PROGRAMME POLICY OFFICER (ADAPTIVE SOCIAL PROTECTION EXPERT) - SC9

Job Title: Programme Policy Officer (Adaptive Social Protection Expert)

Grade: SC9

Type of contract: Service Contract

Duration: 12 months

Duty Station: Lahore, Pakistan

Date of Publication: 5th May 2026

Deadline of Application: 19th May 2026

WFP offers a competitive benefits package including salary, social security contribution, medical insurance, annual leave, parental leave, among other benefits.

Important: All educational documents must be verified/attested by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Appointment will be subject to submission of HEC-verified degrees.

Towards the over-arching goal of Zero Hunger, the World Food Programme in Pakistan is working to support federal and provincial governments in strengthening social protection systems to be more effective and efficient in reaching the most vulnerable people, especially in times of crisis. In an effort to support the Government of Punjab to expand the scope of their existing social protection system, to adapt to changing needs in times of crisis, WFP is looking to hire an Adaptive Social Protection Expert to work with the government.With funding support from the Global Shield Financing Facility, WFP will collaborate closely with provincial stakeholders in Punjab to embed disaster risk management within the social protection system at the policy, programme-design and programme-implementation levels. The consultant’s role is designed to complement ongoing analytical work under two studies on parametric insurance and linking social protection and disaster risk financing. While detailed system design will be informed by these studies, the consultant will provide embedded technical support to Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA) to help build foundational architecture of an adaptive social protection system and facilitate engagement for early operational readiness. The expert will be seconded to and report to the Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA) in Lahore, Punjab, with regular co-reporting to the Head of Lahore Provincial Office and under the overall guidance of the Head of Cash-based Transfers and Social Protection in the WFP Country Office.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

The key responsibilities of the adaptive social protection expert are listed below:

1. Provide technical and operational support to laying the foundations for an adaptive social protection system at the provincial level in PunjabThe incumbent will provide operational and technical support to the PSPA in:• Advancing adaptive social protection policy and institutional frameworks.• Developing and adopting adaptive social protection protocols for key climate and disaster hazards.• Integration of disaster risk and vulnerability data into PSPA systems to enable shock-responsive programme design and targeting.• Establishing procedures and mechanisms for transferring emergency cash assistance• Reviewing the 2025 flood response from a social protection perspective to understand how social protection can be leveraged for future climate shocks.• Analyzing institutional roles relevant to ASP implementation and support coordination across provincial stakeholders.

2. Actively participate in WFP’s assessment to identify opportunities and challenges for linking social protection and disaster risk financing, with a focus on PunjabThe staff will support, through participation in meetings, consultations and validations, etc., PSPA and WFP in conducting a comprehensive assessment to identify opportunities and challenges for linking social protection with disaster risk financing. The exercise, covering federal and provincial levels with emphasis on Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, will examine feasibility, readiness, operational gaps, and bottlenecks. Findings will inform policy, governance, financing, and programme design, providing actionable recommendations to integrate disaster risk financing into social protection systems. The assessment will be undertaken through consultations and validations with government stakeholders and implemented by an external firm.

3. Support PSPA and WFP’s undertaking an assessment to analyze opportunities for the use of a parametric insurance scheme, linked to the social protection systemWFP, in collaboration with PSPA and a third-party partner, will lead an assessment to explore opportunities for introducing a parametric insurance scheme and linking it to the social protection system in Punjab. The study will analyze feasibility, operational requirements, and cost implications of establishing swift, pre-arranged payouts triggered by floods and droughts. The assessment will be conducted at both federal and Punjab levels, providing evidence-based recommendations to integrate disaster risk financing into social protection delivery. The staff will support, through participation in meetings, consultations and validations, etc., PSPA and WFP in conducting a comprehensive assessment.

DELIVERABLES:One to Six months:• Comprehensive review of the 2025 Government flood response.• Review of existing systems and programmes at PSPA, identifying clear entry points for integrating adaptive approaches.• Targeted technical assistance sessions delivered to PSPA, strengthening policy, institutional arrangements, and programme design capacities related to ASP.• Record of input provided to the assessment on linkages between social protection and disaster risk financing.• Record of input provided to the assessment on the feasibility of a parametric insurance scheme linked to social protection.Six to Twelve months:• Record of input provided for developing adaptive social protection protocols for priority hazards.• Record of input provided for integration of disaster risk and hazard-related vulnerability data into PSPA systems to enable shock-responsive programme design and targeting• Record of input provided for improving cash delivery procedures and mechanisms at PSPA to enable emergency cash transfers.

Any other related tasks within the scope of ASP and disaster risk financing as agreed with WFP and PSPA.All the deliverables shall be endorsed by the Punjab Social Protection Authority and WFP.

Advanced degree in Social Protection, Climate Resilience, Disaster Risk Financing, Development Studies, Economics, or related field.

• Minimum 3 years of post-graduation relevant professional experience. A total of 7 years of experience developing policies and programmes in social protection, disaster risk financing, emergency preparedness and response, or climate resilience is an advantage.• Experience working with UN agencies and non-government entities working in humanitarian response and social protection.• Demonstrated ability to work with governments at national and local levels, donors, development/humanitarian partners and research institutes.

• Knowledge of Pakistan’s social protection at both the federal and Punjab province levels as well as of climate and disaster risk financing policy and programming.• Strong quantitative and qualitative analysis skills.• Strong ability to research, write and present in both Urdu and English.

Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Urdu. Knowledge of Punjabi is highly desired.

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.