Programme Associate (Community Resilience), SC6 - 2 Positions (Kakuma & Dadaab)

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WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

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.

WFP in Kenya has been working in partnership with the Government for over 40 years. Its role has evolved from primarily delivering food assistance (saving lives) focusing on delivering immediate and ongoing support to boost food access and availability and to medium- to long-term action (changing lives) which aims at building climate-resilient food systems. In June 2023, this partnership was renewed through WFP Kenya's Country Strategic Plan (CSP, 2023-2027), through which WFP will continue to support the Government of Kenya in addressing food security and nutrition challenges within the framework of Kenya's Vision 2030 and to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2) – Zero Hunger.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Government of Kenya gazetted and published the Refugees Act 2021, on 23 November 2021 and the law came into effect in February 2022. The provisions of this act place a strong emphasis on inclusivity and transitioning from camps to settlements for refugee management. This transition from a camp-based to a settlement-based approach holds profound implications for refugees, host communities, and broader humanitarian and development efforts. It fundamentally alters how the needs and aspirations of displaced populations are addressed. By departing from traditional camp models, which often isolate refugees and render them reliant on aid, settlements promote self-reliance. Consequently, refugees gain the opportunity to engage in economic activities, access services provided by the host government, and actively participate in host communities. This shift enhances their dignity and simultaneously reduces the burden on humanitarian agencies.

The Refugee Act of 2021 is currently being put into action. Subsidiary laws are being developed, and the 'Shirika Plan' is being drafted to guide the shift from camps to settlements. These developments align with the World Food Programme (WFP) Kenya's 2023–2027 Country Strategic Plan, reflecting the corporate agenda of "saving lives, changing lives." WFP in concert with other key stakeholders envision a transition that fosters integrated and thriving refugee and host communities with resilient economies, and to contribute to the realization of this vision, WFP is committed to playing a vital role through specific actions and collaborative efforts. Guided by international agreements like the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), and the Refugee Act of 2021, as well as local plans like the Socio-Economic Development Plans for Garissa and Turkana, WFP Kenya as articulated in the CSP2 is transforming its refugee operations design from a primarily humanitarian focus to one that encompasses humanitarian, development, and peace-building elements.

JOB PURPOSE

To effectively contribute to this transformation, WFP will focus on three pillars of collaboration with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), the government and other key partners. Firstly, WFP will transform its refugee operations design from a primarily humanitarian focus to one that encompasses humanitarian, development, and peace-building elements. Secondly, WFP will optimise food systems to enhance livelihood opportunities. Finally, WFP will transform existing assistance modalities and approaches such as cash-based transfers, and social protection to catalyse the transition.

WFP will leverage its long-standing relationships with the government, UN partners, NGOs, targeted communities, and county governments to implement this strategy through WFP initiatives, joint UN programs, and other collaborative efforts. Additionally, WFP will explore greater engagement with the private sector to increase investment in refugee-hosting areas. Recognizing the risk of inadequate funding and the need for coordinated action among stakeholders, WFP will also play a key role in advocating for the advancement of the transition agenda.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Policy Officer - Resilience, this position will provide specialised operational and technical support to WFP Kenya’s programme for the resilience and integration of refugees and local communities.

• Provide technical support and assist in the development and implementation of resilience-building activities targeting refugees and host populations in and around settlements and refugee camps while aligning with WFP programme policies and guidelines.
• Coordinate and actively monitor progress and performance of resilience and food system project activities including training of farmers, post-harvest handling support, productive asset creation (water dams/pans, borehole or shallow well, market linkage assistance, among others) to ensure deadlines and targets are met.
• Participate in developing and reviewing of crop, fodder, and livestock extension including social and behaviour change communication messages/ guidelines.
• Coordinate engagement with target smallholder farmers, producer groups, and agro dealers/ stockists, regularly to identify resilience and food system's needs, possible solutions, anticipate challenges and ensure smooth communication

• Support in fostering relationships and communication with relevant stakeholders/ mechanisms, such as cooperating partners (where applicable), food security and livelihood working groups, relevant NGOs, civil societies and community leaders and project target groups in Dadaab/Kakuma.

• Support in coordinating and liaising with internal counterparts to enable effective collaboration, implementation and monitoring of ongoing and upcoming resilience project activities.

• Gather, and collate information, prepare input for reports, perform data analysis and highlight trends/issues ensuring deliverables adhere to corporate standards and quality control within set timelines.
• In consultation with the other project associates and the supervisor(s) develop and oversee the implementation of participation community action planning processes to enhance project ownership and security of established community resilience building assets.
• Support the capacity building of WFP staff, and other actors on resilience building, food systems, agriculture, markets and market systems, agro-value chains, climate change and adaptation and other thematic areas as may be defined in the food resilience and systems projects.
• Support organization and management of donor and high-level visits and missions to project sites assigned to him/her.

Knowledge and skills:

• Extensive knowledge of Kenya’s refugee context.
• Understanding of food system concepts and their application to programme design and implementation in different contexts.
• Knowledge and experience in implementing programmes in agriculture value chain/ food security/ natural resource management.
• Knowledge on participatory community engagement approaches such as participatory rural appraisal, participatory learning and action, community managed disaster risk reduction.
• Knowledge on broader aspects of agricultural extension methodologies such as farmer/pastoral/ agro-pastoral field schools, demonstrations.
• Deep understanding of project cycle management (PCM) including design, planning, implementation, monitoring and adaptation.
• Deep understanding on monitoring technical activities related to production, post- harvest losses, and market linkages with smallholder farmers and/or co-operatives.
• Broader understanding of cross cutting issues in humanitarian and development programming such as conflict sensitive programming, nutrition sensitive programming and gender sensitive programming.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• A certificate of secondary school education, preferably supplemented by technical qualification and/or university degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agronomy, Agricultural Education and Extension, Engineering (Environmental Engineering, Agriculture Engineering), Food Security, Animal Science/ Animal Production, Range Management, or other field relevant to international development assistance

• Experience: At least 5 or more years of progressively responsible work experience in supporting programme management. Experience in implementing resilience building activities in arid and semi-arid areas. Experience working with organizations that have medium to large food security and agriculture portfolio and longer-term projects.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance 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. Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Vouchers) 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. Broad Knowledge of Specialized Areas Understands basic technical concepts and data and their relevance to food assistance programmes. Emergency Programming Displays capacity to provide inputs into the development, implementation and realignment of high quality emergency programmes. Strategic Policy Engagement w/Government Understands and applies basic principles of engagement with government counterparts at the national or local level.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• The World Food Programme DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
• WFP embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that celebrates diversity and inclusivity in all ways.
• All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications and merit.
• Applicants profile MUST match the C.V attached. Any discrepancies between the C.V and the profile will lead to automatic disqualification.

CONTRACT DETAILS

Type of contract: Service Contract, Level SC6

Duty station (City): Kakuma & Dadaab, Kenya (1 position in each duty station)

Duration: 12 Months (with possibility of extension)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

The deadline for application is 23:59 pm East Africa Time on 7 January 2024.

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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.