National Programme Policy Officer - Cash Based Transfers& Social Protection - SC8

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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.

Are you ready to change and save the lives of the world's most vulnerable people? If yes, this opportunity is for you!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Job Title: National Program Policy Officer (Cash Based Transfers & Social Protection) Vacancy Number: 139561 Contract type: Service Contract (SC8) Duration: 9 months (renewable) Duty Station: Suva, Fiji

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is a leading organization delivering food assistance and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We also support governments of developing countries in their efforts to eliminate hunger and malnutrition by addressing the underlying causes and disparities in access to food and good nutrition to ensure that no one is left behind in line with the Agenda 2030, Sustaining Peace and Agenda for Humanity. WFP is particularly focused on Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 17 (Partnerships).

BACKGROUND

In 2016, Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston—the largest cyclone ever to make landfall in the southern hemisphere—hit Fiji, causing an estimated USD 1.4 billion in damages (approximately 31 percent of GDP). In response to TC Winston, the Government of Fiji requested WFP humanitarian assistance, with WFP providing emergency cash-based transfers (CBT) piggybacking on the national social protection scheme. Subsequently opened an office in Suva, Fiji focusing on preparedness in the Pacific. WFP Pacific has led the logistics and emergency telecommunications clusters and co-leads the regional Pacific Food Security Cluster with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Pacific regional Cash Working Group with Oxfam.

WFP Fiji CO is seeking a National Program Policy Officer with Cash-Based Transfer (CBT) and Social Protection (SP) programming background to support the regional and national Cash Working Groups (CWG) across the region, document lessons learned and processes to inform future technical assistance and cash programming, as well as ensure the continuity of WFP investment in emergency preparedness and response work in the Pacific.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

A. CBT-SP Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Support the coordination of the Pacific Regional Cash Working Group with Oxfam and provide technical support to the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation for the Fiji Cash Working Group;
• Provide support for cash feasibility assessments in the Pacific, including from the design of assessments to analysis of the data and write-up of the report;
• Develop and support the establishment of the Minimum Expenditure Basket for CBT operations in selected/priority countries in the Pacific;
• Contribute to Country Office and national CBT emergency preparedness and contingency planning to respond to humanitarian crises and needs;
• In coordination with WFP Regional Bureau Bangkok CBT-SP support the implementation of a 3-year Pacific CBT-SP strategy in line with Interim Multi-Country Strategic Plan;
• Contribute to enhance WFP’s leadership status in fora relating to CBT and wider program policy focus areas such as food security, nutrition, livelihoods, resilience through direct participation, briefings, information products and other materials;
• As the Secretariat to the Fiji Cash Working Group, provide assistance to the department of Department of Social Welfare to improve the shock-responsive aspects of the national social protection system and program quality considerations including targeting, monitoring and evaluation and complaints and feedback mechanisms;
• Support the Director Pacific Office / Program Coordinator in developing a longer-term funding proposal for the Government of Fiji (and other Pacific Island Countries) on the use of social protection platforms to deliver CBT in response to Covid-19 and other shocks;

B. CBT-SP Operational Support

• Provide guidance on cash-based transfer program design, delivery and assurance, in line with the new corporate Business Process Model (ad-interim version April 2020) and other corporate guidelines;
• Support documenting of lessons learned and processes from the Central Emergency Respond Fund TC Harold and Yasa responses;
• Prepare the necessary budgets/ budget amendments for the implementation of the proposed CBT projects and share with management accordingly;
• Contribute to develop and pilot innovative approaches and design and manage new programs using cash-based transfers in consultation with the Regional Bureau Bangkok and HQ;
• Ensure the CBT interventions integrate gender, protection and disability considerations in line with WFP policy commitments and guidance;
• Support the information and knowledge management of CBT and SP activities and initiatives in the CO and the Pacific;

C: Capacity strengthening

• In close consultation with WFP Regional Bureau Bangkok Cash Based Transfer-Social Protection team:
  • contribute in providing CBT and SP technical support/capacity strengthening for the National Disaster Management Office, Department of Social Welfare and other humanitarian actors in the region;
  • contribute to the development of Cash Based Transfer-Social Protection training for the Pacific sub-region (as needed)

D: External Cash-Based Transfer Working Group Coordination and Visibility

• Maintain the WFP CBT leadership role in the region by supporting supervisor to Co-lead the Pacific Regional Cash Working Group in close collaboration with Oxfam and provide technical support to the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation (MoWCPA) for the Fiji CWG;
• In coordination with Regional Bureau Bangkok Cash Based Transfer-Social Protection team liaise with the Regional Asia-Pacific Cash Based Transfer Working Group as well as Cash Learning Partnership and ensure regular coordination meetings are taking place;

E: Partnerships

• In close consultation with the Country Director, contribute to maintain and foster strategic partnerships with the World Bank and other regional and sub-regional actors;
• Explore and start initial consultations with the regional bodies such as PIFS, SPC and academic institutions for linkages and collaboration on cash transfers programming, shock-responsive social protection, food security, and other themes;
• Identify further partnership opportunities with the private sector such as FSPs (Mobile Network operators, remittance agencies, emerging digital payment solutions) in the Pacific sub-region;
• Support the collaboration with regional and national protection, gender and disability actors including the Gender and Protection Cluster to mainstream these considerations, including Accountability to Affected Populations, data protection and disability inclusions, in preparedness and response measures.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• Minimum Bachelor Degree in Social Science field or in International Development, Economics, Business Administration, Development Studies, Statistics, or other fields relevant to international development assistance
• At least 4 (four) years of professional experience for candidates with Bachelor Degree, or 2 (two) years with Master Degree, progressive responsibility in working in technical assistance, policy analysis and guidance, and/or operational guidance in emergency/post-emergency contexts
• Experience in implementing humanitarian and/or recovery Cash-based Transfers programs

Technical Skills & Knowledge:

• Excellent written and oral communications and presentation/facilitation skills
• Excellent understanding of national frameworks
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with counterparts and staff in the office, host population, the Government counterparts across the Pacific, donors, other CBT actors, UN agencies and others
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural team and establish effective working relationship with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds

Desirable experience and knowledge:

• Knowledge and/or experience in providing capacity strengthening support to Government;
• Knowledge of UN operational programs, while WFP programmatic and partnership experience;
• Direct experience in implementing CBT activities, project management, as well as monitoring and evaluation;
• Experience in setting up standard operating procedures with financial service providers;
• Experience in working with governments on cash-based transfer modalities of assistance and/or in government social safety net programs.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Wednesday 31 March 2021 23:59 GMT (Thursday 1 April 2021 at 5:59 AM Fiji Time)

This vacancy announcement is for Nationals from Fiji. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply through the WFP careers website (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings).

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Female applicants are especially encouraged to apply

WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organisation. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection & recruitment process, and for work-related needs upon joining the Programme. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. 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.