Programme Policy Officer (Assurance) NOB Niamey

Programme & Policy

Overview

Support WFP's assurance measures and ensure compliance with food assistance standards.

You have:

• Advanced university degree in Auditing, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• Fluency in English and intermediate knowledge of a second UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese).
• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience related to the field for Master's holders, or 5 years for Bachelor's holders.
• Certifications in accounting or internal audit (CPA, CCA, ACCA, CIA, CISA) are preferred.
• Proven expertise in reconciliations and financial procedures.
• Experience with data analysis and visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI).

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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.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

JOB DETAILS

POSTION TITLE: Programme Policy Officer ( Assurance)

GRADE: NO-B

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Fixed-term

CONTRACT DURATION: 12 months (possible extension on the basis of satisfactory performance and availability of resources)

DUTY STATION: Niamey, Niger

DATE OF PUBLICATION: June 10th 2024

DEADLINE OF APPLICATION: June 17th 2024

Le PAM offre des opportunités égales à tous.

Le PAM est engagé à promouvoir une culture de travail dans laquelle chaque employé (e) comprend, et est en mesure de mener à bien ses responsabilités professionnelles et maintenir la dignité des collègues de travail. Le PAM offre des opportunités de carrière pour ses employés et les accompagne dans leur développement professionnel avec des actions de formations et d’apprentissages continues.

Également Le PAM est déterminé à créer et maintenir sur le lieu de travail un climat harmonieux, fondé sur le respect mutuel et la compréhension, exempt de discrimination, de harcèlement, de harcèlement sexuel et d’abus d’autorité et respectueux de la diversité. Le PAM s’est engagé dans la diversité et l’inclusion dans son effectif et encourage les candidatures féminines et masculines qualifiés de tous les milieux religieux et ethniques à faire leur demande. Le PAM a une tolérance zéro pour la discrimination et ne fait pas de discrimination en fonction du statut du VIH/SIDA.

Enfin, le PAM cherche à promouvoir l'égalité des sexes et l'autonomisation des femmes et est certain que sa mission de lutte contre la faim dans le monde ne peut être atteinte que si les femmes, les hommes, les filles et les garçons ont des chances égales en matière d'accès aux ressources et aux services ainsi qu’à la participation à des rôles de prise de décision.

Durée du contrat : 1 an (renouvelable)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

These jobs are found in Headquarters (HQ), Regional Bureaux (RBs) or Country Offices (COs) and job holders report to a more senior Programme Policy Officer. Job holders operate with a high degree of independence, manage more junior staff to ensure that programme and policy objectives are achieved in full. They are usually involved in a wide variety of programme and policy activities and analytical work, some of which may be of a considerable complexity. At this level job holders are expected to contribute to performance improvement.

JOB PURPOSE

Niger is a landlocked, low-income Sahelian country with the 3rd lowest Human Development Index (HDI) in the world in 2021. With a population of around 24.9 million, Niger continues to face high and persistent levels of food insecurity and malnutrition, caused mainly by poverty, conflict, climatic shocks, demographic pressure and gender inequalities that expose the most vulnerable populations to food and nutritional insecurity.

To address the food and nutritional insecurity of the affected populations, the World Food Programme (WFP), through its Country Strategic Plan (CSP), and depending on the context, feasibility and preference of the beneficiaries, intervenes through various response modalities including assistance in the form of food and cash transfers (CTs). Programmes and projects are implemented through service providers (cooperating partners, financial service providers, etc.). The WFP Country Office (CO) in Niger operates in the regions of Agadez, Diffa, Zinder, Maradi, Tillabéry, Dosso and Tahoua through various programmes (emergency food assistance, education and school feeding, prevention and treatment of malnutrition, food assistance for asset creation, social protection). Assistance in the form of food and TMs accounted for 49% and 51% respectively of transfers to WFP Niger beneficiaries in 2023.

