Food Security Cluster Coordinator

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WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

ABOUT WFP

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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Food Security Cluster (FSC) has been established globally to coordinate the food response during a humanitarian crisis, addressing issues of food availability, access and utilisation. The FSC was established by the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) and is co-lead by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Food Programme (WFP).

In Bangladesh the Local Consultative Group Working Group on Disaster and Emergency Response (LCGDER) is strengthening its ability to respond to the evolving humanitarian context, keeping in mind the needs of the people at risk, the expectations of actors and coordination requirements. Humanitarian response coordination requires special attention to ensure adequate preparedness before a disaster strikes and an effective humanitarian response as well as early recovery after disaster strikes. The Food Security Cluster (FSC) aims to strengthen the collective capacity of humanitarian actors working in the area of food security in Bangladesh.

The FSC focuses in particular on preparedness whilst providing support to the Government on response efforts during times of both slow and sudden onset emergencies. The FSC will work closely with the Humanitarian Coordination Task Team (HCTT) on all emergency coordination related activities/issues.

JOB PURPOSE

Under the overall supervision of the FAO and WFP Country Representatives in Bangladesh and direct supervision of the WFP-Deputy Country Director (Programme and Strategy), the Consultant will work as Food Security Cluster Coordinator. The Consultant will work in close liaison with the Global Food Security Cluster in Rome, as well as the FSC co-leads in Bangladesh, FSC members ensuring adequate coordination of all activities undertaken by the FSC in Bangladesh.

The objective of a country-level Food Security Cluster (FSC) is to ensure a timely, coherent and effective food security response by mobilizing stakeholders to respond in a strategic manner to a humanitarian crisis.

To provide support to policy and programme activities that effectively meet food assistance needs.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The role of the Food Security Cluster Coordinator, as set out in the IASC Generic Terms of Reference for Sector Leads at Country Level, is to lead and facilitate this process through:

• Engagement, establishment and maintenance of appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms with all humanitarian partners on a coherent and robust humanitarian response for the food security sector- including food assistance, livelihoods/resilience programmes, and agriculture-based initiatives;
• Coordination with national/local authorities, state institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors as needed.
• Capacity building of national and international NGO partners on priority matters related to the food security and livelihood response;
• Participating and supporting food security and interagency needs assessment and analysis, and engagement with the IPC Technical Working Group in country;
• Undertaking planning and strategy development- particularly leading on the Humanitarian Needs overview and Humanitarian/Joint Response Plan- including reviews as needed;
• Advocate and fundraising on behalf of the cluster itself in addition to the sector and partners;
• Management of information management for the cluster and staff, ensuring the timely collection and dissemination of FSC data to all stakeholders;
• Ensure that cross-sectoral issues such as gender, age, early recovery, environment, accountability to affected populations, and HIV & AIDS are streamlined and appropriately reflected in all FSC programmes;
• Provision of assistance or services as a last resort subject to access, security and availability of funds.

The Cluster Coordinator in Bangladesh will work closely with the FSC Co-management Team (FAO Assistant Representative - Programme) and WFP Heads of Programme and Emergency Response Preparedness, and will work impartially with all members of the Food Security Cluster, serving and representing the group as a whole, not an agency.

In absence of the FSC Cluster Coordinator, the Information Management Officer will be acting.

In case of emergency, and in consultation with Cluster Co-Leads, the FSC Coordinator will work closely with the Humanitarian Affairs Advisor (or Humanitarian Coordinator) to UN Resident Coordinator.

Specific tasks of the FSC coordinator are:

• Review, update and disseminate the contingency plans (earthquake, floods and cyclone) in response to FSC members expressed needs.
• Develop, monitor and implement the FSC Work-plan, to ensure successful achievement of FSC Objectives.
• Develop reports and manage key information for the cluster ensuring timely contributions from all team members.
• Provide leadership in the organisation of FSC and TWG Meetings.
• Liaise and coordinate with Humanitarian Affairs Adviser and other cluster coordinators.

• Manage and supervise all the project staff

• Participate in inter-cluster IM coordination working group.

• Participate in Cash Working Group meetings and coordinate with CWG coordinator.
• Participate in Needs Assessment Working Group meetings and coordinate with NAWG coordinator.
• Support the Food Security Sector in Cox’s Bazar for the Refugees crisis.
• Supervise the Information Management Officer
• Liaise with gFSC as required on relevant issues.
• Any other tasks within their area of technical competence, as assigned by supervisor.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
• Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
• Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
• Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
• Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance Displays ability to identify the main hunger problem at the national or subnational level to design and implement context-specific programmes that integrate complex analysis and the full range of food assistance tools. Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Voucher) Demonstrates ability to analyse and consolidate quantitative and qualitative information from different sources (e.g., market studies) to inform transfer modality selection and programme development. Broad Knowledge of Specialized areas (i.e. Nutrition, VAM, etc.) Demonstrates the ability to interpret basic data in the context of WFP specialised fields to contribute to technical programme design, implementation and monitoring. Emergency Programming Displays ability to translate understanding of programme principles in emergencies and protracted conflict situations into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches. Strategic Policy Engagement w/ Government Develops thorough recommendations using multiple inputs (e.g., government counsel, research, own experience) to strengthen national or subnational entities and government owned food and nutrition security programmes.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Maintaining a functioning FSC (e.g. organization of FSC and TWG meetings, regular update of the website)
• Regular coordination with FSC co-leads.
• Drafting of relevant FSC reports.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

​​​​​Knowledge and Skill :

• Demonstrated communication and conflict resolution skills, as well as ability to work in a multi-cultural environment while responding to tight deadlines with resource constraints.
• Understanding of the international humanitarian response architecture, including coordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform and action, and funding mechanisms.
• Experience of coordination and chairing of meetings.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders, develop consensus, and support joint working.

Excellent English communication skills, both verbal and written.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: University degree in food security, agriculture, economics or related field.

Experience : At least 5 years of professional experience in humanitarian response. Experience in the food security cluster. Experience in coordination.

Language : English and Bangla

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Contract Type : Special Service Aggreement; SSA-9

Contract Duration : 11 Months

Duty Station : Dhaka, Bangladesh

Nationality : Bangladeshi Only

Monthly Salary : As per UN SC Salary scale

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

19 December 2020

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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.