Logistics Cluster National Preparedness Officer (SC8), Re-Advertised

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WFP - World Food Programme

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Wednesday 31 Mar 2021 at 20:59 UTC

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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.

BACKGROUND

WFP as the lead agency of the Global Logistics Cluster (GLC) is mandated by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) to complement and coordinate logistics preparedness activities and capabilities of member countries and cooperating humanitarian agencies, both before and during large-scale complex emergencies and natural disasters.

Under the IASC’s Transformative Agenda, the GLC is required to “build national capacity in preparedness and contingency planning”. This is reflected in the GLC’s 2016-2021 strategy, which includes a special focus on strengthening preparedness and response capacity of national actors – known as the Preparedness Project. The project is expected to run until end-2021 and provides support for national logistics preparedness and capacity building initiatives.

GLC approach to Capacity Strengthening:

The achievement of self-sufficiency in humanitarian logistics preparedness and response hinges on capacities of individuals, organizations and societies. The GLC framework for capacity strengthening recognises that without supportive laws, policies, strategies and procedures (enabling environment), well-functioning organizations (organizational domain), and educated, skilled people (individual domain) state and non-state duty bearers cannot effectively plan, implement and review their efforts to prepare for and respond to disasters. Effective capacity strengthen support must therefore address all three domains, recognising the interdependencies between them. Single interventions (e.g., trainings) are not likely to make a significant difference unless they represent a key leverage point that can shift an entire system’s behaviour.

Applying this holistic and systems-strengthening approach to its interventions, the Preparedness Project supports stakeholder capacities along five critical pathways: (i) Policies and legislation; (ii) Institutional effectiveness and accountability; (iii) Strategic planning and financing; (iv) Stakeholder programme design and delivery; and (v) Engagement and participation of communities, civil society and private sector.

ASSIGNMENT PURPOSE

  • Deliver on the priorities, objectives and activities of the Preparedness Project.
  • Become familiar with the Project’s approach to capacity strengthening (supported by Project staff in RB/HQ for on-boarding).
  • Act as the primary focal point for GLC preparedness initiatives undertaken with partner organisations (including international, regional and national humanitarian organisations, National Disaster Management Organisations (NDMO), and private sector actors) and ensure continued WFP involvement in preparedness activities.
  • Based on the gap-analysis and the subsequent action plan, provide input to WFP for the development of future Country Strategic Programmes.
  • Direct training of national actors in specific technical areas may be required under special circumstances. Agreement by GLC to undertake this is dependent upon (a) a detailed training plan and (b) a clear, sustainable exit strategy to ensure the training is institutionalised and can be carried forward beyond the life of the project.
  • Support country-level fundraising activities that support national-actor preparedness, through proposal writing and strengthening donor relations.
  • Support and communicate preparedness initiatives at global and regional levels.
  • Conduct and organise primary and secondary data collection and field testing of mapping and analysis tools, in addition to providing input for the Preparedness Webpage and Platform.
  • Support the recruitment and onboarding of a local preparedness officer. Mentor the officer to ensure their ability to continue the project into the future.
  • Contribute to strengthening early warning capacity and provide inputs for any relevant operational planning and analyse trends of supply chain risk using tools.
  • Advise WFP staff undertaking Logistics Capacity Assessments updates.
  • Further activities identified as required.

Knowledge Management & Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) Duties:

  • Track internal project activities, and, upon identification of entry-points by stakeholders, track the process milestones to achieve these.
  • Support national stakeholders as they develop/enhance knowledge management initiatives that are embedded in national structures. Support national stakeholders as they establish an active community of practice around emergency logistics preparedness.
  • Support the formulation and carrying out of the MLE framework and activities.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The Preparedness Officer will be responsible for supporting national stakeholders as they identify capacity gaps and logistics challenges and develop proposals to address them.

The Project activities outlined above are aimed at supporting existing national-actor structures and networks, as well as further enhancing logistics capabilities and stakeholder coordination for strengthened emergency preparedness and self-sufficiency. This includes the alignment of activity planning with National Disaster Management structures and strategies, partner initiatives and key stakeholders.

The position is hosted by WFP country office. As such, the Officer is fully embedded in administrative and further WFP regulations, implied by the WFP working contract.

Reporting Lines:

  • WFP Country Offices: The Preparedness Officer will report to the nominated Head of Unit or other delegated officer to ensure alignment with national preparedness strategy, and regular information sharing and updates. The Officer will directly support the Logistics Cluster/Sector Coordinator in case of cluster activation, and where applicable.

  • Global Logistics Cluster, WFP Headquarters / Regional Bureau: The Preparedness Officer will liaise with and report to the nominated GLC designated preparedness coordinator or preparedness desk officer, to ensure alignment with global Logistics Cluster preparedness strategy. This includes provision of monthly reports, and information sharing and updates in coordination with the WFP Country Office’s Emergency Preparedness Response Officer.

Core Deliverables:

  • An initial workplan with timelines, aligned to the table above, will be submitted to CO and GLC for approval within 2-3 weeks of contract issuance, noting that timelines will be altered throughout the course of the project in accordance with circumstances.
  • The priorities, objectives and activities of the Preparedness Project
  • In case of a Logistics Cluster or Sector operation:
    • Support the activation phase by briefing, operational network establishment and initiation/consolidation of EPRP related activities;
    • Support the ongoing operation with coordination, guidance, network relations and information provision;
    • Support the phase out and closure of the operation, especially focussing on lessons learnt and to maintain country related operational knowledge and information.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

DESIRED EXPERIENCE FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

  • Deep understanding of, and commitment to, capacity strengthening concepts and approaches.
  • Able to make a positive contribution in a team-based environment and to work under tight deadlines with minimal supervision;
  • Experience in humanitarian logistics and overall supply-chain management;
  • Experience in humanitarian response planning;
  • Experience in undertaking research analysis and report writing in English;
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication and facilitation skills with the ability to lead large cross-cultural group exercises;
  • Ability to communicate, build and maintain relationships with high-level officials and government counterparts;
  • Proficiency in Windows, MS office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Projects);
  • Willingness to work in challenging environments / field locations.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Education: University degree in international relations, political science, humanitarian action, logistics & supply chain or a closely related field. Demonstrable equivalent combination of education and experience is also acceptable.

Work experience: A minimum of 6 years of professional experience including: working in an international context; responsibility in a planning role. Previous experience in Logistics Emergency Response, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), capacity building and working with government/national actors is required. Exposure to the logistics cluster is a must.

Languages: Tajik, Russian and fluency (level C) in English is mandatory.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Type of Contract: Service Contract (SC)

Contract End Date: 31 December 2021 (with possible extension)

Duty Station: Dushanbe, Tajikistan

WFP offers an attractive compensation package: 16 weeks of maternity leave is part of the package, a staff member may also avail of special leave with full pay up to 8 weeks following maternity leave. Also 28 calendar days of paternity leave. For more details please visit International Civil Service Commission website: https://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salaries/tajikist.htm

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

31 March 2021

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Female applicants and individuals with disabilities 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.

Added 3 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: wfp.org