Field Programme Assistant - Ditwa Response (Kegalle) SSA5
Support emergency response operations and coordinate field activities efficiently.
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Overview
Support emergency response operations and coordinate field activities efficiently.
You have:
- Completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary certificate in the related functional area is desirable.
- Minimum 5 years of related work experience is required.
- Fluency in both oral and written communication in English, and Sinhala/Tamil.
- Experience collecting programme output and outcome data, conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, and reporting findings to management team, partners and other stakeholders.
- Experience utilizing WFP monitoring and evaluation systems and standards.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
18 February 2026-23:59-GMT+05:30 India Standard Time (Colombo)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).
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT AND JOB PURPOSE:
The Field Programme Assistant – Ditwa Response will operate as part of the emergency surge team under the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director. This role is embedded within the organization’s humanitarian response framework, which aims to deliver timely and effective assistance to communities affected by Cyclone Ditwa and subsequent flooding. The position will support field operations, ensuring that programme activities are implemented efficiently and in alignment with organizational standards and emergency protocols. The incumbent will work closely with programme and operational teams to maintain continuity of services, facilitate coordination, and uphold accountability in all aspects of the emergency response.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):
Ensure effective oversight of planned food and non‑food assistance operations by verifying commodity movements, distributions, and NGO partner implementation. Address routine operational issues, escalate risks as required, and ensure all activities adhere to WFP operational standards, accountability requirements, and established emergency response procedures.
Support evidence‑based programme management by collecting, validating, and consolidating monitoring and implementation data from field locations and cooperating partners. Conduct basic analysis and prepare high‑quality field mission reports, programme summaries, and monitoring outputs to inform management decisions and programme reviews.
Maintain regular coordination with cooperating partners, community structures, and internal units in CO to facilitate effective information exchange and ensure coherent programme implementation. Organize and participate in coordination meetings regarding distribution arrangements, commodity pipelines, entitlements, and beneficiary feedback.
Contribute to the strengthening of monitoring systems by assessing field practices, identifying gaps, and proposing improvements to monitoring tools, processes, and partner reporting. Support efforts to ensure partner compliance with WFP standards and enhance programme quality, including the promotion of accountability to affected populations.
Provide guidance and on‑the‑job support to field staff to strengthen performance and ensure effective execution of monitoring responsibilities. Deliver standard trainings to cooperating partners on WFP operational procedures, monitoring methodologies, and reporting requirements to reinforce their capacity for independent self-monitoring and high‑quality programme delivery.
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:
- Has experience collecting programme output and outcome data, conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, and reporting findings to management team, partners and other stakeholders.
- Has experience utilizing WFP monitoring and evaluation systems and standards.
STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Education & Experience:
Completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary certificate in the related functional area is desirable. Minimum 5 years of related work experience is required
Language:
Fluency in both oral and written communication in English, and Sinhala/ Tamil
For Sri Lankan Nationals only. Do apply on/before 18 February 2026.
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 recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.
- If you experience challenges while submitting your online application, please contact us at [email protected] for technical support only.
- Please note that applications sent to this email address cannot be considered.
- We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
- Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
- Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
- Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
- Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
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.
Potential interview questions
| Explain your experience with emergency response operations and how you ensure adherence to operational standards. | The interviewer wants to understand your practical experience and ability to manage operations under pressure. | Detail specific situations where you successfully managed emergency operations, focusing on standards. |
| Can you describe a time when you collected and analyzed program data? What methods did you use? | This assesses your analytical skills and familiarity with data collection methods. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you maintain effective communication and coordination with partners in a humanitarian context? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What challenges have you faced in program monitoring, and how did you address them? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe your experience in training others on operational procedures. How did you communicate complex information? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies do you use to ensure accountability within a program? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Share an example of a successful project you managed from start to finish. What were the key factors for success? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you handle feedback and complaints from beneficiaries in an emergency setting? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
Added 4 months ago
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Updated 4 months ago
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Source:
wfp.org
