Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.
ABOUT WFP
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Tropical cyclone ‘IDAI’ made landfall in the central region of Mozambique heavily affecting several districts of Sofala, Manica, Zambesia and Tete provinces, and left around 1.85 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The first days of response were focused on the life-saving rescue operation in close cooperation with National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC) where WFP providing high energy biscuits to populations stranded owing to widespread flooding, downed bridges, communications, road and port damages. Within days, the focus shifted from immediate life-saving interventions to a broader approach intended to meet the food needs of affected populations through provision of food in accommodation centers and to rural and peri-urban communities. As flood waters receded and access increased, WFP was able to quickly expand food distribution by air, land, and water to reach previously isolated populations. As of today – WFP reached 1.7 million people with immediate food assistance.
Parallel to addressing the immediate food need, WFP also emphasized the need to develop a longer-term planning to transition from relief and recovery; and ultimately build resilience of the affected population through phased interventions. As a result, Mozambique CO – with the support from RBJ – developed a 3-year strategy for recovery with a resilience, social protection and nutrition focus. The ‘emergency phase’ of the response will conclude by mid-July. Based on assessments that are expected in early June and to align with government policy, WFP will need to shift from unconditional to conditional assistance and target for an estimated 700k people by July/August. To support this large number of beneficiaries with conditional assistance, it will be critical for WFP to start working with local government on planning for ‘light Food Assistance For Asset (FFA)/FFT, or similar, to implement immediately upon this transition and work towards developing more value-added FFA and smallholder support together with FAO and NGO partners over subsequent months. To accomplish this WFP Mozambique CO is recruiting a Programme Policy Officer.
JOB PURPOSE
Under the overall supervision of Head of the Head of Unit, the Programme Policy Officer will work closely with the Sub-Offices and CO team in implementing the cyclone ‘IDAI’ Assistance Strategy (2019-2021) and materializing the recovery and resilience building plan formulated throug a joint mission to be commission in June 2019 involving HQ, RBJ and CO. She/he will form part of the Programme Unit with a focus on providing support to WFP’s Integrated Resilience Building Approach in the face of the loss and damage caused by cyclone ‘IDAI’.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
- Based on HQ/RBJ assessment mission recommendations, prepare a 6-month work-plan with clearly articulated milestones in consultation with HoSO, CO and RBJ;
- Work closely with HoSO, CO and RBJ in analyzing the entry point for shifting from unconditional to conditional assistance approach – as well as look into the challenges and opportunities therein;
- Liaise with local government offices to explore the possibilities of horizontal expansion of government-led safety-nets programmes; subsequently assess the gaps and needs; and work-out a plan to support existing programmes through conditional assistance;
- Liaise with clusters/sectors and other UN agencies (especially FAO, UNICEF, UNDP) and look for joint intervention opportunities wherever possible – subsequently formulate joint proposal to access programme funding opportunities;
- Delineate the different phases of interventions and their durations, during the implementation of the 3-year strategy – conditional support through light FFA/FFT based on community needs and priorities; and subsequently moving towards more sophisticated asset creation interventions, VSL, access to markets, etc. based on SLP, CBPP results; and illustrate a graduation strategy;
- Lead the SLP and CBPP ToTs and consultations guided by the work-plan and subsequently produce SLP and CBPP consultation reports, share with all relevant stakeholders;
- Identify resilient infrastructures/assets to be created/rehabilitated by community people, visit the sites and assess potential environmental and social risks;
- Support WFP staff and Cooperating Partners (CPs) in planning and formulating quality FFA projects (gender and nutrition sensitive) that address the underlying causes of food insecurity for various target groups using community-based planning processes;
- Work closely with HoSO, CPs and RBJ in developing the asset description, design standards, work-norms and no. of participants to be enrolled.
- Liaise with CPs including visits to FFA project sites in order to ensure that activities are implemented on timely basis and to the required quality standards.
- Work closely with CPs to identify opportunities for:
- improvement in agricultural production through conservation agriculture, provision of improved inputs (seeds, fertilizer, insecticides, irrigation),
- reducing post-harvest losses (PHL) and
- connecting smallholder farmers to markets (SAMS).
- Formulate FFT package including priority skill improvement training needs, season and duration of trainings, as well as assess the need for input support to kick-start new business by beneficiaries;
- Perform any other activities assigned by the HoSO.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
- Advanced University degree in Economics, Agriculture, International Affairs, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies or other fields related to international development assistance or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
Experience:
- At least 6-10 years of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in public sector management, community-based development; experience in project management and operational implementation a must, while experience with WFP is strongly desirable;
- Strong experience in formulating programme strategies and activities in humanitarian and transition contexts, drawing upon full range of food assistance tools, and translating them into implementation modalities and operations;
- Proven experience in designing and managing resilience and climate change programmes.
Language:
- Fluency (level C) in English language;
- Knowledge of Portuguese and local languages is desirable.
FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES
Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance: Displays ability to identify the main hunger problem at the national or subnational level to design and implement context-specific programmes that integrate complex analysis and the full range of food assistance tools.
Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Voucher): Demonstrates ability to analyse and consolidate quantitative and qualitative information from different sources (e.g., market studies) to inform transfer modality selection and programme development.
Broad Knowledge of Specialized areas (i.e. Nutrition, VAM, etc.):Demonstrates the ability to interpret basic data in the context of WFP specialised fields to contribute to technical programme design, implementation and monitoring.
Emergency Programming: Displays ability to translate understanding of programme principles in emergencies and protracted conflict situations into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches.
Strategic Policy Engagement w/ Government: Develops thorough recommendations using multiple inputs (e.g., government counsel, research, own experience) to strengthen national or subnational entities and government owned food and nutrition security programmes.
OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS
This section is optional to describe additional responsibilities & knowledge required for the specific job.
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE
- Sound knowledge on resilience building – especially in designing FFA and FFT – and safety-nets – demonstrated ability to support and guidance the Sub-Office for the design, formulation, implementation and monitoring of integrated livelihood support programming that strengthens linkages among resilience initiatives including FFA, FFT, PHL, SAMS, climate services, DRR and with other pillars of the 3-year assistance strategy;
- Knowledge and skills on facilitating SLP and CBPP – experience in Southern Africa region would be an asset;
- Experience of working with local government institutes, sensitize local government as well as building their capacity on corporate 3PA tool and integrated resilience building approach;
- Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavor; solid writing skills; ability to deal patiently and tactfully with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
- Good understanding of programme principles in emergency, transition and development situations with ability to translate them into context specific design and implementation approaches;
- High capacity for organization and coordination, as well as an ability to work with a high degree of independence in a team environment; and
- Excellent communication and presentation skills;
- Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook);
- General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures governing administration is desirable.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Assignment duration: 3 months with possibility of extension.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
4 July 2019
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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply
WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.