Programme Policy Officer- (Gender Action Learning System)- SSA9

Programme & Policy

Overview

Develop and implement GALS activities for rural women empowerment.

You have:

• Master's degree in social sciences, gender or related discipline or Bachelor’s degree with 2 additional years of experience
• Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language, if different. Fluency in Lao, Hmong, Khmu or other ethnic languages spoken in Laos is desirable.
• At least 6 years of professional experience within development
• Having experience with GALS in the Lao context as trainer/facilitator
• Having an extensive network within GOL and the NGO/Donor community

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WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities 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. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and 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.

WPF celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, color, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and /or expression , sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Under the Agriculture for Nutrition phase 2 (AFN-II) project, the World Food Programme (WFP) Lao PDR supports the implementation of Gender Action Learning System (GALS) and Business Action Learning for Innovation (BALI). In 2024, the GALS will be rolled out in 10 villages, probably in the Northern part of Lao PDR (Oudomxai and Phongsaly) with the plan to roll it out to 25 villages by 2025. The GALS was first developed in 2007 by Linda Mayoux, with the support of several development partners such as IFAD, OXFAM Novib and HIVOS, among others. The goal of GALS is to address gender and social injustice in economic development efforts through an inclusive and participatory process which represents per se an empowerment strategy. The methodology aims at empowering men and women to achieve a better and happier life. It uses simple mapping and diagram tools for visioning and planning to empower men, women and youth to make changes in their lives. GALS is a methodology to promote change. BALI helps to promote women’s business innovation and diversification of their opportunities within local economies by developing realizable business and marketing plans based on their specific opportunities and challenges. In the results, women's business capacity will be improved and financial management skills will be increased as well. AFN II is a gender transformative project, it aims to “empower rural women and achieve greater equality and wellbeing in rural households and communities”. The GALS specialist/facilitator will be responsible to develop the GALS project activities under AFN-II and facilitate the roll-out for the first 10 villages in 2024. The position might be extended for 2025, depending on the results of the first villages. In 2025, the BALI activity may be extended to the first 10 villages.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Develop the GALS approach within the AFN-II project, based upon other successful GALS initiatives in Lao PDR; • Develop GALS related training materials and facilitation guidelines in English and Lao languages based on existing GALS guidance; • Support the identification of 10 villages and initial participants for roll-out of GALS in 2024, from the overall 75 project villages; • Design and conduct TOT sessions for LWU, DAFO, WFP and other district-based staff responsible for the GALS activities; • Design and conduct Catalyst Trainings for community level facilitators in 10 villages;Monitor and provide follow-up support to GALS activities in the 10 pilot villages; • Maintain data/base of champions/participants; • Support the Participatory Gender Review in all 10 pilot villages; • Develop stories on GALS for Knowledge Management products; • Provide regular reports to WFP-CO; • Perform other duties 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.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Master degree in social sciences, gender or related discipline or Bachelor’s degree with 2 additional years of experience

Language: National Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language, if different. Fluency in Lao, Hmong, Khmu or other ethnic languages spoken in Laos is desirable.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Strategy & Planning Applies strong understanding of key national and international socio-political issues and the complexity and range of WFP programmes to plan and oversee implementation of programmes in area of responsibility, coordinating and monitoring to ensure effective fulfilment of the area’s needs. Operations Applies understanding of WFP’s operations within the area of assignment to ensure optimal deployment of food aid and food assistance programmes and the resolution of high impact operational issues that arise. Demonstrates an in-depth understanding of WFP programmes, supply chain and budgeting principles. Resource Proactively builds profile of WFP within area of responsibility, effectively leveraging this to lead fundraising initiatives. Utilises understanding of WFP structure and delivery model and strong commercial knowledge to effectively develop, manage and control budgets, with frequently limited funding. Diplomacy Applies negotiation, networking and diplomacy skills to develop, nurture and sustain mutually beneficial external partnerships with local government authorities, international and local NGOs, civil societies, UN agencies, donors, beneficiaries and other partners/ media engaged in the field of food security, to improve assistance packages. Collaborates with governments and other partners to identify opportunities for food assistance programmes in-line with WFP’s strategic aims locally, and negotiates the optimal approach to delivery against these.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

At least 6 years of professional experience within Development

Having experience with GALS in the Lao context as trainer/facilitator

Having an extensive network within GOL and the NGO/Donor community

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Contract Type: Special Service Agreement (SSA), When Actually Employed (WAE)

Position title: Programme Policy Officer (Gender Action Learning System)

Garde: SSA9

Duration: From March to November 2024 with total 90 working days

Duty Station: Vientiane, Country Office

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Posting Date: 9 February 2024

Closing Date: 22 February 2024

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Female applicants, individuals with disabilities, and those from developing countries, are 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.

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Potential interview questions

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