At a global level, the WFP has defined standard norms and internal control measures to mitigate risks and strengthen its accountability. In particular, the WFP has identified offices with high operational risks, including the Niger office, for which the implementation of an "insurance plan" has been deemed a priority. The BP Niger plan is based on various pillars, including identity management throughout the intervention cycle (food or TMs), from targeting and identifying beneficiaries to reconciliations. The assurance plan aims to fill the gaps identified and strengthen existing controls to ensure that resources are effectively channelled to eligible beneficiaries at the right time. A taskforce has been set up to monitor the implementation of this plan.

In addition, the Niger Office has undertaken a number of initiatives, including the digitisation of food assistance (end-to-end), the identification of beneficiaries using a programmatic identity (SCOPE card with QR code and photo), the identification and implementation of digital systems, tools and platforms, and staff capacity-building, among other things, in order to be able to meet the WFP's standard norms in terms of insurance.

Within this framework, the Assurance Officer will support the PB in the proper implementation of these measures, and in compliance with the WFP's overall insurance obligations relating to food assistance and the management of beneficiaries, whether this is provided in the form of food or TMs. Particular attention will be paid to setting up and monitoring the required internal procedures, implementing the reinsurance plan and building the capacity of WFP staff and external actors involved in all stages of the intervention cycle. The Assurance Officer will work closely with other functional units involved in identity management at the targeting, de-duplication, distribution and reconciliation levels, as well as with the WFP Regional Bureau and Headquarters in the identification, deployment and use of appropriate systems and tools. He/she will also be required to update various Regional Bureau and Headquarters assurance dashboards on behalf of the Office.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the guidance and supervision of the Head of the TMs Unit, and in line with WFP's Global Strategy, Food Assistance Assurance Guides and Standards, the Assurance Officer will have the following main responsibilities: 1. Review contractual arrangements and partnerships between WFP and partners (financial providers, cooperating partners, etc.) to ensure that the terms of contracts in line with insurance standards are effectively implemented: targeting and identification of beneficiaries, verification of identity and distribution of assistance, reconciliations, reporting requirements, etc. 2. Identify and document shortcomings in the implementation of the various terms of contract and partnership agreements and make recommendations to management. 3. In relation to WFP assurance standards, work with cross-functional teams to identify internal control measures and monitor their effective implementation by both WFP and its partners and service providers. 4. In collaboration with cross-functional teams, develop and/or update standard operating procedures (SOPs) aligned with WFP assurance standards.

5. In collaboration with the Activity Managers, sub-offices and cross-functional units concerned, including TEC and RAM, prepare and ensure the implementation of beneficiary identification and verification plans, the results of which will be used to update the beneficiary lists. 6. In collaboration with the activity managers, sub-offices and cross-functional units concerned (RAM, Finance, Logistics, TEC, etc.), prepare reconciliation plans, supervise the reconciliation of distribution cycles, prepare and review reconciliation reports, document the reconciliation results in a Memo for management and monitor the implementation of the recommendations resulting from the reconciliation exercise.

7. In collaboration with the Risk/Compliance Officer, contribute to the identification of risks related to the food assistance provision process and mitigation measures, contribute to the development and/or updating of the risk register (in particular for TMs operations) and monitor the implementation of the defined mitigation measures and their effectiveness. 8. Consult with key stakeholders at WFP HQ level to determine the best tools and systems for implementing control measures and other assurance activities/measures (recording, distributions, reconciliations, verifications, etc.).

9. Complete the Regional Assurance Dashboard and ensure timely follow-up with cross-functional units on the status of control measures and assurance activities. 10. Support annual reporting processes and reconciliation between corporate systems (WINGS, COMET, LESS) and databases. 11. Train, guide and provide leadership to the Reconciliation Group, sub-offices and external stakeholders in the implementation of activities related to WFP's assurance standards. 12. Ensure compliance with donor requirements in relation to food assistance transfers. 13. Carry out data analysis and provide information as required. 14. Support the creation of dashboards for data visualisation and other outputs as requested by management. 15. Perform other tasks as required.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
• Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
• Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
• Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
• Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance Displays ability to identify the main hunger problem at the national or subnational level to design and implement context-specific programmes that integrate complex analysis and the full range of food assistance tools. Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Voucher) Demonstrates ability to analyse and consolidate quantitative and qualitative information from different sources (e.g., market studies) to inform transfer modality selection and programme development. Broad Knowledge of Specialized areas (i.e. Nutrition, VAM, etc.) Demonstrates the ability to interpret basic data in the context of WFP specialised fields to contribute to technical programme design, implementation and monitoring. Emergency Programming Displays ability to translate understanding of programme principles in emergencies and protracted conflict situations into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches. Strategic Policy Engagement w/ Government Develops thorough recommendations using multiple inputs (e.g., government counsel, research, own experience) to strengthen national or subnational entities and government owned food and nutrition security programmes.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

