Nutrition Cluster Focal Point - International Consultant - CST II

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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. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide. More than half the population of Afghanistan – a record 22.8 million people – will face acute food insecurity in 2022. The combined effects of drought, conflict, COVID-19, and the economic crisis, have severely affected lives, livelihoods, and people’s access to food.

The team of 600 staff, 550 of which are Afghan nationals are working tireless to bring emergency food and nutrition assistance to the millions of people suffering across the country. The assistance provided by WFP includes emergency food assistance, school meals, nutrition programmes and important self-reliance and resilience programmes. The packet of support can include food, cash, or vouchers.

In conflict situations, we bring relief to exhausted populations and use food assistance to build pathways to peace and stability – work for which WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

ABOUT WFP AFGHANISTAN

With rich natural resources, and a young and diverse population, Afghanistan has the potential to stabilize and make significant progress on the 2030 Agenda. However, a complex and protracted conflict, combined with challenges related to climate change, demographics, gender inequalities, underemployment, and transparency issues, has dramatically impeded its efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 on Zero Hunger. The 2017 Afghanistan Zero Hunger Strategic Review (ZHSR) found that the country suffers from high, and in some cases rapidly rising, levels of food insecurity and undernutrition, and outlines a series of recommendations to address the problem.

The overarching goal of the WFP Afghanistan Country Strategic Plan (CSP) is to support the country to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030 in a manner that also contributes, wherever possible, to the broader, longer term transition to peace and development. WFP, through the CSP, is continuing to scale up emergency activities nationwide and mainstreaming the crosscutting issues of gender equality and women’s empowerment, protection, and accountability to affected populations, the CSP focuses on six, highly interrelated outcomes that span both SDG 2 and 17 (partnering for the goals).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

In Afghanistan, food and nutrition situation of women and children remains poor and continues to worsen, with about 4.8 million children and women expected to need nutrition assistance in 2022. The rapid decline of health sector amidst economic crisis is compounded by high level of food insecurity across the country, and outbreak of disease such as measles and acute watery diarrhea. The country is witnessing a transition in its political context which coincides with a loss of livelihoods due to conflict and the COVID 19 pandemic effects, reduced access to adequate health and nutrition services. These are all demonstrated by the high food insecurity reports indicating that more than 80 percent of the population have insufficient food consumption with increasing levels of malnutrition both in urban and rural location.

Preventing and mitigating a drastic increase in malnutrition will only be achieved through a scaled up and sustained integrated nutrition response. The Nutrition Cluster is scaling up its nutrition intervention package to reach at least 4.8 million individuals with a malnutrition treatment and prevention package to complement the efforts of other sectors such as food security, health, education among others, in averting the humanitarian crisis.

To support this effort, WFP Afghanistan, in collaboration with the Nutrition Cluster, is looking for a dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast paced context to fill the position of Nutrition Cluster Focal Point who will be expected contribute to the efforts of the Nutrition Cluster team in the coordination of the implementation of the Nutrition intervention package under the Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

In liaison with the Nutrition Cluster coordination team, the Nutrition Cluster focal point contributes to: Coordination of service delivery  Support the cluster coordination team in organising of and participating in regular cluster coordination meetings and information sharing to ensure appropriate coordination between all nutrition humanitarian partners, including provision of inputs for the agenda, information and evidence to inform cluster partners discussions.  Providing regular inputs from all cluster partners for Nutrition cluster information management products, cluster bulletins, etc., including needs, gaps, supply pipeline updates, etc.

Informing strategic decision-making of the HC/HCT for the humanitarian response  Work with Cluster partners and the cluster IMO to keep Nutrition cluster database up to date with all WFP data. Make this information available to facilitate planning and measure impact by the cluster and other stakeholders.  Support the nutrition cluster IMO in the analysis to identify and address (emerging) gaps, obstacles, duplication, and cross-cutting issues  Contribute towards supporting the Subnational Nutrition Cluster teams and nutrition partners in the provinces for their participation in nutrition need assessments and response planning.  Support coordination of all planned nutrition assessment through the AIM working as well as maintain the database of all planned and completed assessments and surveys.  Support coordination and collaboration with other sectors to ensure nutrition assessments are conducted using standardized tools and methods.  Identify and liaise with FSL and other clusters to advocate for integration of nutrition rapid assessments/screening and nutrition indicators into their respective assessments, if feasible.  Support partners’ and IMO to ensure that partners’ survey/assessment plans, methodologies are in line with cluster priorities and standards, identify existing gaps and propose appropriate actions.  Support the nutrition cluster IMO in preparation of sitrep’s IM inputs with emphasis on cluster achievements including all WFP activities by providing relevant and up to date information

Planning and implementing strategy:  Provide relevant inputs to the development and revision of the Flash Appeal/Humanitarian Response Plans. As a part of this process, ensure that gaps and duplications are identified and appropriately addressed.  Ensure that inter-cluster and crosscutting issues, including gender, protection and access; are fully integrated into the nutrition cluster strategy and nutrition cluster partner projects, in line with IASC guidance and international best practices with specific focus on ensuring cross-cutting issues are addressed in nutrition survey plans, methodologies, etc.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• At least 10 years’ work experience in the implementation and management of nutrition programs in reputable organizations.
• Advanced University degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Food Technology, or other relevant field.
• Vast experience in the implementation of CMAM and maternal infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN).
• Experience in joint stakeholder coordination through a cluster and/or sector approach with substantial abilities in in project management, monitoring and evaluation.
• Must have good coordination skills; flexibility, adaptability, and strong facilitation and interpersonal skills with the ability to work under pressure and adhere to strict deadlines.
• Excellent written and oral English skills, including proofreading. Must be able to draft high quality donor reports and proposals.

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Position: Nutrition Cluster Focal Point Contract: International Regular Consultant Duty Station: Kabul Country Office, Afghanistan Number required: 1 position Duration: 6 months (with possibility of extension)

Contract level and remuneration will be based on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.

WFP is committed to ensuring that all its workplaces are free from abuse, offensive behaviour, harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. WFP is also committed to promoting a work culture in which every employee understands, and is able to carry out, his/her personal responsibilities for maintaining the dignity of work colleagues. WFP seeks to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. We believe our mission of fighting global hunger worldwide can only be achieved if women, men, girls and boys are offered equal opportunities in terms of access to resources and services and participation in decision making roles.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Wednesday, 6th July 2022.