INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT - PROGRAMME POLICY OFFICER - SOCIAL PROTECTION (Immediate Opening + Roster)

Programme & Policy

Overview

Identify and engage in social protection programming.

You have:

• Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, Social Policy, Political Sciences, International Development, International Affairs, Economics, Public Administration, Public Policy or other field relevant to International Development assistance.
• At least 5 years’ experience in social protection implementation in low-and middle-income countries.
• At least 3 years’ experience of working in or alongside government partners.
• 3 to 5 years’ operational experience in national social protection systems.
• Experience in the region is an asset.
• UN or donor experience, especially with WFP, UNICEF, World Bank is an asset.
• Working knowledge (proficiency/Level C) of English.
• Basic knowledge of Arabic would be a plus.

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT - PROGRAMME POLICY OFFICER - SOCIAL PROTECTION (Immediate Opening in Cairo, Egypt + Roster for RBC Region - Middle East and North Africa)

ABOUT WFP

The UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization working towards zero hunger by 2030, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. Powered by the passion, dedication and professionalism of our 20,000 staff worldwide, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) works in over 80 countries to bring life-saving food to people displaced by conflict and made destitute by disasters, and help individuals and communities find life-changing solutions to the multiple challenges they face in building better futures. In 2020, WFP assisted 115.5 million people – the largest number since 2012.

We work to enhance nutrition in women and children, support smallholder farmers in improving productivity and reducing losses, help countries and communities prepare for and cope with climate-related shocks, and boost human capital through school feeding programmes. In conflict situations, we bring relief to exhausted populations and use food assistance to build pathways to peace and stability. For its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict, WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is well known for its ability to deliver food assistance rapidly to people in need. To continue responding effectively to challenging contexts while also contributing to longer-term efforts to end hunger, WFP is in the process of strengthening its engagement in support of national social protection systems and safety nets, supporting governments with technical expertise in the development of sustainable hunger-smart and nutrition-sensitive solutions that will support progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Two: “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture”. This includes providing technical advice and operational services aligned with national social protection strategies (when available) and frameworks.

WFP’s Regional Bureau in Cairo for the Middle East and North Africa region (RBC) is looking to expand its support to national social protection systems, in support of food security, nutrition and emergency response objectives. RBC provides strategic guidance, policy/technical support and direction to WFP operations and activities in14 countries: Algeria, Armenia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen.

JOB PURPOSE

This Vacancy Announcement seeks to identify suitable candidates to

A) Fill one confirmed vacancy of "International Consultant - Social Protection" for the United Nations World Food Programme, Regional Bureau - Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, based in Cairo, Egypt (11 months duration).Joining Date – ASAP.

B) Build a “Roster of International Consultants - Social Protection” for several upcoming openings for the Region. The region covers operations in Algeria, Armenia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen. The Roster validity would be for a period of 2 years and assignment durations could be short term (1 month) to mid-term (maximum 11 months at a time).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Support Country Offices to define and set strategic direction in social protection engagement. Provide support to 14 Country Offices (Cos) from RBC region to define or further clarify how to take forward their Social Protection programming as outlined in their Country Strategic Plan (CSP):

• In collaboration with RBC and CO teams, identify priority opportunities for WFP’s potential onward engagement in social protection in specific countries.
• Support COs in developing the strategic direction and positioning of their engagement in specific social protection schemes and overall country social protection strategy, in line with their Country Strategic Plans.
• Inform CO strategic and technical programme development, fostering integration of the work of relevant technical teams (cash-based transfers, school feeding, nutrition, emergency preparedness and response planning, TEC) and liaising with relevant CO, Regional Bureau and Headquarters focal points as required.
• Support COs to build a policy dialogue on social protection with host governments and development partners, develop positioning and advocacy messages towards this.

