Family Liaison Officer, Service Contract (SC-9)

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SAVING LIVES. CHANGING LIVES.

WHAT IMPACT WILL YOU HAVE WORKING WITH US?

My WFP Story

Give WFP a try not only because of the humanitarian purpose that it fulfills but also because it is a great place to work and provides a rigorous environment for professional growth and development.”

-Human Resources Officer

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) seeks individuals of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, color, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) 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. The core policies and strategies that govern WFP activities are save lives in emergency situations; improve the nutrition and quality of life of the most vulnerable people; and help build assets and promote the self-reliance of poor people and communities, particularly through conditional food for work and training programmes.The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetime. 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.

The WFP Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa (RBN) is based in Nairobi and provides strategic direction, technical guidance, resource mobilization, and management support to WFP operations and activities in ten countries: Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda.

JOB PURPOSE

Through the Wellness Strategy, WFP has committed to providing a corporate culture of health and fostering an enabling and supportive workplace. Operating within conflict zones and hazardous environments, combined with highly mobile careers, places unique stressors on staff and their families. Little attention has been paid to the linkages between staff and family wellness, and at present, very few policies are in place outside of financial remuneration and insurance to specifically address the wellness of families. It is in the best interest of WFP to foster a sense of commitment to Wellness on the part of the staff, and a key part of staff wellbeing involves the wellbeing of dependents. The Family Liaison Officer will drive and implement programmes and interventions to address the wellness of families of staff in WFP Eastern Africa region.

This is a local national consultant position (Service Contract- SC) and eligible to Kenyan Nationals only!

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced university degree (Doctorate, Masters or equivalent) in Clinical or Counselling Psychology, Psychiatry, Clinical Social Work or demonstrably equivalent studies from a recognized institution with a focus on family systems or similar field.

Additional training or certification in a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, resilience, cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, mediation, trauma etc. will be an advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum Three (3) progressively responsible professional post graduate experience relevant to the field is required.
• Demonstrated experience working with families is essential.
• International experience is an added value.

Languages: Full proficiency in writing and verbal communication in English, working knowledge of French or Arabic is an advantage.

KEY SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Excellent communication skills (oral, written and presentations).

• Ability to identify needs and suggest and/or develop appropriate solutions.

• Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients at all levels of WFP as well as external entities.

• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel

• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment

• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines

• Must be an excellent team player and value working with a multidisciplinary and culturally diverse team.

• Ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries and establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

What you will do:

• Th****e Family Liaison Officer (FLO) will have a dual reporting line: administratively, Family Liaison Officer reports to Regional Staff Counsellor; and technically, reports to Global Family Liaison Officer. The position will be based in Nairobi and have a regional remit. Travel is required to remote and difficult locations.
• The Family Liaison Officer will drive various programmes and interventions. These would expand in scope in line with the findings of surveys and focus groups. They would include but not be limited to:
• Identifying needs, advocate and implementing creative solutions to support families to fulfil the WFP goals of inclusivity and to ensure dependant's and families feel supported wherever they are located.
• Facilitating social support through local WFP FLOCK[1] groups to help alleviate the acute stress and isolation common during relocation or when families live at distance from the WFP staff member (support global Facebook group and database and the creation of local social media groups where appropriate).

### [1] WFP FLOCK (Family Liaison Outreach Community (with or without Kids): is a global volunteer network providing a community of welcome and support for WFP families with the goal of helping them feel included and supported throughout the assignment.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (2)

• Identifying local resources for families (mental health professionals, specialized services for children with special needs, schools, shelters, social organizations for spouses, training opportunities - language, employment networks).
• Outreach and creation of external partnerships that can further improve support to WFP staff and their families.
• Working across functions to maximize support to families and advocate for their needs (HR, security, admin) and acting as a liaison within the Region for family issues.
• Contributing to developing family pages for the local pages of the WFP Wellbeing Platform/App and other communication platforms.
• Participating in developing specific projects and programs and raising awareness on topics such as domestic abuse/ parenting.
• Participating in the Regional and targeted Country Wellness Committees and advocating for family activities
• Counselling services for dependents or with staff on family specific issues

RESULTS/EXPECTED OUTPUTS

As an active WFP team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to WFP and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• Needs assessment (including a minimum of 9 focus groups facilitated and one questionnaire) completed in at least 3 pilot countries.
• Presentation of the Needs assessment final report at country and regional level, including programming recommendations and an implementation plan.
• Creation of a minimum of 3 Local sections of the Flock.
• Creation of a database of local resources for families in at least 3 countries.
• A minimum of 6 local family pages created on the Wellbeing app.
• 6 missions.
• Organize at least 6 family events in a minimum of 3 different countries

Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Type of Contract:

Service Contract (Local National Consultant)

Duty Station:

Nairobi Regional Bureau, Kenya

Contract Duration:

12 months

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

March 31, 2022

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, 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.