National Programme Policy Officer – Social Protection and Disaster Risk Financing

The National Programme Policy Officer supports the strengthening of shock-responsive social protection and disaster risk financing systems in Lao PDR. The role involves policy development, programme implementation, capacity strengthening, partnership coordination, and knowledge management to improve disaster preparedness, resilience, and assistance delivery for vulnerable populations.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to WFP's social protection portfolio, focusing on SRSP and DRFI preparedness, ensuring alignment with national, regional and corporate strategies, policies, and technical guidance.
• Support WFP Lao PDR in building and maintaining effective partnerships with Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and other relevant Ministries to strengthen adaptive and shock-responsive social protection systems and identify opportunities for integrating DRFI mechanisms and social protection delivery systems.
• Support the design and implementation of initiatives that strengthen the link between DRFI mechanisms ('money in') and social protection systems ('money out'), including sovereign and regional risk financing and insurance instruments such as SEADRIF, contingency financing arrangements, and other risk transfer solutions relevant to the Lao PDR context.
• Support WFP's transition towards longer-term national systems strengthening, including strengthening national capacities for shock-responsive social protection, disaster preparedness, cash-based transfer readiness, and adaptive social protection approaches.
• Provide support to policy and operational analysis to inform the development of national social protection policies, strategies, programmes, and financing mechanisms related to disaster preparedness and response.
• Contribute to effective national engagement and collaboration with government, UN agencies, development partners, financial institutions, NGOs, and other stakeholders working on social protection, disaster risk financing and insurance, climate resilience, and disaster risk management.
• Support the development, management, and dissemination of knowledge products, technical guidance, policy briefs, presentations, and learning materials that strengthen WFP's credibility and positioning as a key partner in social protection, DRFI, and resilience building.
• Support the design and delivery of capacity strengthening and learning initiatives that enhance the ability of government counterparts, WFP staff, and partners.
• Capture, document, and share knowledge, lessons learned, best practices, and evidence generated through SRSP and DRFI initiatives to support programme improvement, scaling, and policy development.
• Support monitoring, reporting, and communication activities related to SRSP and DRFI interventions, including donor reporting, briefing materials, presentations, and technical updates.
• Perform any other duties as required in support of WFP's social protection, resilience, disaster preparedness, and emergency response objectives.

Requirements

• Advanced University degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, International Development, International Relations, Economics, Social Sciences, Disaster Risk Management, Finance, Insurance, or other fields relevant to SRSP and DRFI; or a First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or relevant training/certification in social protection, disaster risk financing, insurance, climate resilience, or related fields.
• Five (5) or more years of relevant professional experience related to national development programmes, policies, strategies, plans, and institutional systems in the areas of social protection, disaster risk management, disaster risk financing and insurance, food security, nutrition, climate resilience, and/or emergency response.
• Experience working across policy development and programme cycle management, including programme design, implementation, coordination, monitoring, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience with UN organizations, government institutions, development partners, or NGOs working in social protection, social policy, safety nets, disaster risk management, disaster risk financing and insurance, climate resilience, or related fields is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of current thinking and developments in shock-responsive social protection, adaptive social protection, public policy, social protection systems, and cash-based assistance.
• Knowledge of disaster risk financing and insurance concepts and approaches, including contingency financing, sovereign or regional risk financing mechanisms, insurance solutions, and their linkages with social protection systems.
• Knowledge of regional and country capacity strengthening approaches and effective knowledge transfer models, concepts, and principles.
• Knowledge of key national and regional policy frameworks, institutions, and stakeholder landscapes related to social protection, disaster risk management, and resilience.
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written outputs and deliver presentations in English and Lao.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, demonstrating professionalism and credibility with internal and external partners.
• Demonstrated initiative and interest in exploring innovative approaches to strengthen social protection, disaster preparedness, and resilience systems.
• Ability to work independently in a timely and organized manner and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, fostering open dialogue and valuing diverse perspectives regardless of gender, culture, background, experience, or country assignment.
• Moderate to proficient computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Skills

• Public Policy Design
• Programme Cycle Management
• Social Protection Policies
• Disaster Risk Financing
• Disaster Risk Management
• Insurance Solutions
• Climate Resilience
• Shock-Responsive Social Protection
• Adaptive Social Protection
• Cash-Based Assistance
• Policy Analysis
• Capacity Strengthening
• Knowledge Transfer
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Monitoring and Reporting
• Research and Analysis
• Written Communication
• Presentation Skills
• Microsoft Office Suite

Languages

English, Lao