Provide technical support to Country Offices on social protection and capacity strengthening

• Provide technical advice on a wide range of programme and policy issues related to social protection and safety nets, including assessment and analysis, the choice of objectives, activities, transfer modalities, the deployment and testing of innovative approaches and the development of strategies to support governments efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition through national social protection systems.
• Support CO’s efforts to integrate of the work of relevant technical teams (school feeding, nutrition, cash-based transfers, emergency preparedness and response planning) with regards to adaptive social protection in support to food and nutrition security
• Support CO efforts to develop programme proposals in line with their CSPs.
• Support capacity building of Country Office staff and government counterparts to develop a community of practice, including through engagement with social protection initiatives such as TRANSFORM.

Support partnership development with International Financial Institutions, such as the World Bank, and related government and development partners

• Support efforts in liaising with World Bank regional counterparts to identify opportunities for joint collaboration in the region.
• Support Country Office’s partnership development with Government and the World Bank development partners, including the development of a roadmap of engagement towards that and articulation of opportunities for joint collaboration in the area of social protection and potentially beyond.
• Maintain a network of related national and international professional contacts.
• Identify new funding opportunities and develop funding proposals at country and regional level as relevant.
• Represent WFP in policy dialogue on social protection with key actors.

Support evidence generation, capture and exchange

• Research and analyze a range of policy and operational issues to inform the development of country strategies, programmes and activities, with a specific focus on social protection and safety nets.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange amongst countries to develop innovative approaches to better design and implement social protection systems.
• Support COs in their capturing and documentation of leanings and case studies from social protection programming in their countries and support their utilization between countries.
• Support preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical analysis and information products or proposals for internal or external use, including support commissioning of related research as required.
• Support utilization of social protection learnings from within WFP, as well as learnings from other social protection actors.

Cross-cutting issues

• Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men.
• Other tasks as required and assigned by the supervisor or the senior management.

DELIVERABLES:

• Documentation of strategic direction setting in social protection for Country Offices
• Documentation of partnership development efforts
• Documentation of social protection learnings

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:

Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, Social Policy, Political Sciences, International Development, International Affairs, Economics, Public Administration, Public Policy or other field relevant to International Development assistance.

EXPERIENCE:

• At least 5 years’ experience in social protection implementation in low-and middle-income countries. Higher years of experience, desired.
• At least 3 years’ experience of working in or alongside government partners.
• 3 to 5 years’ operational experience in national social protection systems, including responsibility for liaising with different line ministries at national and decentralized levels.
• Experience in the region is an asset
• UN or donor experience, especially with WFP, UNICEF, World Bank is an asset.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• A sound understanding of policy making processes and the ability to distil operationally relevant recommendations/ lessons for governments and other partners.
• Strong capacity for analysis, learning, research, and innovation.
• Capacity to foster strong cross-agency collaboration
• Good leadership and interpersonal skills
• High degree of discretion and diplomacy
• Excellent communication skills verbally and in writing

LANGUAGES:

• Working knowledge (proficiency/Level C) of English

• Basic knowledge of Arabic would be a plus

  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 the ability to design, implement, monitor and provide oversight over effective and efficient programmes deploying different transfer modalities.

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.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• This vacancy announcement has 1 confirmed vacancy for Cairo, Egypt for 11 months duration. Candidates are expected to relocate to duty station, upon securing work visa.
• Besides the above, we are also building a Roster for multiple upcoming potential positions that are not tied to any currently open position or any specific duty stations. Candidates for Roster can express their interest for future upcoming short or mid-term (1 month to 11 months) Consultant opportunities in any of the WFP RBC countries. WFP RBC provides strategic guidance, policy/technical support and direction to WFP operations and activities in Algeria, Armenia, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, State of Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Yemen and UAE.
• All applications received will be reviewed and go through a selection process to asses relevant experience and qualifications. Applicants who meet the selection criteria may be contacted for further interviews or assessments and to confirm their interest and availability.
• WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.
• Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP. http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

31-Aug-2021

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wfp.org