Programme Policy Officer (Fair Price Shops, FMTC)

This opening expired 3 years ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

WFP - World Food Programme

Open positions at WFP
Logo of WFP

Application deadline 3 years ago: Thursday 29 Oct 2020 at 19:14 UTC

Open application form

HEADER

"Qualified FEMALEs are preferred and encouraged 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, 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 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. We are currently seeking to fill the position of a Programme Policy Officer with our Programme Unit based in Nepal Country Office, Kathmandu, Nepal.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Programme Policy Officer is a temporary position based at the Sales Department of the FMTC, Kathmandu. The job holder will be a member of the WFP nutrition team but will be seconded to work at the FMTC head office. The incumbent reports primarily to FMTC head of the Sales Department and the WFP Nutrition Advisor, with a reporting line to the WFP Supply Chain, Programme and EPI unit to coordinate related implementation activities. The job holder is responsible to assist FMTC with the accelerated roll out of Fair Price shops outside Kathmandu in support of population affected by the COVID-19 emergency, assist with related capacity strengthening of local government and fair price shop owners, food supply and distribution, monitoring & evaluation, targeting of beneficiaries, consumer protection and related reporting. He/she is also expected to support and advocate for private sector’s engagement on nutrition.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 are likely to be working under the close support and guidance of a more experienced professional staff member receiving guidance and regular feedback on work performed. They are typically involved in programme or policy activities or similar nature and analytical work of limited complexity.

BACKGROUND

Working in Nepal since 1963, WFP has extensive knowledge of the Nepal context as related to food and nutrition security, livelihood creation as well as logistics capacity and emergency response. At present, WFP Nepal operates across the country with tailored programming based on present and predicted needs. Being a well-trusted UN partner, WFP is uniquely well-placed to support the Government, as well as local communities to tackle the underlying factors causing hunger, to build self-reliance and improve food security. One of the programme WFP is supporting in Nepal in the initiation and scaling up of rice fortification initiative. Accordingly, in 2019 WFP and four government organizations; namely Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP), Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MOICS), Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC), and Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement a three-year plan of action (POA) to implement rice fortification in Nepal.

The programme envisages to distribute fortified rice through FMTC in targeted remote and food insecure districts under an existing social safety net program. Since FMTC was tasked in April 2020 by the government to increase food distribution to population affected by COVID-19, WFP provided three months technical assistance, to develop an operational guideline for implementation of Fair Price Shops (FPS): Private sales outlets that are authorized to sell FMTC subsidized food commodities. The FPS guideline was developed based on the requirements in the Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act 2075, which ensures the fundamental rights of citizens of Nepal to food, food security and food sovereignty.

In order to implement the FPS guideline FMTC will be joining SUN Business Network (SBN) to receive technical assistance on training. The SBN is a dedicated global platform for business and nutrition, with the aim to reduce malnutrition in all its forms – through engaging and supporting business to act, invest and innovate in responsible and sustainable actions and operations to improve nutrition. It is the private sector branch of Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement which aims to engage businesses within a multi-stakeholder, country-owned approach, to scaling up nutrition. Therefore, with the purpose of supporting the endorsement and implementation of the Fair Price Shop guideline, to orientate government and fair price show owners and support FMTC to establish fair price shops during a trial phase, WFP is looking for the services of a qualified and experienced Programme Policy Officer.

JOB PURPOSE

To provide support to FMTC to establish 14 Fair Price shops in food insecure districts of Province 5, Karnali and Sudurpaschim province, assist with related training design, capacity strengthening, food supply, monitoring & evaluation, targeting of beneficiaries, analysis and related reporting.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Functional Area: Programme/Nutrition (SO 2, Activity 4)

Position Title: Programme Policy Officer (Fair Price Shops, FMTC)

Type of Contract: Special Service Agreement (SSA)

Grade: SSA-8 (Equivalent to NO-A)

Duty Station: Based in FMTC Office, Kathmandu, Nepal

Duration: 6 months (with possibility of extension)

Nationality: Nepalese ONLY

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the overall guidance of the WFP Country Director, and direct supervision of the Head of Nutrition (Nutrition Advisor) with matrix relation to Head of Supply Chain and Head of EPI, the job holder will carry out the following tasks:

1. Support FMTC to implement trial phase 1, to establish 14 Fair Price Shops as per the guidelines for the operation of Fair Price Shops.

