Programme Policy Officer (Humanitarian Access Specialist), CST II, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

## Programme Policy Officer (Humanitarian Access Specialist), CST II, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia - Organization:WFP - World Food Programme - Field location:Bahir Dar - Office:WFP in Bahir Dar DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 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. 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. - 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 theTerms and Conditionssection of this vacancy announcement). CONTRACTUAL INFORMATIONJob title:Programme Policy Officer (Humanitarian Access Specialist)Type of Contract:International CST IIUnit:Field CoordinationDuty Station:Bahir Dar, Ethiopia (with frequent travel throughout Northern Ethiopia, including the Amhara, Tigray, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz regions)Duration:Six (6) monthsReporting Line:Head of Area Office, Bahir Dar (administrative supervision) and Head of Field Coordination (technical supervision). ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXTWFP 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 PURPOSEThe 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