or Education: Advanced university degree in Auditing, Business Administration Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Information Technology and Computer Science, any other related field or First university degree with at least 2 additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses. Certifications in accounting (CPA, CCA, ACCA), internal audit (CIA) or information systems audit (CISA) or equivalent are recommended.

Language: International Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese.

Experience: At least three (3) years of progressively responsible professional postgraduate (Master’s) experience or a minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in the same fields for First University degree holders.

National Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language, if different.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

Expertise prouvée dans les réconciliations, méthodologies et pratiques, y compris règlements et procédures financières. Utilisation pratique des techniques de réconciliations, y compris la familiarité avec des sources de données électroniques et des bases de données. Connaissance des techniques de collecte d’information, capacité à les systématiser, les analyser et en tirer de solides recommandations.

Excellente capacité analytique et à penser de façon stratégique.

Aptitudes à coordonner avec des équipes multidisciplinaires, à développer et exécuter des plans et diriger des équipes, à synthétiser l’information pour la prise de décision et à communiquer de façon claire et cohérente.

Excellente capacité à communiquer oralement et par écrit, et à établir des priorités.

Capacité à coacher le staff dans la conduite des audits, vérifications ponctuelles (spot checks), à tirer des conclusions et formulation des recommandations.

Gestion des bases de données et analyse de grandes bases de données. Expérience avec l’utilisation des outils de visualisation (Tableau, Power Bi, Qlikview, etc.) et le développement des tableaux de bord.

Expérience et/ou familiarité avec l’environnement humanitaire et/ou le secteur de prestation des services financiers est désirable. Maturité de jugement et capacité à travailler dans un environnement multiculturel.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• A approfondi ses connaissances techniques grâce à une exposition aux équipes techniques.

• A pris en charge la mise en œuvre de programmes.

• A contribué aux discussions et aux décisions politiques en apportant des avis.

COMPETENCIES

1. Interview Opening question

2. Competency Question 1

3. Competency Question 2

4. Competency Question 3

WFP offers equal opportunities to all

WFP is committed to promoting a work culture in which every employee understands and is able to carry out their work responsibilities and maintain the dignity of their co-workers. WFP offers career opportunities for its employees and supports them in their professional development with training and continuous learning actions.

WFP is also committed to creating and maintaining a harmonious climate in the workplace, based on mutual respect and understanding, free of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority and respectful of diversity. WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages qualified women and men from all religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. WFP has a zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate based on the status of HIV / AIDS.

Finally, WFP seeks to promote gender equality and women's empowerment and is confident that its mission to fight global hunger can only be achieved if women, men, girls and boys equal opportunity for access to resources and services and participation in decision-making roles

Contract Duration: 1 year (Renewable)

Remuneration: The gross salary for this grade varies from 23.918.000 fcfa to 30.161.000 fcfa per annum in addition to which you will be granted an allowance for spouse and dependent children under certain conditions.

Eligibility: This vacancy is open to candidates of Nigerien nationality.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

WFP is an employer of choice for women. We value your contributions and are sensitive to your needs. That is why:

"We work to ensure that you have a work/life balance"

• 6 months maternity leave with full pay.
• breastfeeding breaks of up to 2 hours per day and rooms for nursing mothers.
• Flexible working hours (due to illness of children, spouse, etc.) including telecommuting if necessary.
• "We encourage and work to develop your career" through:
• opportunities for growth and development of leadership capabilities.
• training opportunities, capacity building to boost their career.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Closing date of application: June 17th 2024

Applications should be sent only on-line through WFP recruitment website.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you do not hear from us within 2 months, please consider your application unsuccessful.

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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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wfp.org