Programme Assistant SC5

The 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.

JOB TITLE:

Programme Assistant

TYPE OF CONTRACT:

Service Contract (SC5)

Six months full-time, with possibility for extension, funding permitting

UNIT/DIVISION:

Programme

DUTY STATION (City, Country):

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

BACKGROUND

Currently designing the next 5-year-plan, WFP contributes to the objectives of the UNDAF/UN Cooperation Framework and the work of the United Nations in the Kyrgyz Republic with its current Country Strategic Plan for 2018–2022 and also the next 5-year-plan. Both have a Strategic Outcome pillar (SO3) that adopts an integrated climate risk management approach to strengthen the capacities of vulnerable communities and governments to analyse, anticipate, manage and prepare for current and future hazards and their impacts on food and nutrition security, while supporting longer-term adaptation to climate change.

Under SO 3, WFP in coordination with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic is currently working in numerous projects. One of them is a Green Climate Fund (GCF) supported 4-year project titled "Climate services and diversification of climate sensitive livelihoods to empower food insecure and vulnerable communities in the Kyrgyz Republic" which aims to reduce vulnerabilities to climate change and increase the adaptive capacity and resilience of rural communities. Activities within this project include promoting climate change adaptation actions at the community level, generating and providing critical knowledge, awareness, and best practices to inform broad-based capacity building and improved decision making.

SO 3 also aims to strengthen and upscale Disaster Risk Management (DRM) activities of vulnerable communities by supporting informed, coherent, gender- and nutritious- sensitive local adaptation, enabling the environment for risk financing and build-back-better mechanisms to climate-proof the food systems and guarantee food security under the following components:

• Enhance the understanding of climate risks and vulnerabilities
• Strengthen the resilience and climate change adaptation at community level
• Elaboration and coordination of risk transfer mechanisms and regulatory and practical instruments for the introduction of private sector led disaster risk insurance programmes
• Enhance disaster preparedness and "Build Back Better" for effective DRM

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The above-described initiatives require enhanced capacity at the country office level and strong coordination with internal and external stakeholders. The Programme Assistant will support in the overall management and implementation of the DRM project.

Supervision received: The Programme Assistant will be based in the WFP Kyrgyzstan Country office, Bishkek, be supervised by an Activity Manager/Project Coordinator and will her-/himself coordinate field monitors. The Programme Assistant will also frequently interact with Specialists in Policy/Partnerships, in Research, Analysis and Monitoring, in Budget and Programming, in Supply Chain and other support functions, based both in Bishkek and Osh offices as well as field locations, and will interact also with experts in WFP’s Reginal Bureau and HQ.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

1. Perform specialized and/or standardised processes and activities as regards WFP’s work in Climate Change Adaption, Disaster Risk Management & Emergency Preparedness, supporting alignment with wider social protection and livelihood programmes and related policies and guidelines.
2. Provide project management and/or general office support following established targets and WFP’s policies and procedures; focused on the SDC-funded project, ensure synergies are created between its components and the GCF project activities.
3. Within the specific area of responsibility, compile data and support analysis and preparation of reports, prepare talking points, briefs, lessons learnt, and other relevant documents as needed.
4. Perform accurate, timely recording of data within the specific technical area of work (e.g. food security and vulnerability assessments) following corporate standards and guidelines.
5. Work and exchange information with internal counterparts to support effective collaboration, implementation and monitoring of ongoing project activities.
6. Support communication and activities with local partners, agencies, NGOs and government institutions and liaise with field officers and functional teams for the correct and timely implementation of activities.
7. Support WFP strong presence in relevant policy discussions through minutes-taking, meeting coordination and translation support.
8. Act as a point of contact for resolution of general operational queries requesting assistance as necessary.
9. Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to ensure WFP is able to quickly respond and deploy needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.
10. Other as required.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

11. Facilitate the planning and organization of stakeholder consultations.
12. Support the development of a Livelihood Zone Mapping, in coordination with partners, stakeholders and further climate analysis of how these livelihoods will be impacted by climate change.
13. Support the development of Community Adaptation Plans for target communities to support evidence-based planning by local government and communities.
14. Assist on the integration climate risk financing (i.e. weather insurance) into national programmes.
15. Support the development of a feedback loop mechanism for “Build-back-better” at community level.
16. Support the Activity Manager to ensure financial and narrative reports from cooperating partners follow WFP guidelines and transfers to beneficiaries are conducted in a timely manner.
17. Support writing of technical reports related to SDC based on field missions, assessments, and desk reviews.
18. Support the implementation of the WFP Kyrgyzstan CSP through ensuring cross-cutting efforts such as nutrition-sensitivity, gender and diversity inclusion, protection and accountability, and capacity development, are integrated throughout the portfolio and to ensure equal participation and consideration of women and men, boys and girls, and people living with specific needs and/or disabilities.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• Has facilitated communication with technical teams (i.e. M&E, VAM, etc.), whereby own

• technical expertise on disaster risk management, climate change and adaptation is a requirement.

• Has contributed to implementation of programmes and can demonstrate

• working experience, preferably in the area of food security, agriculture,
• experience with community-based participatory planning approaches.
• experience working with public and private national stakeholders.
• Previous experience in climate risk finance (i.e., weather insurance) is an asset.

• Has observed or assisted with policy discussions, and for this brings

• competencies such as action management, time management, innovations management,
• excellent written and oral communication and good drafting skills,
• interpersonal skills, client orientation, and ability to work in a team.
• strong computer skills in Microsoft Package.

Functional Capabilities (Knowledge & Skills):

• Demonstrates ability to identify key variables and contextual factors that affect food assistance problems and programmes throughout the lifecycle to inform quality programme design or re-design.

• Demonstrates ability to implement, under guidance, food assistance programmes deploying the full range of transfer modalities with an understanding of basic principles guiding modality selection and implementation.

• Understands and applies basic principles of engagement with government counterparts at the national or local level.

• Displays capacity to provide inputs into the development, implementation and realignment of high-quality programmes.

Education: Completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary certificate in the related functional area. Training (incl. at university) in programme management, monitoring and evaluation or data analysis, esp. in the areas of disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, agriculture, is considered an advantage.

Language: Fluency (level C) in both oral and written communication in English and in the duty station’s languages (either Russian or Kyrgyz, both considered an asset).

TALENTED WOMEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

We look for applicants with the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian values. We commit to promote diversity, gender parity and equality between men and women.

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.

WFP strives to build a work environment that is safe and respectful, and free of sexual harassment and abuse of authority. We believe in open communication, and every individual at WFP is treated with respect regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religious and political beliefs, etc.

Closing date: 5 July 2022

This position is open ONLY to Kyrgyz citizens or those authorized to live and work in the Kyrgyz Republic according to national regulations. Applicants who do not meet this criterion will not be considered for this position.

WFP does not charge any fees at any stage of its recruitment process.

Only candidates who are short-listed will be contacted.