As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of natural hazards, countries across Southeast Asia are increasingly prioritizing disaster risk management and preparedness. Cambodia, highly exposed to floods, droughts, and climate-related shocks, is no exception.
Programme Assistant – Disaster Risk Management at WFP: A Critical Opportunity to Build Resilience in Cambodia
In response to these growing challenges, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced an exciting career opportunity for a Programme Assistant – Disaster Risk Management, based full-time in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This role offers professionals a chance to contribute meaningfully to national resilience-building efforts while working with the world’s largest humanitarian organization.
About the World Food Programme (WFP)
The World Food Programme is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and the leading humanitarian agency saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity. Operating in some of the world’s most complex contexts, WFP places people at the heart of everything it does.
Its workforce is guided by strong values—Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion—and supported through continuous learning, internal mobility, and professional development.
WFP is deeply committed to diversity and equal opportunity, encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply, including persons with disabilities, who are supported through reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process.
Organizational Context: WFP in Cambodia
This position sits within WFP’s Country Strategy Plan (CSP) 2024–2028 for Cambodia, which contributes directly to the global goal of Zero Hunger by 2030 (SDG 2). The strategy is built around two overarching priorities:
- Human capital development, with a focus on nutrition and social protection.
- Climate change adaptation, emphasizing food systems strengthening and disaster risk management.
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The WFP’s approach in Cambodia represents a strategic shift away from direct implementation toward capacity strengthening, systems building, and technical assistance, aligned with national priorities. Through integrated and evidence-based programming, WFP seeks to maximize co-benefits across nutrition, social protection, food systems, and disaster risk management.
About the Role
The Programme Assistant – Disaster Risk Management is a Service Contract (SC-5) position under the direct supervision of the Programme Policy Officer for Disaster Risk Management. Based at the WFP Country Office in Phnom Penh, the role is fully present and full-time, offering hands-on engagement with government institutions, UN agencies, civil society, and humanitarian partners.
At its core, this role supports the effective design, coordination, and implementation of disaster risk management and emergency preparedness activities, ensuring alignment with WFP policies, government systems, and global best practices.
Key Responsibilities
The Programme Assistant will perform specialized and standardized tasks that support WFP’s disaster risk management portfolio. Core responsibilities include:
- Compiling, recording, and analyzing data related to food security, vulnerability, programme performance, and resource utilization to inform operational decision-making.
- Supporting project management, reporting, and general office functions in line with WFP policies and procedures.
- Coordinating with internal teams to ensure effective collaboration, monitoring, and implementation of ongoing activities.
- Engaging with government institutions, NGOs, UN agencies, and local partners to strengthen coordination and communication.
- Acting as a focal point for operational queries and supporting emergency preparedness to enable rapid response when crises occur.
Specialized Disaster Risk Management Functions
Beyond general programme support, this role plays a strategic part in strengthening Cambodia’s disaster risk management systems. In close collaboration with WFP’s Research, Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) unit, the Programme Assistant will support government counterparts—such as the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) and the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MoWRAM)—to integrate data-driven analytical tools, including vulnerability and risk maps, into disaster-related decision-making.
The role also contributes to advancing forecast-based anticipatory action, a forward-looking approach that enables early action before disasters strike, in line with WFP protocols and national emergency systems. Additionally, the Programme Assistant will support the design and facilitation of workshops, simulations, and capacity-building exercises at national and sub-national levels.
A particularly significant responsibility is serving as Coordinator/Secretariat of the Humanitarian Response Forum (HRF), co-led by WFP. This includes organizing meetings, liaising with ministries and humanitarian actors, supporting situation reports, and sharing emergency preparedness and response knowledge products during both normal and crisis periods.
Integration with Social Protection and Emergency Response
The Programme Assistant will also work closely with WFP’s Social Protection unit, supporting activities related to shock-responsive social protection in line with WFP’s integrated risk management strategy. In emergency situations, the role provides direct support to relief coordination efforts, including alignment with national authorities and contributions to cash-based transfers, logistics support, and non-food item responses.
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Required Experience and Qualifications
To succeed in this role, candidates should have:
- Completion of secondary school education (a post-secondary certificate in a relevant field is desirable).
- A minimum of five years of progressive experience in disaster management, climate adaptation, or related areas.
- Demonstrated experience in government capacity-building and systems strengthening, particularly at national and sub-national levels.
- Proven ability to apply innovative, data-driven approaches to governance systems, especially in climate resilience.
- Experience managing donor-funded programmes, ideally within a UN agency or international NGO.
- Strong coordination skills, including managing multi-stakeholder forums.
Fluency (Level C) in English and Khmer is required.
Application Deadline
The deadline for applications is 11 January 2026 at 23:59 (GMT+07:00, Phnom Penh time). Applications must be submitted exclusively through WFP’s online recruitment system.
