leadership capability in managing mid-to-large multicultural teams within hardship or field duty stations
- Bilingual proficiency in both French and English to coordinate effectively with local authorities and international partners
What should you think carefully about?
- The position is based in Bukavu, South Kivu, a volatile and complex security environment requiring resilience and adaptability
- Offered as an 11-month fixed-term international consultancy rather than a permanent staff post
- Demanding workload requiring ongoing coordination with multiple stakeholders, UN agencies, and government counterparts
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This role provides an opportunity for experienced humanitarian professionals to lead high-stakes field operations, strengthen crisis response systems, and drive impactful food security initiatives in one of the world's most challenging environments.
Our take
Experienced humanitarian and development professionals with robust background in emergency operations and strong French-English proficiency should apply before the November deadline; candidates unable to deploy to a complex hardship duty station should look elsewhere.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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