Closing Date: 12 October 2025
UN WFP is hiring for Regional Directors to join its Talent Pool: Apply Now
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.
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.
WFP’s Regional Leadership
The World Food Programme is seeking to build a diverse pool of exceptional leaders for future Regional Director opportunities for its Regional Offices (ROs). As a Regional Director, you will play a pivotal role in driving WFP’s strategic vision, supporting country operations, and fostering partnerships that deliver life-saving assistance and long-term resilience. By joining this talent pool, you position yourself to lead impactful regional strategies, represent WFP at the highest levels, and contribute to achieving Zero Hunger worldwide.
The Regional Offices are:
- Asia and the Pacific RO – located in Bangkok, Thailand
- Eastern and Southern Africa RO – located in Nairobi, Kenya
- Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office – located in Panama City, Panama
- Middle East, Northern Africa, and Eastern Europe Regional Office – located in Cairo, Egypt
- Western and Central Africa Regional Office – located in Dakar, Senegal
About the Regional Director at WFP
These roles are found in Regional Offices and report to the Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer (DED/COO). In accordance with WFP’s Management Accountability Framework (MAF), the Regional Directors (RDs) operate as an extension of the DED/COO Office providing strategic oversight in the regions and participate in HQ-level decision-making.
For non-presence countries within their region, these roles monitor the context, engage with local authorities and coordinate with UN Country Teams and relevant WFP functions as required.
The Regional Director plays a strategic and facilitative role in support of the Country Offices (COs), leveraging regional cross-functional coordination, and contextualizing global strategies to meet the needs of country operations. These roles ensure that CO priorities are effectively amplified to Global Functions; as members of the Senior Management Team (SMT), they also provide regional and contextual contribution to WFP Leadership Team and represent and position WFP in the region strengthening regional partnerships and, in consultation with the DED/COO, provide support to Country Directors to enhance performance and effectiveness.
Key Accountabilities (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):
Country Office Support
- Drive cross-functional coordination to promote quality and timely support to Country Offices by Global HQ.
- Contribute with strategic input and support to the design and implementation of Country Strategic Plans (CSPs), consistent with WFP strategic plan and policy framework.
- Assist with crisis preparedness and response per the Emergency Activation Protocol.
- Support CDs in the timely and effective implementation of oversight recommendations, promoting risk management, internal controls, and the use of evaluations.
- Support CDs in strengthening performance, operational effectiveness, and leadership development to foster cohesive, high-performing teams.
- Contribute to the performance appraisal and appointment process of CDs.
Inputs to Corporate Decision Making
- Contribute to the development of corporate WFP strategies and policies, ensuring COs needs and regional dimensions are duly reflected.
- Identify opportunities for improvement in operations and processes, in consultation with CDs and Global Functions, providing strategic guidance to ensure alignment with WFP’s organizational goals, priorities, and oversight standards.
- Work with functional leads to ensure that corporate priorities, strategies and direction are translated into tailored guidance and support for COs.
- Serve as members to the Senior Management Team (SMT) as well as other corporate decision making committees, working groups, teams etc.
Regional Engagement, Fundraising, and Partnerships
- Represent WFP within the region, engaging with regional stakeholders, facilitate access to resources and advance WFP’s mission.
- Facilitate regional engagement to drive UN system coherence and achieve joint results. As non-resident agency, support RCs and UNCTs in implementing UN policies to address regional priorities.
- Contribute to regional resource mobilization efforts, to enhance visibility and secure funding for WFP operations and related national programmes. Coordinate with COs and partners to mobilize resources for cross-border initiatives that address regional priorities.
- Facilitate strategic partnerships to enhance synergy, drive cohesive responses to regional priorities, and support cross- border initiatives.
- Engage with the Regional Collaborative Platform to enhance access to regional expertise, providing insights to Global Functions and Country Directors to escalate and facilitate HQ-level discussions.
Management of the Regional Director’s Office (RO)
- Responsible for the overall management of the Regional Director’s Office, ensuring effective planning, budgeting, staffing, and internal coordination in line with corporate policies and operational priorities. Uphold the duty of care and security of all staff based in the Regional Director’s Office, while fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace.
Qualifications and Experience
Education: Advanced University degree in Economics, International Development, Social Sciences or other relevant field, or First University degree with two additional years of relevant experience.
Experience: Minimum fifteen years of senior level professional experience in a relevant field of work with a background and interest in international humanitarian development. Extensive experience leading multicultural teams and improving performance.
Language:
- Fluency (level C) in English language is required
- Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language) is required.
- Fluency in French and/or Spanish is highly desirable.
Terms and Conditions
Geographical Mobility is and continues to be a core contractual requirement in WFP. Selected candidates for any future Regional Director opportunity will be employed on a fixed-term International Professional position as well as a rotational contract with a probationary period of one year.
Selected candidates for future Regional Directors opportunities will be required to relocate to the corresponding duty station to take up their assignment.
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