Beirut - Programme Policy Officer (Social Protection Operations) NOB

Are you passionate about changing and improving the lives of millions of people world-wide? Are YOU up for a Life-Changing Experience? Do you want to be part of an International Humanitarian Organization with a very diverse workplace? If YES, this WFP job vacancy is the opportunity for you

Deadline for applications:

This Vacancy Announcement will close on 01 November 2022 at 11:59 PM, Rome Time.

Terms and conditions:

- This position is open to qualified Lebanese candidates ONLY

- Women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

- Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted

About WFP:

Assisting more than 90 million people in 123 countries and territories each year, the World Food Program (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies partnering with governments, and providing common services that allow the entire humanitarian community to save lives in emergencies and build the resilience of food insecure people and communities.

As the international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030, one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. Food and food-related assistance lie at the heart of the struggle to break the cycle of hunger and poverty.

WFP Lebanon provides humanitarian assistance to nearly 1.1 million vulnerable persons, in the form of unrestricted assistance in-kind and cash-based transfers. WFP Lebanon also provides food assistance in the form of snack and fresh food to school aged students and their families. This support is designed to improve the students’ health and make them and their families more motivated to pursue the children’s right to education.

To know more about WFP’s mission, please check the below video:

https://www.facebook.com/WorldFoodProgramme/videos/10154930622760178/

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.

Job Context:

The position will be based in Lebanon Country Office within the Social Protection Unit (SPU). The incumbent will report directly to the Head of SPU operations in Beirut Country Office.

Job Purpose:

The person selected will support daily SPU safety net implementation and contribute to transferring social safety net operations to the Government of Lebanon.

Duration of Assignment:

The selected candidate will be contracted for an initial term of 12 months. Contract may be extended based on business need and satisfactory performance.

Key Responsibilities (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Head of SPU operations in Beirut Country Office, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

• Provide project management support and assistance to WFP run safety nets (National Poverty Targeting Program’s -NPTP – and Emergency Social Safety Net -ESSN), ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes that complies with WFP standards and procedures. This involves ensuring monthly safety nets cash distribution are delivered on a timely fashion, managing safety nets’ scale-up and assisting SPU in areas related to targeting and selection of beneficiaries, provision of cash assistance and Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM).
• Support the standardizations of SPU safety nets’ processes (operational manual, standardized operational procedures – SOPs) for the needs of WFP and the ones of the government of Lebanon when and if need be.
• Contribute to performing regular quality control checks on all uploaded data within WFP safety nets implementation including initiating necessary data validation and recertification exercises.
• Organize, moderate, lead on and represent WFP at NPTP technical committee.
• Contribute to preparing NPTP steering committee.
• Manage the design, endorsement and set-up of a new NPTP M&E log frame as well as of a Grievance Redress System (GRS) and call-centre embedded at the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), engage and lead on technical discussions with the GoL on these topics. Ensure gender & protection mainstreaming in the referral & appeal pathways.
• Support SPU strategic thinking and drafting on the design of future social safety nets in Lebanon.
• Support SPU’s contracting process with WFP’s cooperating partners (CPs), review narrative and financial reports from CPs to ensure compliance and coherence with project implementation.
• Liaise with internal counterparts to ensure effective collaboration and monitor ongoing projects around NPTP.
• Support the identification, development, and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working leading to more effective delivery of assistance to vulnerable populations.
• Contribute to the production of knowledge products and development of policy and operational research on topics related to Social Safety Nets and other assistance programs of WFP.
• Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government on Social Safety Nets transfers.
• Contribute to the timely and accurate delivery of corporate and donor report requirements on safety nets programmes and activities to enable informed decision-making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
• Guide and supervise Programme Policy Officers and Programme Assistance working in SPU Operations team, support coordination of SP staff based in Sub-offices.
• Perform other related duties as required.

DESIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Experience in supporting implementation or design of a safety net program is required.
• Demonstrated experience in directly working or collaborating with Government ministries is required.
• Knowledge of policies around safety nets, targeting, monitoring systems and their applications.
• Understanding of the theory and application of food security, cash-based assistance programs, or other safety net programs.
• Proficient computer knowledge and usage of MS software package, internet search and mapping software (desired)
• Advanced analytical skills (desired)
• Excellent interpersonal skills and effective communication skills for diverse audience of different cultural background and economic levels, and interagency partners (desired).
• Excellent writing skills.
• Proven experience in leading medium teams.

STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Advanced University degree (i.e. Master's degree or higher) in Economics, Agriculture, International Affairs, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies or other related fields or First University degree (i.e. Bachelor’s degree) with additional years of relevant work experience or training/courses.

Experience: Three (3) or more years of postgraduate professional experience (after completion of Advanced University degree) in the fields of programme management for humanitarian/development organizations, cash-based transfer assistance, social protection or partnerships with government, or, five (5) years or more after completion of First University degree.

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Arabic.

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.