Setting Up Operations in the Fastest-Growing Humanitarian Crisis in the World - Farah’s Work as WFP Supply Chain Officer

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

When conflict broke in Ukraine, Farah Khabbaz was one of the first responders leaving for Moldova to lead the newly formed Supply Chain Team and establish a WFP office in a new country in just a few days. Here, she shares her 12 years of experience in supply chain spanning five duty stations, and what knowledge she acquired to be able to deliver in times of emergency. 

Hi Farah! What is your background and what led you to your current job as Supply Chain Officer? 

I got both my major and master’s degree in Psychology, which was a big interest for me coming from the love of understanding humans, particularly children. I also wanted to contribute to people’s wellbeing and provide them with a better life. Hence, my earlier work experience varied from being a social worker for children with special needs, to working as a counselor for elementary school children, and rehabilitation centers. ’When my young self was graduating, and when I shook hands with the chair of my university, I knew the door of opportunity stood behind that handshake and that I had the right key for opening it. And indeed, WFP was the door I knocked on and it opened a world of opportunities.’ 

In summer 2010, a friend of mine led me to a vacancy within the World Food Programme in Syria for their school feeding programme. This is where my 12-year journey with WFP started. Thanks to the support and encouragement I received in my many years here, I moved from various fields to eventually land in supply chain. I fell in love with operations, logistics and deliveries. 

[Farah working as field monitor in Syria, 2010]

What does a Supply Chain Officer do? 

I’m currently a Supply Chain Officer in the Field Support Unit in WFP’s Headquarters in Rome, Italy. My role simply focuses on supporting the field, and especially emergency operations, on all supply chain related matters. You’ll get a clearer idea soon! 

Farah’s experience as a first responder in Moldova, supporting operations during the war in Ukraine 

The war in Ukraine has transformed a ‘breadbasket of the world’ into the fastest-growing humanitarian crisis in the world. Tell us about the first days of setting up operations. 

I arrived in Moldova on 3rd March 2022, I was the first comer together with another colleague. When the war broke out, we understood that the number of refugees in neighboring countries was expected to increase and decided to send surge teams to those countries, including Moldova. The unique part of this experience was that we had to start operations from scratch in a country where the World Food Programme would not be typically be needed, and in a fleeting time frame, introducing our work to the government, and finally establishing the office.  

[WFP Supply Chain team at Vatra Warehouse in Moldova, 2022]

Tell us about one memorable moment doing your work since arriving in Moldova. What  accomplishments have you witnessed or contributed to? 

By far, the development and launch of the hot-meals food assistance in less than 10 days! WFP was asked to provide daily hot meals to refugees in Reception Centers across Moldova. In a week’s time, WFP contracted two catering companies and we started the first hot-meals distribution in one of the biggest reception centers in Moldova. 

Improving Supply Chains for Healthier Food Systems 

During your experience in supply chain, where did you see the biggest impact of your work on people’s lives? 

I remember starting my work with WFP in Syria in 2010, where we started giving cash vouchers instead of food rations, leaving people with the choice of shopping at retailers and choosing the food items they need the most in their household. For me, this was the real shift from the concept of food aid to food assistance. And this is the future of WFP, in my view. This also allows markets, communities and government economies to thrive and maintain healthy competition.  

How is establishing and reinforcing supply chains empowering local communities and economies? What’s the impact on food systems? 

I was able to support WFP’s contribution to transforming markets and food systems where we operate, especially in retail and markets. While markets usually flourish and function on their own supply and demand, WFP interventions increased business and improved retailers performances across different countries. In many countries, such as Lebanon, Iraq, Zimbabwe and other locations, WFP supports retailers and small shops to improve their business, enabling financial security, the stability of the market, the retail prices and food availability and deliveries.  

Honing your Skill Set – How YOU Can Land Your Dream Job in Supply Chain 

What are some invaluable skills for a Supply Chain Officer? 

1. Language skills. WFP works in various locations across the world, so having different language skills is quite attractive for hiring managers, as it enables the staff to rotate in different working locations.  
2. Analytical skills. WFP works in ever-changing environments and having the analytical skills to understand and evaluate the different circumstances is critical to improve WFP’s supply chain operations. 
3. One soft skill? Being perceptive. Supply chain involves many different processes, such as procurement, logistics, asset management, etc., and is always impacted by factors such as weather, access, politics, context, culture. Absorbing, understanding and processing all the interlinked factors is key to finding the optimal supply chain plan or operation. 

What advice would you give to someone who wishes to enter your field? 

1. A good Supply Chain Officer is rarely found in the office, but rather in the operational sites. Immerse oneself in each of the supply chain processes to understand it better and thrive in it.  
2. Keep an eye on the private sector! The way markets in the private sector work are very similar to how we evaluate saving and profit in our supply chain – except our profits are the well-being and satisfaction of the people we serve! We can benefit immensely from the developments and new technologies coming from the commercial market and private sector in the field of supply chain.  

That’s all from Farah! Let us know your thoughts and questions about Farah’s pathway to WFP and share these career tips with the future humanitarians in your LinkedIn connections. Subscribe to our ‘Pathway to WFP’ newsletter to receive the next episode in your inbox!