Job Title: Risk Officer (United Nations UN Jobs)
Organisation: World Food Programme (WFP)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
About Organisation:
World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need. In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to United help communities rebuild their lives. On average, WFP reaches more than 80 million people with food assistance in 80 countries each year. The organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to food and contribute to lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas.
Job Summary: The Risk Officer (SC8) will play a pivotal role in supporting the Risk function to manage evolving risk requirements and ensure effective implementation of risk processes. This includes driving compliance with policies and optimizing WFP resources for maximum impact.
The position is critical in providing comprehensive support to the Country Office, Area Office, and Field Offices to address changing risk management needs. Additionally, the Risk Officer will lead the coordination, review, and validation of supporting documents submitted by Cooperating Partners (CPs) as part of the 2025 risk-informed spot check exercise.
Given the complexity of these responsibilities, the role requires a professional with strong capacity, relevant experience, and proven exposure to risk management processes.
Job Purpose
To provide support in the establishment of risk management activities; contribute to the application of controls and compliance with policies and procedures; and enhance the overall effectiveness of operations and optimization of WFP resources.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Embed Risk Management in Planning and Decision-Making
- SMART Objectives:
- Develop and implement the KRIs to be embedded in the Risk Register for all high and medium risks , and update the Country Office (CO) risk register quarterly, tracking progress on mitigation actions.
- Facilitate biannual risk reviews for all major operational units, ensuring that at least 90% of identified risks have assigned mitigation actions and responsible owners.
- Ensure that all new or revised Country Strategic Plan (CSP) activities undergo a documented risk assessment before approval, with results shared with management within two weeks.
- Integrate risk performance data into quarterly management reports, highlighting trends and areas outside risk appetite for timely action.
Strengthen Internal Controls and Oversight
- SMART Objectives:
- Lead or support the risk informed spot check process missions per year for the High and medium risk CPs, with comprehensive reports and action plans delivered within one month of each mission.
- Review and update Risk SoPs annually, ensuring alignment with WFP policies and the Three Lines Model.
- Assign primary responsibility for all mitigation actions in the risk register, ensuring 100% of actions have clear owners and target dates. Ensure that all material gaps from the CO GAP AAP have been integrated in the CO risk register.
- Monitor and report on the implementation status of audit and evaluation recommendations quarterly, aiming for at least 90% timely completion.
Advance Anti-Fraud, Anti-Corruption, and Ethical Standards
- SMART Objectives:
- Support the annual fraud risk assessments for all high-risk processes, updating the fraud risk register and reporting results to management within one month.
- Support the Delivery at least two anti-fraud and anti-corruption (AFAC) training sessions per year for staff and partners, supporting AFAC awareness during the FAW annually.
- Support the collection and analysis of fraud incidents and risk metrics quarterly, providing actionable recommendations to address identified vulnerabilities.
- Support fact-finding reviews and incident management for all reported fraud or corruption cases, ensuring closure or escalation within three months.
Foster a Proactive Risk Culture and Capacity Building
- SMART Objectives:
- Assist in the facilitation of at least two risk management sessions or information sessions per year for CO and field staff, with at least 85% participant satisfaction.
- Partner with managers to obtain feedback on risk performance and identify at least two policy or procedure gaps annually, recommending new approaches as needed.
- Promote accountability and inclusion by ensuring all risk management activities incorporate WFP’s diversity and inclusion framework.
- Lead regular risk discussions with functional experts, risk focal points, preparing guidance materials and checklists to support periodic risk and control assessments.
Enhance Risk Reporting, Communication, and External Engagement
- SMART Objectives:
- Prepare and submit quarterly risk and compliance reports per year, summarizing the status of internal controls, oversight themes, and areas of vulnerability.
- Facilitate the sharing of risk information with external stakeholders (e.g., donors, partners), ensuring transparency and alignment with corporate standards.
- Support the annual Executive Director’s Assurance exercise, collecting and reviewing all required inputs and clearing the survey by the corporate deadline.
- Maintain an up-to-date repository of risk, audit, SoPs, and compliance documentation, ensuring 100% accessibility for management and audit purposes.
Provide Responsive Advisory and Support for Risk and Compliance
- SMART Objectives:
- Respond to 100% of ad hoc risk and compliance support requests from CO teams within five working days.
- Serve as the focal point for Business Continuity Management (BCM) and Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI), supporting the development and implementation of avoidance plans as required.
- Offer expert advice to managers in preparation for internal and external audits, ensuring all essential documents are collected and briefing meetings are organized in advance.
- Track and report quarterly on the status and outcomes of all advisory and support activities, identifying trends and opportunities for process improvement.
- Any other relevant task as maybe assigned
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- Education: Advanced University degree in Risk Management, Finance, Business Administration, international development, audit or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of relevant work experience and/or training/courses in audit, performance and risk management or other related field.
- Experience: At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in risk management, compliance, or audit functions.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Familiarity with risk management frameworks and tools.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Languages: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language will be an added advantage
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified candidates who wish to join the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) are encouraged to apply online at the link below
Deadline: 23rd December 2025
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Level of Education: postgraduate degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 60