Programme Policy Officer- Gender and Protection- NOB

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

WFP Laos consists of the Vientiane Country Office and three Field Offices in the northern and the southern Provinces. We are now looking for a qualified suitable candidate for the Programme Policy Officer (Gender and Protection- NOB level) to be based in Vientiane Country Office. The position will work under director supervision of Gender and Protection Officer and overall supervision of Deputy Country Director.

Position Overview

WFP seeks a Programme Policy Officer (Gender and Protection) to ensure effective two-way communication and feedback loop closure, as well as to progress the CO’s SEA commitments. The Programme Policy Officer:

• Will receive the appropriate training to conduct their work in a professional manner, including training to register cases on WFP’s system for feedback management.
• Is expected to carry out their work in accordance with the UN’s three core principles of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity.
• Will sign and adhere to a code of conduct and an oath of confidentiality.
• Will attend and apply relevant trainings.
• While the position is based in WFP’s CO in Vientiane capital, the programme policy officer will be required to travel to field locations as required

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Support the empowerment of communities through the provision of accessible and timely information and participation in decision making processes through communication channels and language they have identified. • Help ensure efficient and effective coordination of AAP by collecting and circulating within WFP and among its partners, the urgent needs and priorities of affected populations. • Review and assess the current CFM and make recommendations for improvement. This includes the specific requirements for sensitive or confidential calls such as on sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). • Identify needs for sensitization of the affected population regarding the CFM, and plan and oversee the roll out of sensitization efforts. • Receive and/or review feedback received through the CFM and ensure the proper and timely follow-up by the relevant colleagues. This includes the provision of feedback to the affected populations and ensuring adequate documentation of action taken. • Develop strong relationships with relevant focal points to ensure management and feedback of information gathered by the CFM is captured and documented. This requires a thorough review and understanding of the current communication procedures and an alignment of all activities with the objectives of WFP to close the feedback loop to affected populations. • On an ongoing basis, gather information on the functioning of the CFM to make improvements as required. • Together with the PSEA focal points, support the development and implementation of Lao CO PSEA Strategy and Action Plan, including coordination with in-country UN and humanitarian partners, training of internal staff and newly appointed focal points, outreach to communities and cooperating partners. • Act as focal point for WFP’s headquarters in preparation to the PSEA Digitalization projects that aim at leveraging digital technologies to enable a victim-centered approach in PSEA management. In particular, the focal point will support the implementation of RapidPro for PSEA, using SMS-based technologies to share communication resources and campaigns on PSEA for different target audiences. The focal point is expected to attend coordination calls, facilitate information sharing within WFP and with other agencies, liaise with other CO functions involved in the project, and contribute to assessment exercises leading to the project pilot. • Identify preferred communication channels and messages on PSEA for local communities, ensuring that the right languages, channels and formats are inclusive of different groups and minorities, with the goal of implementing communication and sensitization campaigns in coordination with SEA team in HQ. • Ensure the availability of an easy-to-access and safe mechanism through which affected populations can lodge feedback and ask questions through multiple feedback channels, including on PSEA. • Ensure harmonization of CFM and PSEA reporting mechanisms, enabling CFM to adequately channel SEA allegations to relevant focal points and investigative unit, in line with WFP’s corporate reporting policies and procedures. • Support, implement, and manage data cleaning and preparation, oversight and maintenance of internal data collection and management systems, production of ad-hoc and regular reports, as well as proposals, as well as representation and/or presentation at relevant meetings.

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:

Advanced University Degree in one of the following disciplines: Political Science, Social Sciences, International Development, Gender Studies, Law, Human Rights, Law or related field OR University degree with additional 8 years of relevant 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 5 years or more of relevant experience working in the humanitarian or development field with Advance University Degree or at least 8 years of relevant experience with First University Degree , of which at least three years of experience working on PSEA. This can be as part of other roles too, such as Gender, Protection and AAP.
• In-depth knowledge of gender-transformative approaches to humanitarian and development assistance, application of humanitarian protection principles; understanding of PSEA and other forms of gender-based violence in emergency and other humanitarian and development settings; understanding of gender and disability components of access relations; and other humanitarian policy issues and its linkages within humanitarian and development assistance.
• Ability to work in a team, and establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds
• Flexibility in accepting work assignments
• Innovative and self-driven with strong commitment to results focused work
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills
• Sound knowledge and skills in training and facilitation
• Demonstrate an ability to learn quickly, follow procedures, and act professionally at all times – especially under times of stress
• Strong capacity in establishing and sustaining relationships with diverse stakeholders, including government, development partners and CSOs.
• Capacity to innovate solutions for participation of groups with increased risks of vulnerability based on local

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Contract Type: Fixed Term Appointment

Position title: Programme Policy Officer (Gender and Protection)

Garde: NOB

Duration: one year contract with renewal

Duty Station: Vientiane, Country Office

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Posting Date: 26 September 2023

Closing Date: 9 October 2023