Programme Associate - Emergency Preparedness and Response - SC6

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

3 September 2026-23:59-GMT+07:00 Indochina Time (Vientiane)

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• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

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• 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).

WFP in Lao PDR seeks a Programme Associate – Emergency Preparedness and Response to support the planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and reporting of emergency preparedness and response activities. Working closely with government counterparts, local authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, and development partners, the role will contribute to strengthening national disaster preparedness, response readiness, cash-based transfer programmes, and capacity-building efforts to improve assistance delivery and resilience for disaster-affected communities.

JOB TITLE: Programme Associate - Emergency Preparedness and Response
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Service Contract (SC6)
DIVISION: Programme Unit
DUTY STATION: Vientiane, Laos PDR
DURATION: 12 months (non-renewal)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is highly vulnerable to recurrent natural hazards, including tropical storms, floods, droughts, landslides, and other climate-related shocks. The frequency and intensity of these hazards have increased in recent years, significantly affecting food security, livelihoods, infrastructure, and the resilience of vulnerable communities, particularly in remote and rural areas. Climate change is further exacerbating these risks, increasing the likelihood of both sudden-onset and slow-onset emergencies.

Through its Country Strategic Plan (CSP), the World Food Programme (WFP) supports the Government of Lao PDR in strengthening disaster risk management, humanitarian response, social protection systems, and community resilience. Working closely with government counterparts and development partners, WFP contributes to improved emergency preparedness, coordination, anticipatory action, and shock-responsive social protection mechanisms.

As WFP transitions to its new CSP 2027–2031, greater emphasis is being placed on strengthening national capacities and systems to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to increasingly frequent and complex emergencies. WFP has received funding to support emergency preparedness and response activities while strengthening government capacities in line with the new CSP. With implementation commencing in August 2026 and activities to be delivered within a one-year timeframe, the programme will support enhanced preparedness, coordination, response readiness, and capacity strengthening for effective disaster management.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Given the increasing scope of WFP’s engagement in emergency preparedness and response, dedicated support is required to ensure the effective implementation, coordination, monitoring, and reporting of related activities in line with national priorities. To support these efforts, WFP is seeking a Programme Associate (Emergency Preparedness and Response) based in Vientiane. The incumbent will contribute to EPR planning, coordination, monitoring, reporting, and timely response actions, working closely with WFP teams, Government counterparts, partners, and communities to strengthen preparedness, enhance response capacities, and support vulnerable populations affected by disasters.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Programme Associate (Emergency Preparedness and Response) will report directly to the Programme Policy Officer (Emergency Preparedness and Response) and will work across WFP units, including Programme, Supply Chain, Logistics, RAM, Finance, Security, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Field Office teams, as well as relevant government counterparts, UN agencies, NGOs, development partners, and disaster management coordination platforms at national and sub-national levels.

The incumbent will be responsible for the following:

• Provide technical and administration related support to implementation of emergency preparedness and response activities, through both in‑kind food and cash-based transfers, ensuring timely and quality implementation in line with WFP policies and established targets.

• Prepare and contribute to analytical reports, programme updates, and data analysis (e.g., food assistance needs, resource utilization, beneficiary targets, programme performance), highlighting key trends and issues while ensuring compliance with corporate quality standards.

• Ensure accurate and timely recording, consolidation, and reporting of programme data, including beneficiary registration and management in SCOPE, monitoring data in COMET, and documentation related to food and CBT distributions, including preparation of Food Release Notes (FRNs) and related programme records.

• Liaise with internal WFP teams—such as logistics, supply chain, Finance, RAM, and field offices—to support effective coordination, implementation, and monitoring of programme activities.

• Coordinate and communicate with government counterparts, local authorities, development partners, civil society organizations, and NGOs.

• Support capacity strengthening efforts for WFP staff, cooperating partners, and government counterparts on EPR, and SRSP programming.

• Support adherence to WFP’s emergency preparedness and response protocols, including contingency planning, pre‑positioning, and rapid deployment of resources, ensuring operational readiness for crisis response.

• Provide logistical and coordination support for organizing workshops, meetings, training sessions, field missions, and other stakeholder engagements related to programme delivery.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• University degree in Emergency Preparedness and Response, Disaster Management, Social Sciences or other fields relevant to international development assistance, or related work experience and/or training/courses.

• Six years of progressively responsible work UN, NGOs, CSOs in rural development, disaster-risk management or related development fields.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.

• Work experience contributing to the implementation of rural development, food security and nutrition or disaster risk management related programmes.

• Good analytical, facilitation, negotiation skills.

• Ability to work in a team, establish effective working relations with persons of different cultural backgrounds.

• Full knowledge of computer applications such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, etc.) and Canva or other graphic design programs preferred.

LANGUAGES

• Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Lao.

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

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• 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.