Programme Policy Officer (Cash Based Transfers, CBT), NOB, Harare

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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 (WFP) 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

In Zimbabwe, WFP has a strong track record of delivering food assistance and managing supply chains during crises, while building resilience to shocks among vulnerable communities. The July 2022-December 2026 Country Strategic Plan (CSP) provides a road map to promote shock-responsive social protection and sustainable and resilient food systems.

The July 2022-December 2026 articulates collaborative efforts to better anticipate future needs, improve data and forecasting and strengthen livelihoods and local capacities to withstand, respond to and adapt more readily to sudden or chronic stresses. WFP will support informed decision making on food security and nutrition in Zimbabwe, and will integrate nutrition, gender, protection and inclusion, youth engagement, technological innovation and decentralized zero hunger action throughout the plan. WFP will establish new partnerships and leverage existing ones to their full potential, including those with the other Rome-based and other United Nations agencies.

WFP Zimbabwe’s July 2022-December 2026 CSP focuses on the below areas;

• Social and humanitarian assistance for food-and nutrition-insecure populations in targeted rural and urban areas.
• Support to urban food insecure households for resilient livelihoods.
• Support to rural communities for climate resilient livelihoods, sustainable management of natural resources and enhanced participation in local markets and value chains.
• Collaboration with national actors to enhance capacities to develop, coordinate and implement well-informed, effective and equitable actions for achieving food and nutrition security.
• Services to humanitarian and development actors in Zimbabwe so they can implement their programmes and provide support to their beneficiaries in an efficient, effective and reliable way at all times, including during crises

JOB PURPOSE

This Programme Policy Officer (Cash Based Transfers, CBT) position will be part of a team that will contribute to the CBT Cluster and the below accountabilities will be performed within that context.

• The Programme Policy Officer (CBT) will provide strategic leadership to WFP’s work in the cash and voucher sector, providing advisory support in the choice between different implementation modalities and representing WFP in conversations with partners and with the government.
• The Programme Policy Officer (CBT) will be the cash operations focal point for the country office and manage the CBT portfolio providing effective support to Activity Leads to ensure programme delivery.
• WFP also has adopted a strategy to provide all assistance through WFP’s corporate beneficiary management and transfer system called SCOPE. SCOPE is also used to partner with the Government of Zimbabwe and UNICEF to work towards a national single registry for social protection programmes and to test its use for shock-responsive social protection.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

The Programme Policy Officer (CBT) will report to the Head of Programmes or designate. The duties and responsibilities include:

1. Contribute towards the development of a wide variety of projects, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance.
2. Provide project management support to specific and defined programmes and projects of considerable size/complexity, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes that complies with WFP standards and procedures.
3. Develop and coordinate data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.
4. Research and analyse a range of policy and operational issues to inform the development of policies, programmes and activities.
5. Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on programmes and activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
6. Liaise with internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery.
7. Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working leading to improved food assistance packages.
8. Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to prepare for and respond to food assistance needs, e.g. through providing inputs into training materials.
9. Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries.

SPECIFIC TASKS

10.Contribute to the implementation of operations, coordinating and implementing different cash disbursement mechanisms at the CO level including mobile money, cash in transit, remittance exchange and e-voucher.

11. Overall day-to-day oversight and management of CBT operations and support SCOPE to facilitate the implementation and monitoring of CBT-based programmes at the Field Office-level.

12. Contribute to the planning and coordination of CBT multi-sectoral assessments for different districts and domains to guide modality selection.

13. Coordinate the National Cash Working Group with an aim of promoting the application of common standards, collaboration between different actors and the adoption of consistent approaches in cash based interventions.

14. Contribute to gender transformation, youth engagement and the inclusion of disadvantaged groups in all programme efforts.

15. Other as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education: Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses. National Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language and the local languages

Five or more years of professional (managerial) experience relevant to information management systems, cash programming and payment solutions

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Knowledge of current thinking and developments in the field of cash programming and digital payment solutions.
• Understanding of intervention modalities, programme and project lifecycle tools, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation desirable.
• Understanding of humanitarian principles.
• Problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders, conveying an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative information.
• Learning agility, and appetite for exploring and experimenting with new ideas and approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written outputs and ability to present.
• Ability to work independently in a timely and organised manner.
• Ability to work as part of a team, participating in open dialogues and valuing diverse opinions of others, regardless of gender, culture, background, experience, or country assignment.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has a deepened technical knowledge and understanding of cash programming, different payment solutions and strong experience with setting up digital payment solutions and recent innovation in the field.
• Direct experience working with Information Management Systems relevant to cash programming
• Strong understanding and experience contracting and working with financial service providers
• Experience at supervisory/leadership level implementing programmes and experience in provision of input into policy discussions and decisions.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Qualified candidates are requested to submit their application via E- Recruitment attaching a signed application letter, a Curriculum Vitae and a signed Personal History Form (P11) available at http://www.unon.org/docs/P11. This advert is open to nationals of Zimbabwe Only. Female candidates with relevant qualifications and experience are encouraged to apply.

WFP DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING).

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

The deadline for receipt of applications is 8 June 2022.

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All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.