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.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger and delivering assistance to 80 million people in 80 countries each year. WFP has been scaling blockchain technology, through its “Building Blocks” project, towards better achieving its mission of ending hunger and empowering the people it serves with the highest standards of accountability. Based on the success of the Building Blocks pilot project thus far, WFP is looking for an experienced professional project manager to help with the expansion of the project.

The WFP Building Blocks project has commenced its journey into blockchain by leveraging the power of blockchain to enhance WFP’s Cash-Based Transfer (CBT) operations. The Building Blocks pilot launched in Jordan’s Azraq camp in May 2017 and is the world’s first largest implementation of blockchain technology to facilitate humanitarian assistance, currently serving 106,000 refugees in Jordan.

Building Blocks is currently serving over 60% of all refugees with food assistance. Building Blocks will be scaled up to include all WFP e-voucher outlets, as well as for use in other programmatic operations (e.g., Nutrition, cash for work, etc.).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Ensure the overall operations of Building Blocks in Cox’s Bazar run smoothly, both from systems and user experience points of view.
Ensure the Building Blocks expansion strategy is coordinated, in-line, and coherent with the overall expansion strategy for both internal WFP and external partner programmes.
Co-design a contingency strategy alongside relevant units in case of service interruptions to ensure that assistance delivery is not compromised.
Detect, troubleshoot, and help resolve any issues as fast as possible.
Provide user support and training for Building Blocks.
Act as Building Blocks user administrator.
Actively engage in the development, maintenance, and continued operations of the interconnectivity in the camps to ensure continued service for Building Blocks, including but not limited to liaising and coordinating with other organizations with a stake in camp connectivity to ensure the connectivity provision efforts are harmonized, optimized, and synergistic.
Work particularly closely with the Emergency Telecommunications Sector (ETS) to ensure consistent and reliable network coverage of BB areas, including regular connectivity testing
Lead in detection and troubleshooting of field-level issues (e.g., poor connectivity, BB application issues, power issues, device issues, etc.)
Identify and recommend long-term solutions to recurring field-level technical issues
Lead the management of BB’s fleet of devices, including technical troubleshooting, maintenance, quality checks, software updates, deployment tracking, etc.
Work with the business (e.g. Programme) to examine and define problems/opportunities, conducting business process analyses, performing needs assessments, exploring potential solutions, and completing cost/benefit evaluations to aid decision making in the Cox’s Bazar context.
Develop project scopes and objectives, aligning solutions with business needs, ensuring technical feasibility, establishing timelines and milestones, and determining KPIs in Cox’s Bazar context.
Effectively communicate project plans to all internal and external stakeholders, build consensus, and engage in conflict resolution as required.
Ensure action items and decision points are shared and agreed upon across all key stakeholders.
Customize, maintain, and up-to-date, comprehensive project documentation, including SOPs and user manuals.
Ensure key milestones are delivered on time, well tested and deployed, aligned with WFP business needs and the overall project, duly approved, and according to budget.
Monitor and address feedback on project deliverables.
Ensure Building Blocks quality reviews/audits specific to Cox’s Bazar are completed successfully.
Apply risk management best practices for all project aspects.
Day-to-day management and implementation of Building Blocks, including all substantive and administrative matters.
Data analysis and reporting.

DELIVERABLES

Seamless and uninterrupted Building Blocks service in Cox’s Bazar (covering all components such as connectivity, system uptime, and performance).
Self-sufficient, autonomous, timely, and effective/efficient support for all aspects of Building Blocks in Cox’s Bazar.
Clear and effective communication on Building Blocks, in particular, to build support for interagency collaboration.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQURIED

Academic Qualifications: Master’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technologies, or related field or bachelor’s degree in the related field with 2 additional years of experience. Project management certification is an asset.

Experiences: Three to five years of project management and coordination experience required, preferably with some engagement with IT. Experience in humanitarian/development sector is preferred, but not mandatory.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Considers the business implications of the application of technology to the current and future business environment and needs.

• Uses experience and judgment to make decisions that may be based on incomplete information.

• Develops innovative solutions to problems without precedent.

• Makes strategic decisions, have long-term consequences and tend to relate to business strategy, financial performance, and effective resource utilization.

• Can work with minimal direction in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines. Strong time management, communication, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills are critical for success in this role.

• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills, including experience presenting to senior and executive management and stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to convey information clearly, accurately, and timely in consideration of audience and setting.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with great attention to detail.

• Ability to manage large projects with multiple vendors and external dependencies.

• Excellent math and reasoning skills.

Language: Excellent written and verbal command of English is required. Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Tuesday, 17 November 2020 (Midnight Bangladesh time)

TO APPLY

Candidate are requested to create an account in WFP E-Recruitment system before applying. Please also include your CV with a cover letter, highlighting your motivation and suitability for this vacancy, as part of an online application. Click ‘Apply’ link below to start the application process

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package including basic salary, Rest & Recuperation (R&R), and medical insurance.

Please visit https://www.wfp.org/countries/bangladesh to learn more about WFP’s operations in Bangladesh.

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.

Apply now

Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: wfp.org