From School Meals to Strengthening Partnerships: A Full Circle Journey with WFP

‘Pathway to WFP’ is the LinkedIn career series by the World Food Programme investigating the professional backgrounds and life choices that led our staff to the world’s largest humanitarian agency. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive new episodes directly in your inbox!

Doaa Abdel-fattah ’s journey with WFP has come full circle. Growing up in Egypt, she was a student who received school meals through a WFP-supported programme; an experience that left a lasting impression of how a simple meal can change lives.

Today, she serves as Regional Programme Policy Officer for Cooperating Partner Management at WFP’s Regional Bureau in Cairo, supporting 16 Country Offices in building and strengthening partnerships that ensure food assistance reaches millions of people in some of the world’s most challenging contexts. 

In this episode, Doaa reflects on her path into humanitarian work, the vital role of partnerships, and what keeps her motivated in the mission to achieve zero hunger.

Introduce yourself! What is your role at WFP? Where do you work and where are you from?

My name is Doaa Abd Elfattah, and I am the Regional Programme Policy Officer for Cooperating Partner Management at the World Food Programme’s Regional Bureau in Cairo, Egypt. In this role, I support 16 Country Offices across the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe to strengthen partnerships with NGOs, governments, and other stakeholders, ensuring food assistance reaches those who need it most.

I am originally from Egypt and hold a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management and Leadership from Webster University, USA.

Tell us about your professional journey: how did you start your career? What is your academic and previous professional background. 

My career has always been shaped by a passion for partnerships, humanitarian response, and capacity building.

I hold an MBA in Strategic Management and Leadership from Webster University, USA. My first experience in the humanitarian field was with the IOM - UN Migration , where I coordinated capacity-building for NGOs and government partners on combating trafficking in persons. 

I later joined the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as a Regional Programme Associate, managing partnerships across 12 countries in the Middle East and North Africa and working closely with multiple ministries.

Since 2022, I have been with WFP’s Regional Bureau in Cairo, leading the end-to-end cooperating partner management cycle and supporting Country Offices during emergencies and scale-ups.

What brought you to WFP? Feel free to expand on how you joined the organization, and how your experience has been so far.

I was drawn to WFP because of its scale, impact, and mission. As the world’s largest humanitarian organisation fighting hunger, WFP offered the chance to work in an environment where partnerships directly translate into saving and changing lives. 

I was particularly inspired by WFP’s commitment to innovation and its strong focus on localisation to empower national NGOs.

My experience so far has been deeply rewarding. Supporting Lebanon during the 2024 crisis, Ukraine during the ongoing war, and Yemen and Palestine in complex emergencies has shown me how strategic partnerships are essential to keeping humanitarian lifelines open in the most challenging contexts.

What are some of your day-to-day responsibilities at work? 

Every day is different, but at its core, my role revolves around leading and supporting the full cooperating partner management cycle for 16 Country Offices. This includes everything from calls for proposals and drafting field-level agreements, to implementation, monitoring, and closure. I provide technical guidance and update standard operating procedures to ensure Country Offices remain aligned with global partnership standards. I also support the drafting of Annual Country Reports and other partnership documentation, and I make sure operations comply with WFP’s global assurance framework, while keeping enough flexibility to adapt during emergencies.

Another part of my work involves building capacity. I deliver training sessions for staff and partners on areas such as budgeting, reporting, compliance, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and performance assessments.

I also oversee the rollout of digital tools such as Partner Connect [Partner Connect revolutionises data management for WFP operations. Its Real-time Distribution Reporting Module ensures timely, accurate data collection, easing burdens on staff and enhancing partnership effectiveness] and UNPP[The UN Partner Portal (UNPP) is an inter-agency platform for civil society organizations to engage with the UN on partnership opportunities], while coordinating with Headquarters on new policies, templates, donor queries, and strategic initiatives. 

What is the most rewarding part of working at WFP?

The most rewarding part is knowing that the systems we strengthen and the partners we support directly contribute to millions of people receiving food assistance, sometimes in life or death situations. Each time a Country Office is able to scale up during an emergency because the right partners and agreements are already in place, I feel proud of the impact created behind the scenes. Equally meaningful is seeing local NGOs grow in capacity and become trusted long-term partners for WFP.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in your career and how did you overcome them?

Challenges are part of humanitarian work, and over the years I have faced several. One was operating in high-risk contexts such as Yemen, Syria, and Palestine, where we had to ensure verification and assurance standards continued to be upheld despite high-risk contexts. To overcome this, I introduced remote verification mechanisms and developed flexible yet compliant Standard Operating Procedures(SOPs). Another challenge was working with partners who had limited capacity in financial management and reporting. Here, I focused on delivering targeted training and creating simplified toolkits to make compliance more achievable.

Emergencies also bring time pressures, and I often had to draft emergency agreements within just a few days. To manage this, I developed a roster of pre-vetted templates and processes that allowed for rapid mobilisation. These experiences taught me resilience, flexibility, and the importance of building partner capacity well before a crisis strikes.

Can you tell us about partnerships in WFP’s and the role it contributes to success?

Partnerships are the backbone of WFP operations. We do not work alone—our ability to reach communities in need depends on strong collaboration with NGOs, governments, and other UN agencies.

Through partnerships, WFP is able to expand access in hard-to-reach areas, leverage local knowledge and networks for more effective interventions, and build sustainability by strengthening local organisations that continue to serve after WFP exits.

They also ensure accountability and transparency through structured agreements and performance monitoring. In short, partnerships turn resources into real impact on the ground.

What do you recall about WFP’s School Meals Programme while growing up?

Growing up in Egypt, I was one of the students who received school meals. I experienced first-hand how powerful these programmes are in tackling hunger and promoting education. The fact that a simple school meal could improve attendance, enhance learning, and support better nutrition has always stayed with me.

What is your message for other WFP recipients? 

To WFP recipients, whether you are a child receiving school meals, a family receiving food assistance, or a farmer engaged in resilience programmes—my message is simple. Your resilience inspires us. Your voice matters. WFP programmes are designed with you in mind, and your feedback shapes better solutions. Above all, you are partners, not just recipients. Together we can build resilience and break the cycle of hunger.

What keeps you going?

Three things keep me motivated every day. The first is the impact—knowing that every SOP updated, every partner trained, and every agreement signed leads to food reaching people in need. The second is the mission. WFP’s vision of zero hunger is ambitious, but it inspires me to give my best. 

And finally, the people. The faces of children and families who benefit from WFP programmes, along with the colleagues, governments, and NGOs who share the same passion and commitment, make this work truly meaningful.

Can you share 3 tips on how to pursue a similar career?

 Certainly. For anyone aspiring to a career in international organisations like WFP:

• Invest in education: A background in international relations, business administration, or development studies is highly valuable.
• Start with field experience: Gain exposure through NGOs or UN agencies at the local level to understand operations before moving into regional or global roles.
• Build both soft and technical skills: Negotiation, compliance, and partnership management are as important as empathy, cultural sensitivity, and strong communication.

Do you have anything to add?

I believe partnerships are about empowerment. Beyond compliance and reporting, it is about helping organisations grow so they can better serve their communities.

For me, working at WFP is not just a job—it is a mission to ensure no child goes hungry. I am grateful to contribute to that every day.

Thank You Doaa!

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