Climate-Resilient Food Systems and Adaptation Specialist

This position is exclusively open to Swiss citizens. Candidates who do not fulfil this condition will not receive response.

BACKGROUND:

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been in Cambodia since 1979. The current WFP Cambodia Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2024-2028 aims to complement and contribute to the government’s efforts to achieve zero hunger through supporting social protection, climate and disaster risk management and food security and nutrition.

Cambodia has made strong development gains in recent years; however, many peopleparticularly women, persons with disabilities, marginalized groups, and those living in povertycontinue to face significant barriers to food security, nutrition, and resilience. Persistent inequalities, limited access to nutritious foods, climate-related shocks, and structural exclusion leave many populations at risk of being left behind.

The WFP Cambodia Country Strategic Plan (2024–2028) marks a strategic shift toward national systems strengthening, with a focus on ensuring that social protection, food systems, and disaster risk management are inclusive, nutrition-sensitive, and gender-responsive. The CSP is fully aligned with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy, the National Social Protection Policy Framework, the National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition, and national climate and disaster management priorities.

The CSP is structured around three Strategic Outcomes:

1. strengthening an inclusive, shock-responsive national social protection system;
2. improving access to safe, nutritious, affordable foods through equitable and climate-resilient food systems; and
3. enhancing national and subnational capacities for early warning, anticipatory action, and coordinated disaster preparedness and response.

Across these areas, WFP prioritizes protection, disability inclusion, and accountability to affected populations to ensure all interventions are safe, accessible, and equitable. As WFP continues expanding its systems-strengthening role, additional support is required to help integrate these cross-cutting commitments consistently across programme portfolios.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

· Provide technical expertise to integrate climate adaptation into food systems and nutrition programming.

· Support government and WFP in institutionalizing climate-resilient approaches.

· Strengthen national and community capacity for anticipatory action and disaster risk reduction.

· Contribute to the development of funding proposals for GCF/Adaptation Fund.

Duties and responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

The incumbent will undertake the following tasks:

• Conduct assessments of climate risks and vulnerabilities in food systems.
• Provide technical advice on agroecology, resilient infrastructure, and anticipatory action.
• Support design of GCF/Adaptation Fund proposals aligned with national priorities.
• Facilitate coordination among government, UN agencies, donors, and civil society.
• Develop training materials and deliver capacity-building workshops.
• Document lessons learned and contribute to WFP’s global climate resilience knowledge base.

Prepare reports, policy briefs, and recommendations to guide decision-making at national and regional levels.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

· Climate vulnerability and food systems assessment report.

· Draft GCF/Adaptation Fund project proposal(s).

· Technical guidance notes on climate-resilient food systems.

· Capacity-building workshops and training materials.

· Final mission report with recommendations.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

· Advanced degree in climate change, environmental policy, agriculture, or related field.

· 7–10 years of experience in climate adaptation, food systems, or disaster risk reduction.

· Strong knowledge of agroecology and anticipatory action.

· Experience with Climate Financing (GCF/Adaptation Fund proposals).

· Experience with governments, UN agencies, and international organizations.

· Fluency in English; Khmer an asset.

· Reporting and Coordination

The expert will report to the Head of Programme / Deputy Country Director and work closely with WFP Cambodia staff, government counterparts, and relevant partners. Regular updates will be provided to WFP’s Regional Bureau and Headquarters as needed.

Exit Strategy

Knowledge transfer to WFP staff and government counterparts through training, documentation, and proposal development. Outputs embedded into WFP’s CSP and national strategies to ensure sustainability.

Duty station: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with possible travel to field locations.

Begin of mission / duration: Asap, duration: 1 year

P-Level/Salary class: P3 / Salary class (SDC) 23

For reasons of duty of care (increased risks due to other privileges and immunities) and to avoid conflicts of interest and potential bias, employees and their accompanying persons who hold dual or multiple citizenships shall, as a matter of principle, not be assigned to countries of which they are nationals.

Deadline for application: 14.07.2026

Contact/Application:

Please send your application, including a short description of your motivation, to:

Lotti Roth

Field Resources H

lotti.roth@eda.admin.ch