WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.
WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.
JOB RELATED KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Building Coordinator Grade: CST II Type of contract: Regular International Consultancy Duration: 11 months Duty Station: Dushanbe Vacancy Number: 171276 Date of Publication: 04 August 2022 Deadline of Application: 21 August 2022
BACKGROUND
Despite positive economic growth and progress in poverty reduction, Tajikistan is still facing a challenging food security and nutrition situation. Recent economic challenges compounded by population growth have contributed to the reclassification of the country as low-income in 2018 while the COVID pandemic and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has further increased household vulnerability. Malnutrition rates remain the highest in Central Asia, and the number of undernourished has remained stagnant. Tajikistan faces different environmental challenges, including environmental and soil degradation and poor natural resource management. Additionally, Tajikistan is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which has further exacerbated food security and livelihoods of vulnerable communities. Given the above, the government has identified food security and access to quality nutrition as one of its development priorities.
In Tajikistan, WFP is currently operating under a Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2019-2024, the duration for which will be shortened to end in 2022 whereby a new CSP 2023 – 2026 will commence in tandem with the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) covering the same period. By means of the CSP, WFP is undertaking a strategic shift from direct implementation to enabling and strengthening capacities of national and sub-national institutions to deliver on their food security and nutrition priorities. WFP activities support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The geographic scope of WFP Tajikistan operations encompasses the entirety of the country. In addition to the country office in Dushanbe, WFP has field offices located in Bokhtar, Gharm, Khorog, and Khujand to oversee operations in those specific regions.
The current focus of the resilience building portfolio is with the four-year project “Building Climate Resilience of Vulnerable and Food Insecure Communities through Capacity Strengthening and Livelihood Diversification in Mountainous Regions of Tajikistan”, supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The project takes a transformative approach to ensure food security by supporting climate vulnerable communities and national actors through capacity strengthening and awareness raising for enhanced rural resilience through diversification of livelihoods and improved market access.
While the GCF project will remain an important portfolio of the forthcoming CSP, WFP intends to scale-up its climate change adaptation and resilience building portfolio by broadening its reach to include more food-insecure and vulnerable populations in urban and rural areas with improved climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive agri-food value chains. This will be achieved through an integrated, participatory approach that includes the provision of climate information services, capacity strengthening, value chain development, sustainable natural resources management and climate-resilient agriculture and forestry, and ecosystem-based approaches. Collaborating with smallholder farmers and leading innovative endeavours to combatting hunger through cutting-edge methodologies and technological solutions that respect local traditions and knowledge will be central to the new strategy.
Resilience building includes disaster risk reduction and mitigation, which are also key components to WFP’s work in Tajikistan. By anticipating disasters and building in preparedness measures, destruction of assets and reduction of food security may be minimized. WFP will continue to include emergency planning and response in its new strategy.
PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
To serve as activity manager through leading the coordination, implementation, and review of all Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Building (CCARB) initiatives for WFP Tajikistan, including but not limited to GCF, food/cash assistance for assets creation projects, homegrown school feeding projects and smallholder agricultural market support, emergency preparedness and response actions, and disaster risk management/reduction. Innovative approaches respecting indigenous knowledge will be prioritized.
ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting directly to the Head of Programme and with the overall guidance of the WFP Tajikistan Deputy Country Director, the incumbent is expected to perform the following duties and responsibilities:
External Cooperation • Ensure strong collaboration and coordination with the Committee of Environmental Protection (CEP) for the GCF project, and other government stakeholders as relevant to new and ongoing projects, through regular meetings, transparent communication, and constructive progress; • Represent WFP during meetings with partners to contribute to technical discussions, exchange of knowledge and experience, and seek for appropriate interventions (based on an evidence base), and areas for potential collaboration and synergies for CCARB projects; • Contribute to UN Country Team and interagency meetings on relevant thematic areas, such as the Development Coordination Council groups for climate change, agriculture, and other relevant themes; Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group, REACT, etc., either through direct participation or delegation; • Develop, foster, and maintain partnerships with national and international institutions in the area of climate change adaptation and resilience building; • Ensure the documentation of all discussions through provision of official minutes (for discussions with government counterparts) or key highlights (for other coordination meetings), to be shared with the CCARB team, supervisor, and management and duly archived;
Team Management • Create an inclusive work environment through respectful and constructive communication and holding self and other team members accountable for their actions; • Hold regular meetings and/or use other innovative and effective ways to ensure proper information sharing and communication within the team/staff members under direct supervision or coordination; • Actively manage underperformance through regular conversations, providing support/coaching, documenting as required, and proactively seeking second level supervisor and HR advice; • Ensure substantiated input and completion of all phases in PACE within established deadlines for all team members under direct supervision;
Capacity Development • Ensure staff are cognizant of WFP policies and procedures, providing guidance and advice as required; • Provide strong strategic guidance, technical support, advice and direction with respect to climate action policies, programmes, analysis and reporting; • Support the capacity building of WFP country office and field staff, partners, and government counterparts to prepare for and respond to all projects within the portfolio; • Provide support to relevant partners focusing on climate action to enable sharing of experience, lessons learned and best practice; • Provide training and guidance to junior staff as required to ensure appropriate development and enable high performance;
Implementation and Coordination • Provide oversight, management, and support in developing and implementing all CCARB initiatives, plans and processes, in alignment with WFP and Government of Tajikistan policies and guidance; • Identify and coordinate the design and development of new initiatives and propose the establishment of new partnerships as relates to CCARB, including through the drafting of concept notes and donor proposals; • Support liaisons with government agencies, UN agencies, international financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations to ensure synergies with CCARB priorities and to engage in project implementation and/or joint programming where possible; • Develop a standard operating procedures package, inclusive of guidance on potential partner roster methodology; approaches to planning, implementing, monitoring, and reporting of all CCARB projects; and evaluating mid-term and final performance of all CCARB partners; • Ensure the preparation of accurate and timely reports (especially using primary data from monitoring) on CCARB activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information; • Ensure the preparation of human-centred success stories for each project, supplemented by fact sheets and/or short reports suitable for external circulation;
Cross-Cutting • Support the implementation of the WFP Tajikistan Country Strategic Plan by ensuring cross-cutting efforts such as nutrition-sensitivity, gender and diversity inclusion (including disability), protection and accountability, and linkages with other activities, including school meals and capacity development, are integrated into SO3 projects; • Perform all duties and functions of an activity manager as relevant to internal WFP processes and procedures in accordance with all deadlines (e.g., potential partner proposals, field level agreements, and service provision processes and contracts; invoice/transfers clearances; corporate systems such as WINGS/COMET; monthly deliverables such as mission plans, country brief inputs and bank forecast inputs; responding to official letters requesting support or information; serving as hiring manager; etc.); • Ensure all CCARB team members, including self, conduct regular field visits for capacity development, oversight, and general knowledge gathering/sharing and provide concise back-to-the-office reports following such visits; • Support in the development of and ensure proper use of a structured information management and archival system for the CCARB team, which links to the greater programme unit system; • Any other tasks as needed.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Experience:
• At least 6 years of progressive experience in managing international development projects aiming to improve livelihoods and food security with a focus on community-based participatory approaches; • Has worked with UN agencies, government entities, or civil society in the fields of climate change, agriculture, and/or environmental sustainability; • Has coordinated with and engaged in active discussions with government counterparts, resulting in achievement of organizational goals; • Has demonstrated leadership and management of technical staff of various levels, ensuring deliverables are met within appropriate time and quality; • Has engaged in high-level decisions regarding programme implementation and provided input into strategic discussions on policy; • Has established relationships and engaged closely with external counterparts;
Education:
• Advanced University degree in International Development, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field related to climate change adaptation and/or international assistance. • First university degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training courses.
Languages:
- Fluency (level C) in written and spoken English. Proficiency in Russian or Tajik is desirable.
WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
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.
How to apply
Interested candidates should complete their applications on-line on WFP website on the following link:
https://career5.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=171276&company=C0000168410P
Applicants will have to register and create on-line CVs to be able to apply. Hard copies of CVs or applications through e-mail will not be accepted. Please ensure that your application contains accurate and complete information.
The deadline for submission of applications is 21 August 2022.
Female candidates and individuals with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.