Programme Policy Officer: Drought Emergency Response Coordinator (6 months Level II CST)

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WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to end global hunger. 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.

In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. Present in nearly 80 countries, the organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to nutritious food and contribute to the lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas. We manage an operating budget of approximately $5.9 billion each year, distributing 12.6 billion rations to those most in need. We reach an average of 80 million people with food assistance in around 80 countries each year. The role will be based in Angola Country Office, Lubango Duty Station.

For more on WFP and what we do, please go to http://www.wfp.org/videos/zero-hunger

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

In Angola, WFP is working with the Government and a broad range of partners towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). From October 2020 to May 2021 the southwestern provinces of Angola experienced the most severe drought in the last 40 years. Migration of families to neighboring Namibia in the search of water and pasture for kettle has been registered in Cunene. In addition to lack of precipitation, the occurrence of locust pests in some areas has further compromised the agricultural season 2020/2021.

An IPC Acute Food Insecurity analysis of 17 municipalities of Southern Angola found that, between July and September 2021, around 1.32 million people (49% of the analyzed population) have experienced high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), of which 38% are in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and 12% in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). These people face difficulties in accessing food or are only able to meet the minimum food requirements through crisis and/or emergency coping strategies. Between October 2021 and March 2022, the number of people in IPC Phase 3 or above is expected to rise to around 1.58 million people (58% of the analyzed population), of which 42% are likely in IPC Phase 3 and 15% in IPC Phase 4.

The mounting food security and nutrition needs are evident and confirmed by all relevant partners operating on the ground. The government’s capacity to effectively respond has proven to be limited. WFP has been providing technical assistance to the Government in the areas of school feeding, vulnerability analysis and nutrition, and is well positioned to continue supporting the relevant national counterparts in their drought preparedness and response efforts.

WFP’s assistance will be coordinated through the Inter-Ministerial Drought Task Force and will include support on nutrition, vulnerability analysis and mapping, supply chain and operations management. WFP will help the Government set up food security and nutrition coordination mechanisms at the provincial level and is discussing other possibilities of support, including food assistance.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under these Terms of Reference, the consultant will be based in Lubango (Huíla) and will work in close collaboration with the Angola Country Office in Luanda in order to:

• Coordinate WFP team working on drought emergency response in Lubango, Ondjva and Namibe offices.
• Lead the engagement with Cunene-based Government Drought Task Force. The consultant will be assisted by staff with the required expertise on Supply Chain, VAM, and Nutrition.
• Support set up of Nutrition Response in Huila, Cunene and Namibe, including on the FLAs and overall set-up.
• Advance preparedness work on possible food assistance interventions, including in-kind and cash-based transfer options, and related required arrangements, in close coordination with Luanda office and relevant RBJ units.
• Coordinate with local stakeholders, including relevant govt entities, UN agencies and humanitarian partners, as required.
• Support establishment of provincial food security and nutrition coordination mechanisms.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION:

• Master’s degree in agriculture, Economics, Social Development, Food Security, Environment, Public Health, Community Development, Social Sciences or related fields with a strong knowledge of food security and nutrition issues and demonstrated experience in the practice of Programme management and research.

EXPERIENCE:

• 6 years of experience in emergency operations.
• Exposure to field operations, preferably in a hardship duty station, conflict, or emergency response situation.
• Experience of analyzing local political situations and assessing risk.
• Broad exposure across multiple areas within a function (i.e. policy, programme etc.).
• Experience managing small to mid-size financial budgets and balancing priorities effectively.
• Experience leading small to mid-size team to ensure effective delivery of objectives.
• Participated in a vendor/government/ partner negotiation within area of focus.
• Participated in an emergency operation/ development programme.
• Experience with security co-ordination.
• Excellent communications skills, including good drafting ability in both English and Portuguese.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Sound knowledge of project cycle, programme and resource management, humanitarian principles and tools, programmes and transfer modalities; • Ability to explain projects and operations to counterparts and to communicate with Government and partners clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; • Ability to translate understanding of programme principles into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches; • General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

The application closing date is 01 December 2021 at 23:59.

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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.