Programme Policy Officer (Food Fortification), SB4, SC, New Delhi

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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.

VACANCY DETAILS

Type of Contract: Service Contract - SB-4/ Peg 1 Location: New Delhi Duration of Contract: One year (Renewable upto maximum of three years) No. of Positions : 1 Reporting to: Head of Nutrition and School Feeding Unit

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the food-aid arm of the United Nations and is committed to fighting hunger worldwide. WFP has been operational in India since 1963; however, the nature of support extended by WFP in India has evolved over a period of time from providing food to a more catalytic role in reducing vulnerability and eliminating food insecurity and malnutrition through technical assistance. WFP focusses on enhancing the systemic efficiency and nutritional effectiveness of the various food-based safety nets in support of the efforts of the Government of India and in partnership with the State governments. The role of the WFP Nutrition and School feeding unit in India is limited to improving the nutritional effectiveness of the food-based safety nets.

Over the past few years, food fortification has been the strategy used by WFP to improve the nutritional effectiveness of the food-based safety nets. WFP has a long and diverse history of food fortification in India. This experience ranges from production and distribution of fortified blended foods to staple food fortification of both wheat flour & rice and point of use fortification of hot cooked meals in the government’s food-based safety nets. However, in the recent past, the focus has been primarily on rice fortification. WFP through its work has been well able to make the case for integration of fortified rice in the food-based safety nets of the government. Consequently, the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India has formulated the Centrally Sponsored scheme on fortified rice with a budgetary allocation of INR 174 crores currently being rolled out in 15 districts across 15 States. The roll out of the scheme has been followed by an announcement by the Prime Minister of India on the 15th of August, 2021 to mainstream fortified rice in all the food based safety nets throughout the country by 2024. WFP is a technical partner to DFPD, GoI for this endeavour as well as to the States of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Haryana, Chhattisgarh and Kerala. As part of technical assistance and to support the Government vision of scale up of fortified rice in the food-based safety nets, WFP plans to position staff in the above mentioned six States as well as a dedicated resource at the National level. The recruitment process for the State level positions has been completed.

JOB PURPOSE

The Programme Policy Officer (Food Fortification) under the overall guidance of the Head of the Nutrition and School feeding Unit and as an integral part of the nutrition unit will be responsible for supporting and contributing towards WFP’s food fortification efforts.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Fortification of rice in food-based safety nets - Provide support to government counterparts at National level in development of policy documents, policy briefs, plans & supporting solutions for implementation bottlenecks etc towards mainstreaming of fortification in the social safety nets. - Provide technical assistance in consultation with WFP team to State Governments on rice fortification as well as other food fortification initiatives. This includes technological advise, development of well costed project proposals, terms of reference etc. - Develop & support implementation of plan for scale-up of fortified rice throughout the food-based safety net at National level and States with WFP presence. Capacity building - Support the organization of workshops & advocacy events on fortified rice. - Support relevant line Ministries dealing with food-based safety nets in organization of sensitization events on rice fortification for their staff. - Develop a systematic plan for capacity building of rice millers in the States including providing guidance to the rice millers on procurement of blending equipment through on-site visits in coordination with WFP State Programme Associates hired for different States. - Support State Food Safety Departments in sensitization of private sector players on rice fortification and work towards increasing the fortified rice kernels production capacity in the States in coordination with WFP State Programme Associates recruited for different States as required and directly for other States.

Quality Assurance & quality control - Develop & support State teams in the implementation of SOPs and protocols on quality control & quality assurance of fortified rice along the rice supply chain. - Review QA/QC reports at different levels and accordingly suggest corrective actions.

Social Behavior Change Communication - Facilitate the development, dissemination and implementation of advocacy strategy and materials aimed at improving commitment, knowledge and understanding of decision makers, private sector, public sector, general public, people benefiting from food fortification in coordination with WFP State teams.

Monitoring & evaluation - Regularly visit rice mills in different States to monitor rice blending operations including storage of fortified rice, QA/QC protocols as well as fair price shops, anganwadi centres and government schools to gauge consumer acceptability. - Work with government counterparts to support the development of a MIS system on fortified rice at the State level. - Support the States in conducting baseline and end line of the Centrally sponsored scheme on fortified rice implemented in the State & help in identification of partners for the purpose.

Partnerships and convergence - Support the WFP State teams in Identifying, building capacities and establishing convergence between local academic & research institutes and the Departments of Food and Public Distribution in the States on fortified rice to enable provision of technical assistance and ensure sustainability, post WFP exit. - Develop mechanisms for bringing all National stakeholders on fortified rice together on a periodic basis to review the roll out and current status of fortified rice in the country. - Maintain, strengthen and develop new partnerships on food fortification with different stakeholders, including civil society, research institutions, private sector and development partners.

Research and Documentation - Drive forward efforts to further optimize the pre-mix formulation, equipment or manufacturing process parameters with R&D partners. - Support research around various regulatory aspects of fortified rice, micronutrient levels in fortified rice and meals consumed by the beneficiaries and other such issues around fortified rice, - Document achievements, best practices and lessons learnt on rice fortification to enhance learning within WFP and amongst partners at national level. - Regular follow up with States and preparation of periodic reports on the status of implementation of fortified rice including dissemination to all National Stakeholders. - Facilitate the development and implementation of advocacy strategy and materials aimed at improving commitment, knowledge and understanding of decision makers, private sector, public sector, general public, people benefiting from food fortification.

Management and oversight - In close coordination with the Head of the Unit and the respective Supervisors, provide oversight and guidance to the WFP State teams working on fortified rice including undertaking regular reviews of status in the States, ensuring alignment to timelines in the overall State plan on fortified rice etc

Any other work assigned.

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.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education: Postgraduate degree in food sciences, food technology, nutrition or related field or First University Degree with additional two years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Language : Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Experience :

• A minimum of 3 years work experience of which at least 1-2 years of working closely in the area of food fortification. • Previous experience of working in partnership with the government/UN agency/INGO is desirable. • Experience with programme cycle management (design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation) of large-scale food fortification programmes with public health objectives. • Successful track record in networking with government/public sector, private sector, civil society, UN agencies, donors and research institutions. • Experience in capacity development especially of government counterparts and private sector on aspects related to food fortification. • Evidence based approach, incl. experience with research, academic publications, etc. • Experience with rice, wheat, oil, milk and salt sectors in India would be an asset

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Strong technical knowledge of nutrition, including nutrients • Sound knowledge of the status of food fortification in the country including the vision of the government of India on the same. • Proven leadership and management skills • Strong analytical skills, strong interpersonal and organizational skills, with an ability to effectively manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

• Ability to engage effectively with a wide range of actors from government, private sector and civil society. • Solid planning and problem-solving skills and action oriented • Solid computer skills; • Ability to work under tight deadlines and simultaneously manage multiple tasks in an autonomous manner; • Maturity, initiative, courtesy, tact and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds • Ability to handle any other additional tasks as requested by the supervisor. • Ability to undertake frequent travel .

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. A written test will be used as a form of screening. In the event your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide in advance a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/ certificate(s). This is a national position therefore applicants who are non-Indian nationals will not be considered. Qualified candidates will be retained on roster for at least two years and may be considered for future similar vacant posts. Female applicants and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organisation. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection & recruitment process and for work-related needs upon joining the Programme. 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.

Applications for the positions are required to be submitted online on the E-recruitment link as mentioned below: https://www1.wfp.org/careers/job-openingsNote: Applicants are requested to Create an account in the system before applying. Curriculum and applications will be registered and system allows them to update their profile and apply for a job through wfp careers website.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

20.03.2022

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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.