Job Title: Programme Policy Officer (Food Security)
Grade: SC8
Contract Type: Service Contract
Vacancy Number: 171266
Duration: 12 months
Duty Station: Suva, Fiji
Unit: Programme Unit
Date of Publication: 4 August 2022
Deadline of Application: 17 August 2022
This vacancy announcement is limited to Nationals of Fiji.
JOB PURPOSE
The World Food Programme (WFP) is well known for its ability to deliver food assistance rapidly to people in need. In order to continue responding effectively to challenging contexts while also contributing to longer-term efforts to end hunger, WFP is in the process of reshaping its engagement and support to national safety nets and social protection systems, so as to help host governments with their hunger fighting strategies. Efforts will build on WFP’s extensive experience: analysing data on risk, vulnerability and food and nutrition security; designing and implementing food assistance-based safety nets; and helping to strengthen institutional mechanisms that improve the reliability and overall effectiveness of safety nets for the most vulnerable group.
The WFP Pacific Multi Country Office is looking for a dynamic professional to support the engagement with national Governments and strategic partners, strengthen WFP’s leadership role for food security, preparedness and response in the Pacific and advance the implementation of activities under the iMCSP. The Programme Policy Officer will closely coordinate and complement the efforts of Programme Policy Officers responsible for Social Protection/Cash-Based Transfers (SP/CBT) and Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping (VAM), and together support implementation of iMCSP.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
A. Strategic Partnerships and WFP Visibility
- In consultation with the CD and Programme Coordinator, provide support to strategic partnerships with national Governments and other regional and sub-regional actors to position WFP’s role in food security.
- Support the enhancement of WFP’s leadership status in national and regional fora relating to food security, social protection (SP)/ cash-based transfers (CBT) and wider programme policy focus areas such as emergency preparedness, nutrition, livelihoods, social protection and resilience including climate change and DRR through direct participation, briefings, information products and other materials.
- Contribute to strengthening the relationships with regional actors having multi-country presence and ongoing food security programmes in the Pacific (such as Rome-Based Agencies; CROP Agencies; NGOs; academic institutions) for linkages and collaboration on food security, resilience, and other themes.
- As directed, might represent WFP in inter-governmental and inter-agency fora, strategic working groups and coordination platforms.
- Act as WFP Focal Point for protection, gender and disability inclusion, seeking technical support on gender from Monitoring and Reporting and protection and disability inclusion networks from, RBB and/ or headquarter technical leads as appropriate and build necessary in country partnerships.
B. External Food Security Emergency Preparedness Leadership
- Represent (as needed) WFP in the Regional Pacific Food Security Cluster and liaise with focal point for FAO-WFP joint coordination mechanism to support national- level clusters to deliver emergency preparedness activities, DRR initiative and long-term resilience activities to support food systems and the food security of communities in the Pacific.
- Liaise with WFP programme units in SP-CBT and Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping (VAM) to ensure linkages and alignment with Regional and National Food Security Cluster activities.
- Liaise with coordination staff from other clusters present in the region (including Gender and Protection, Nutrition, Health and Education) to support making the necessary linkages, simulation activities, assessments, and preparedness actions.
- Collaborate with and attend the Pacific Humanitarian Team Inter-Cluster Coordination Working Group to support the work of the Regional Pacific Food Security Cluster coordinator.
C. Capacity Strengthening
- Contribute to national food security emergency preparedness and contingency planning to respond to humanitarian crises and needs.
- Contribute to national and regional Food Security Cluster Support plans outlining capacity support and development initiatives to be supported by the Regional Cluster and provide on- demand remote and in-country support to country clusters on request.
- Provide operational support for capacity-building of national authorities, staff, and members in country-level clusters on preparedness, response, and resilience actions in food security through training, in country and remote capacity assistance.
QUALIFICATIONS
- A master’s degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social science or other field relevant to International development, assistance,
- Or a bachelor’s degree in the related fields with 2 years or related work experience
- Experience in providing input into public policy, capacity strengthening programme design and the management, design and/or implementation of humanitarian and recovery programmes or similar context.
- Experience in implementing technical programmes such as food security or nutrition, working with partnership
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Excellent written and oral communications and presentation skills.
- Strong analytical and negotiation skills.
- Ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with counterparts and staff within the office, host population, Government authorities, donors, NGOs and other UN agencies.
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural team and establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds.
- Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan and those under supervision.
- Resourcefulness, initiative, and tact
- Excellent understanding of national and UN institutional frameworks is an advantage.
- Knowledge of UN operational programmes and policy commitments, while WFP programmatic and partnership experience is an advantage.
Language: Proficiency in both oral and written communication skills in English (Level C)
ABOUT WFP
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is a leading organization delivering food assistance and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We also support governments of developing countries in their efforts to eliminate hunger and malnutrition by addressing the underlying causes and disparities in access to food and good nutrition to ensure that no one is left behind in line with the Agenda 2030, Sustaining Peace and Agenda for Humanity. WFP is particularly focused on Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 17 (Partnerships).
The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to WFP is recognition that ending hunger is a critical first step towards global peace. WFP recognizes that one of the greatest contributions it can make to Humanity is to provide a voice to the 690 million hungry people in the world. The Nobel Peace Prize gives us a platform to make their needs heard and to mobilize support for the assistance they need.
Female applicants and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organisation. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection & recruitment process, and for work-related needs upon joining the Programme. 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
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply through the WFP careers website: https://career5.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=171266&company=C0000168410P