  1. Contribute towards the development and implementation to establish 14 fair price shops, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance.
  2. Provide project management support to FMTC to establish 14 fair price shops, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes that complies with FMTC and WFP standards and procedures.
  3. Implement FPS data gathering and monitoring system to ensure rigorous quality standards are maintained.
  4. 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.
  5. Follow emergency preparedness practices to ensure WFP and FMTC can quickly respond and deploy food and/or needed resources to affected areas at the onset of a crisis.
  6. Document lessons and feedback on the operational guideline, and recommend, as needed, components of the operational guideline to be updated in the future.
  • Expected outputs:
    1. Workplan and budget for Phase 1 and 2 implementation of fair price shops;
    2. FMTC contract agreements with 14 fair price shop business owners;
    3. Micro financing options sourced & used for FPS startup and procurement of stock;
    4. Quotas and margins for FPS’s agreed and endorsed;
    5. Food commodity order, supply and payment system to FPS’s established;
    6. Standard, accurate and timely FPS reporting system established;
    7. Priority household targeting mechanism agreed with local authorities;
    8. FPS M&E committees & grievance redressal mechanism established;
    9. FPS inspection & monitoring system established, and regular inspections conducted;
    10. Evaluation report of phase 1 implementation of FPS’s.

2. Capacity strengthening of Government Provincial, District and municipal administration, FMTC staff and fair price shop owners in, supply, operation and M&E of the Fair Price Shops.

  • Support the capacity building of FTMC staff, partners and national government to prepare for and implement fair price shops to respond to food assistance needs, e.g. through project management support and design of learning & training initiatives.
  • Provide guidance to support FMTC and WFP field staff, acting as a point of referral and assisting them with analysis and queries.
  • Expected outputs:
    1. Fair Price Shop guideline endorsed by FMTC, MoICS, printed and published
    2. FPS communication strategy for all stakeholders
    3. Two FPS orientation workshops held
    4. FSP basic training modules designed and 3 training workshops conducted
    5. FSP training for FMTC staff designed and 1 training workshop conducted

3. Help identify financial and regulatory inputs needed to establish a sustainable system of Fair Price Shops country wide as per the Right to Food Act, regulations & FPS guidelines

  • Research and analyse policy and operational issues to support senior colleagues in the development of policies, programmes and activities.
  • Liaise with internal counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects.
  • Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working leading to improved food assistance packages.
  • Expected outputs:
    1. Regular coordination meetings with FTMC, MoICS, MoALD and WFP units.
    2. TOR 3-month consultancy to conduct gap analysis of national regulatory framework.
    3. Consultant hired for 3-months to conduct gap analysis.

4. Monitoring, evaluation and learning

  • Support the FMTC team in developing a monitoring system to track distribution of fortified rice and other commodities, as well as address beneficiary complaint mechanism.
  • Prepare monthly progress report on the implementation of the Fair Price Shops to FMTC and WFP management
  • Organize joint review meeting among FMTC. WFP and other concerned stakeholders to review on the progress, identify challenges and foster learning.
  • Collect and report food safety concerns raised by beneficiary and/or stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with the communication to document and share any promising practices,

5. Others as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Masters/Advanced university degree in business administration, agricultural economics, agribusiness, economics or related field, or First University degree with at least 5 years of relevant work experience and/or trainings/courses. Language: Excellent oral and written proficiency in English and Nepali.

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 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, 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 capacity to provide inputs into the development, implementation and realignment of high quality emergency programmes. 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.

Technical skills and knowledge

  • Hands-on experience of complementary food programme implementation for children and other vulnerable groups is an asset;
  • Experience in rice fortification or the rice milling sector is a plus.
  • Knowledge of food fortification and food quality and safety standards.
  • Sound understanding of agribusiness and market related policies, and systems of Nepal;
  • Good negotiation skills and ability to communicate effectively;

  • Ability for perform well in cross-disciplinary teams.

  • Training and experience in utilizing computers and standard software packages and systems, such as MS Office;
  • General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures in the area of work is an advantage.
  • Nepali Typing skill is an asset;
  • Driving skills with valid license is an advantage.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

  • Three to five years’ experience in agriculture value chain, market linkage, marketing, agribusiness, food systems, and/or digital technologies and relevant programme design/planning and implementation;
  • Experience in the private or government sector in areas related to food commodity procurement and sales in Nepal is advantageous.
  • Proven experience in liaising with government partners and providing input into policy discussions and decisions.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Thursday, 29 October 2020

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

.

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.

Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: wfp.org