Budget and Programming Associate 

DUE: 15 JUL 2025

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

15 July 2025-23:59-GMT+02:00 Central Africa Time (Harare)

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.

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).

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Zimbabwe works in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe, humanitarian and development actors, the private sector, and local communities to address immediate food needs while supporting long-term solutions to hunger and malnutrition.

WFP’s portfolio in Zimbabwe is guided by its Country Strategic Plan (CSP 2022–2026), which aligns with national development priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. The CSP focuses on four key areas:

• Crisis Response: Providing emergency food assistance during critical periods such as the lean season, with a focus on protecting lives and livelihoods, particularly in response to climate shocks like droughts and floods.
• Resilience Building: Supporting communities to strengthen food systems, improve agricultural productivity, diversify livelihoods, and build resilience to climate change through integrated rural and urban programmes.
• Nutrition Improvement: Addressing malnutrition, particularly among children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people living with HIV, while promoting healthy diets and social behaviour change.
• Capacity Strengthening: Enhancing the capacity of government institutions to manage food security and nutrition programmes, social protection systems, and emergency preparedness and response.

WFP Zimbabwe is a key partner in supporting the Government’s Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy (FDMS), advancing localization through partnerships with local organizations, and driving innovation in digital solutions, youth empowerment, and private sector engagement. WFP continues to deliver life-saving assistance and invest in long-term, sustainable food security solutions for vulnerable Zimbabwean communities.

This position is based in Harare and reports to the Head of Budget and Programming.

THE ROLE: To provide a range of specialized support for efficient planning, monitoring and analysis of project financial performance to enhance optimal use of financial resources.

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

• Review budget plans, monitor and analyze project financial performance and make recommendations in compliance with WFP financial policies and procedures and best practices, to support financial analysis and optimization of resources.
• Provide comprehensive analysis on fund and grant balances identifying surpluses and deficits, and suggest corrective measures, to support maximum fund utilization and decision-making process.
• Support pipeline management ensuring efficient monitoring, to prevent and address pipeline breaks and maximize operational effectiveness.
• Contribute to the improvement of internal processes, enhancement of corporate systems and design of tools, to facilitate the overall planning, expenditure forecasting, and budget management and monitoring of resource utilization.
• Enter project budget plans and revisions in the corporate systems, to ensure data is timely and accurately captured enabling easy access to information and supporting planning and decision-making.
• Review, compile and analyze data, maintain accurate records and files and prepare periodic and ad hoc reports, to support accuracy and efficiency of information presented to internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain communication with a number of stakeholders regarding project funds management matters and related processes, to clarify any discrepancies and optimize use of funds.
• Provide guidance to other support staff and contribute to their learning and development in budget planning, fund management and operational planning, to facilitate continued development and consistency in services delivered.
• Follow standard emergency preparedness practices, to ensure WFP is able to quickly respond and deploy needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: Completion of secondary school education.

A post-secondary certificate in the related functional area such as Rural Development, Development Studies, Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Data Analytics, Data Processing, Artificial Intelligence, Project Management, Advanced Business Administration or other relevant field or Post Graduate University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses
Experience: Six or more years of progressively responsible work experience in the relative business stream with experience in general administrative work.
Knowledge and Skills:

• Has supported the preparation and management of budgets
• Has assisted with the monitoring of budgets/resource plans/pipelines/supply chains.
• Has assisted with budget/allotment related issues within the WFP budget system.
• Good negotiation skills and ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Good knowledge of WFP specific software (SAP).

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in the UN language in use at the duty station and in the duty station’s language, if different.

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 DISCLAIME

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

• 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.
• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
• 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
• Please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

TO APPLY
Click here to apply

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.