Policy and Programme Officer - School Meals Team Lead and CLTF Coordinator (CST II)

Role Overview

Under the direct supervision of the Head, Strategic Outcome 3, and in coordination with the Head of Programme and other functions, the Policy and Programme Officer will lead the School Meals team and coordinate the Changing Lives Transformation Fund (CLTF) in Kenya. This role focuses on strategic coordination, technical support, and oversight of transitions toward self-reliance for refugees and local communities.

Key Responsibilities

Lead School Meals Programme implementation

• Provide strategic coordination for Kenya’s transition to School Feeding 2.0 and technical support to high-level engagement with Government, donors, UN agencies, private sector, and National School Meals Coalition (NSMC) partners.
• Oversee the full School Meals Programme (SMP) portfolio, ensuring strategic alignment, quality implementation, compliance, and effective grant and budget management.
• Lead and supervise the SMP team, drive innovation, and integrate climate resilience, gender, protection, and digitalization across programme design and delivery.
• Oversee the implementation of Climate-Resilient Home-Grown School Meals projects and ensure coherent field-level implementation.
• Steer evidence generation, reporting, and knowledge-sharing across country, regional, and global school meals networks.

Lead the CLTF Coordination in Kenya

• Lead overall coordination and oversight of CLTF implementation in Kenya, ensuring coherent delivery across units and field offices.
• Oversee the implementation of the Changing Lives Project in support of refugee transition within the framework of differentiated assistance.
• Drive joint planning with the Partnerships team to mobilize catalytic funding and advance advocacy efforts for self-reliance.
• Oversee the implementation of the evidence and learning agenda in collaboration with M&E and external research partners.

Strategic Engagement and Dialogue

• Represent WFP Kenya at technical levels in UN and partner planning discussions pertaining to School Meals, Social Protection, and the transition agenda.
• Contribute to key programme priorities, including developing adaptive social protection and climate-resilient initiatives.
• Coordinate lessons learned exercises and high-level advocacy events.

Programme and Knowledge Management

• Identify opportunities to improve policy, plans, programme design, and resourcing.
• Lead the drafting of selected projects and funding proposals, particularly for International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and innovative finance.
• Provide technical support to the development of the next Country Strategic Plan.
• Contribute to the Climate Resilient and Inclusive Food Systems flagship programme.

Qualifications and Experience Required

Education:

• Advanced university degree (MBA/MSc/MA) in International Affairs, Economics, Social Sciences, or another field relevant to international development assistance.

Experience:

• At least ten (10) years of professional experience in international development, with strong field exposure.
• A combination of policy experience (Headquarters) and field experience in middle-income countries on climate-resilient food systems and adaptive social protection.
• Solid understanding of strategic pathways for transitioning refugees and vulnerable communities to self-reliance.
• At least seven (7) years of experience facilitating country capacity strengthening initiatives and leading work across social protection and safety nets.
• Prior experience with the three Rome-Based UN Agencies (WFP, FAO, IFAD) on resilience building is an asset.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should apply online via the official World Food Programme application portal on Workday. Use the link provided to access the application page.