Program Assistant (Disaster Preparedness) Verified listing

This position is based in the WFP Country Office, Islamabad. The job holder will report to the Activity Manager for Activity 1 under the overall supervision of the SO1 Manager. As part of the country office team, the person will support various tasks related to disaster preparedness, Anticipatory Action (AA), and resilience programming in vulnerable districts of Pakistan. The role requires coordination with government counterparts, cooperating partners, and other stakeholders to ensure effective planning and implementation of activities.
The person is expected to have technical knowledge of disaster risk reduction, anticipatory action, resilience building, and programme planning, development, implementation, and monitoring. This post will ensure adequate, appropriate, and timely support for the implementation of project activities across all provinces.

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

1. Assist in planning and coordinating emergency preparedness and AA activities at field and country office level.
2. Assist the integration of resilience-building measures into ongoing programmes.
3. Maintain updated records of programme activities, budgets, and outputs.
4. Assist training sessions, workshops, and simulations on emergency preparedness and DRR.
5. Assist in communication between Provincial teams, cooperating partners, and government counterparts.
6. Assist in documenting lessons learned and best practices.
7. Draft correspondence, meeting agendas, and minutes.
8. Ensure timely processing of administrative tasks (procurement requests, travel arrangements, payments) for Activity 1.
9. Maintain filing systems and databases for programme documentation.
10. Ensure alignment of budget proposals with operational plans, donor requirements, and WFP financial guidelines.
11. Verify invoices, receipts, and supporting documents from cooperating partners and PO teams.
12. Maintain regular contact with government counterparts, NGOs, UN agencies, and community representatives.
13. Share updates on programme activities, risks, and preparedness measures.
14. Prepare and facilitate a mission to the targeted areas, if any.
15. Conduct field visits to support and monitor field activities and follow up on issues in the field and report back for information and action.
16. Perform other related duties or assignments in line with the position level and expertise as assigned by the activity manager.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT

1. Support planning and coordination, and organise at least 3 planning/coordination meetings with the provinces and government line departments and prepare short meeting briefs with clear action points.
2. Assist with trainings and workshops, and assist in organising 2 capacity building/orientation sessions of the CPs, and write 2 lessons‑learned reports.
3. Develop and update 1 beneficiary’s database spreadsheet for the capacity building activities
4. Support 6 bi‑weekly updates and support 2 field visits/missions with partners and the government.

Education:

Completion of secondary school education. A bachelor’s degree in social science, development studies, climate change, DRR, project management, or other related areas is desirable.

Experience:

At least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in coordination and administration, with knowledge of disaster risk management, emergency response, Anticipatory Action, community development, or related areas.
Experience working with government institutions, international organizations, or NGOs is an advantage.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Good understanding of disaster risk management principles and practices.
• Strong coordination and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, and local communities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Language:

Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Urdu