Program Policy Officer (Cash Based Transfers and Identity Management) - CSTII

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

7 September 2026-23:59-GMT+03:00 Arabian Standard Time (Aden)

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).

GENERAL INFORMATION:

JOB TITLE: Program Policy Officer (Cash Based Transfers and Identity Management)
TYPE OF CONTRACT/LEVEL: Consultancy Contract CSTII
SUPERVISOR: Head of Programme
UNIT/DIVISION: Programme
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Aden, Yemen

DURATION: 11 Months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food and cash assistance to help people meet their essential needs and build resilience. WFP works with governments, communities, and partners to support progress toward Zero Hunger and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that the most vulnerable populations can access food and other critical assistance in times of crisis and recovery.

To deliver assistance safely, effectively, and accountably, WFP applies robust controls, assurance mechanisms, and operational standards across its programmes. This includes ensuring that beneficiary targeting, registration, verification, enrolment, entitlement delivery, and reconciliation processes are implemented in line with corporate policies and best practices. Strong delivery assurance systems help safeguard resources, strengthen accountability, mitigate operational risks, and ensure that assistance reaches the right people at the right time. WFP Yemen is also in the process of expanding digital cash transfers where markets are conducive, as a mean to enhance choice, stimulate local economies, and promote financial inclusion.

To support the effective delivery of this assistance, the Yemen Country Office (CO) requires dedicated Cash Based Transfers (CBT) and Identity Management (IDM) capacity to strengthen programme controls, delivery assurance mechanisms, and risk management processes across its operations. The CO’s CBT-IDM team supports the implementation of corporate standards and best practices, review and enhance operational processes and internal controls, coordinate assurance activities, identify and mitigate operational risks, and work closely with the IDM & Delivery GHQ team, and relevant stakeholders to ensure the safe, efficient, accountable, and compliant delivery of cash-based and in-kind assistance. The CBT-IDM team also steers the CO’s CBT strategy, supports the cost-effective delivery of CBT transfer cycles (from planning to reconciliation), drives competitive selection and impactful collaboration with Financial Service Providers, and ensures WFP is positioned as a lead actor on cash programming in inter-agency coordination fora. The team leads on the implementation of household targeting for emergency food assistance.

JOB PURPOSE:

Leading a CBT-IDM team composed of 12 staff members, and reporting to the Head of Programme, the CBT-IDM officer leads on the design, implementation, and assurance of high-quality delivery operations within the Yemen CO for both in-kind assistance and cash transfers. He / She reviews, analyses, and strengthens delivery cycle processes, operational controls, and assurance mechanisms; identifies operational risks and opportunities for improvement; and provides technical guidance to support effective beneficiary management and assistance delivery. He/She provide strategic oversight, technical direction, and managerial guidance on the implementation of household retargeting processes to ensure the integrity, precision, and compliance of beneficiary data systems. He/She ensures WFP is positioned as a lead actor on cash-based transfers in Yemen, promoting impactful and cost-efficient digital cash transfers as well as robust deduplication protocols. He/She coordinates with the CBT and IDM/Delivery GHQ teams and relevant stakeholders to enhance delivery performance, strengthen programme integrity, and ensure compliance with corporate standards and best practices, contributing to the safe, efficient, and accountable delivery of assistance across all modalities.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and strengthen IDM assurance across all assistance modalities, ensuring safe, efficient, and accountable delivery operations across the planning and delivery cycle. Design, review, and improve delivery processes, operational controls, SOPs, and assurance mechanisms in line with corporate standards and best practices.

• Conduct operational assessments, business process reviews, and gap analyses to identify risks, control weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.

• Provide technical guidance, operational support, and oversight on delivery assurance risks, controls, and performance across the delivery chain.

• Coordinate with Programme, Supply Chain, Logistics, TEC, Finance, Protection, and external stakeholders to strengthen end-to-end delivery operations.

• Monitor and analyse delivery performance, operational risks, and assurance indicators, and support the implementation of corrective actions and continuous improvements.

• Lead the development and implementation of WFP Yemen’s cash transfer strategy, including the promotion of digital cash transfer and financial inclusion.

• Lead WFP’s external positioning on cash transfers and deduplication, including with the Food Security and Agriculture Cluster and the Cash, the Market Working Group, and the Cash Donor Group.

• Oversee the implementation of household targeting for the Targeted Emergency Food Assistance programme in collaboration with  the Head of Emergency and Head of RAM - optimizing data collection, processing, and beneficiary enrollment workflows – and ensure the subsequent maintenance, quality control, and strategic deployment of the newly established vulnerability database, ensuring it accurately isolates and prioritizes the most acutely vulnerable populations.

• Strengthen staff capacity through coaching, training, and knowledge-sharing on delivery assurance standards, controls, targeting protocols, and risk mitigation measures.

• Promote the adoption of corporate standards, tools, and best practices, and contribute to programme planning, quality assurance, and knowledge management activities.

• Facilitate engagement with government counterparts, cooperating partners, financial service providers, retailers, and other stakeholders to strengthen delivery systems and operational effectiveness.

• Capture and disseminate lessons learned, best practices, and operational innovations, and contribute to programme planning and quality assurance activities.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Operational reviews, business process assessments, and gap analyses conducted, with recommendations and action plans developed to address identified risks and improvement opportunities.

• Delivery processes, SOPs, operational controls, and assurance mechanisms reviewed, developed, or strengthened to enhance programme integrity and compliance with corporate standards.

• Cash transfer strategy established and implemented.

• WFP externally positioned as lead actor on cash transfers and deduplication.

• Targeting guidelines, registration protocols, and vulnerability data management systems successfully managed, optimized, and aligned with current corporate requirements.

• Delivery assurance monitoring and risk management frameworks implemented or enhanced, including tracking of key risks, control gaps, and corrective actions across assistance modalities.

• Technical guidance, training, and capacity-strengthening activities delivered to WFP staff, targeting teams, and partners, with knowledge-transfer materials and operational guidance provided.

• Field missions, assurance reviews, and compliance activities conducted, including follow-up on audit findings, delivery assurance recommendations, and improvement actions.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Education: University Degree or Advanced University Degree in international relations, political or economic science, business administration, computer and information systems, or other relevant academic areas.

• Experience: Minimum of 7 years of relevant progressive work experience in the humanitarian or private sector, including at least 3 years in identity management and/or cash-based transfers. Experience with SCOPE, beneficiary registration systems, data cleanup exercises, and vulnerability targeting methodologies is highly desirable.

• Knowledge & Skills: Microsoft Office, data collection tools, ETL/ELT tools, database technologies, field applications, and project management methodologies are relevant. Experience and ability to effectively engage and coordinate across a variety of stakeholders.

• Languages: Fluency (level C) in English with an intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (preferably Arabic) desirable.

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:  [email protected]

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 [email protected]. 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.

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.