Programme Officer - Head of Programme

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WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

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.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Job Title: Programme Officer – Head of Programme

Duration: 11 months

Duty Station: Suva, Fiji

Date of Publication: Friday 4 November 2022

Deadline of Application: Friday 18 November 2022

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT

The Pacific is one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions, with Pacific Island Countries ranked among the most vulnerable in the world to natural disasters due to rising sea levels and increasing severe weather patterns caused by the effects of climate change. Of the 20 states with the highest average disaster losses scaled by GDP, eight are Pacific Island countries.

WFP is seeking a Head of Programme to lead WFP’s programme strategy and implementation in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) with a focus on preparedness for and response to emergencies, in relation to food security. The position will lead the Pacific Multi Country Office (MCO) programme/food security unit and working closely across units, including logistics and emergency telecommunication teams, and liaising closely with WFP staff and partners across the Pacific.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Reporting directly to WFP Pacific Deputy Country Director, the Head of Programme will be expected to perform the below actions:

• Provide strategic vision and oversight to WFP’s multi- country programme in the Pacific – including how the programme evolves in the design and implementation of the new multi-country strategic plan to start in mid-2023.

• Coordinate WFP’s ongoing programme workstreams, guiding and supporting the CO to deliver a complex portfolio of programme activities, including:

  • Food Security coordination: in collaboration with FAO and national governments, reinforce regional and national-level food security cluster coordination mechanisms and disaster preparedness through the provision of technical support and related capacity strengthening activities, including during disaster.
  • Data and evidence building through Vulnerability Analysis & Mapping (VAM): build strategy and direction of WFP’s food security and nutrition data collection and analysis with a focus on strengthening evidence for decision making. This will include use of the existing mobile Vulnerability Analysis Mapping (mVAM) tool and other food security data collection and analysis tools and through strengthening partnerships for building evidence.
  • Social Protection and Cash-Based Transfers (CBT): support WFP’s co-leadership role in the regional Pacific CBT Working Group (CWG), in close collaboration with Oxfam and as Secretariat of the Fiji CWG. Lead the development of existing and new initiatives, partnerships, and innovation to strengthen national social protection and CBT systems and coordination.
  • Climate Change Action: Lead in the development of WFP’s work on supporting climate action with a focus on its interaction with food systems, social protection and data capacity strengthening.

• Emergency preparedness and response: strengthen cohesion and coordination of WFP’s emergency preparedness and response in the region including leadership of the food security/cash clusters and working groups and disaster risk financing coordination.

• Ensuring WFP’s programme has a strong M&E system relevant to the programme context and needs.
• Manage a team of national and international staff to deliver programmes, ensuring a strong focus on learning, and team building.
• Ensure protection, gender and disability inclusion in programmes with technical support from technical units and through building partnerships.
• Strategic engagement with partners in the region, including PICT governments, regional organisations and civil society to ensure WFP’s programme is aligned with the work and priorities of the region and therefore maximizing effectiveness.
• Support WFP’s active engagement in the UN architecture in the Pacific, ensuring that WFP’s programme is fully aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooporation Framework and identifying opportunities for joint programming.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATION

EDUCATION

Minimum bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, statistics, development economics, international development, nutrition or other related fields.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of six years -professional experience in a relevant field of work, with a background and interest in international humanitarian development.
• Minimum of two years of experience in project management/coordination – including working on multi-sectoral, multi stakeholder programmes in development contexts.
• Has led the design and implementation of programmes focusing on food security, including country capacity strengthening. Has experience working at strategic policy level. Has contributed to implementation of programmes and has experience in, resource mobilization and partnerships. Ability to work with a technical and diverse team, take initiative while maintaining a strong teamwork attitude. Demonstrated ability to influence and build strategic relationships.
• A solid understanding of the Pacific context / ability to adapt to (with direct experience preferred).

LANGUAGE: Fluency (level C) in English language both oral and written.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Technical skills and experience in designing food security programmes with a focus on preparedness and response, building resilience and/or social protection.
• Strong operational experience, including a strong understanding of the project cycle and its implementation in the framework of effectiveness and accountability (including to affected populations).
• Excellent written and oral communications and reporting, presentation/facilitation skills.
• An understanding of food systems in the contexts of SIDS and current challenges facing these.
• Significant experience in mainstreaming gender and inclusion into programme design, implementation, and learning.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural team and establish an effective working relationship with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent understanding of national and UN institutional frameworks, including financial management frameworks.
• Experience in implementing UN operational programmes, while WFP programmatic and partnership experience is preferred.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

We want to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible. Please contact us at [email protected] to advise us of any accessibility needs you may have.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. 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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. 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.