Programme Policy Officer ( Head of Peace & Conflict Advisor), CST Level 2

Programme & Policy

Overview

Provide strategic and operational advice on peace and conflict dynamics.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in political or social science, conflict studies or international relations.
• At least 6 years of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian and/or development work with key experience in integrating conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity.
• Knowledge of WFP emergency operations and methodologies for conflict analysis and scenario-building.
• Strong analytical and writing skills, including the ability to write in an engaging and informative manner.
• Excellent writing skills in English are essential; intermediate knowledge of a second official UN language is an advantage.

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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.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives : Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.
• Be a force for positive change : Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.
• Make the mission inspiring to our team : Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions : Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills : Is able to identify, support and encourage focused on-the-job learning opportunities to address gaps between current skillsets and needed future skillsets for WFP.
• Create an inclusive culture : Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback : Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit : Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios)

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions : Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries.
• Focus on getting results : Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments : Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.
• Be Decisive : Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units : Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning
• Build strong external partnerships : Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships
• Be politically agile & adaptable : Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships : Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

After months of rising tensions between Ukraine and the Russian Federation (RF), there has been a significant escalation in armed hostilities in Ukraine as of 24 February 2022, with increased shelling reported in several cities in Ukraine in addition to the areas already in conflict in the east of the country. As per the Inter-Agency Contingency Plan (IACP) on 30 December 2021, indicators point to a potentially dire humanitarian situation. As of late April 2022, over 5.5 million people have fled Ukraine and 7.1 million people are estimated to be internally displaced (IDPs), among whom 75 percent are women, 5 percent are children (6-59 months), and 6 percent are persons with disabilities. People residing in encircled cities in the east and south of Ukraine continue to face critical shortages of food, water, medicine, and electricity. Many are unable to seek safe haven through humanitarian corridors.

Since February 2022 WFP implements the Limited Emergency Operation (LEO) responding to the most severe impacts of the evolving context while scaling up the LEO in response to the increasing needs. WFP response follows two tracks in parallel. Firstly, WFP fills gaps in the response to crisis-affected populations through the provision of immediate food assistance using a combination of cash-based transfers (CBT) and in-kind modalities. Secondly, WFP supports other humanitarian agencies through logistics and telecommunications-related support as well as other on-demand services, as required.

The Programme Unit are looking to identify a Peace & Conflict Advisor to improve the way WFP delivers assistance within the fragile context that it operates in where programming has to interact with a constantly evolving conflict dynamic.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

With the Programme Unit, and reporting directly to the Head of Programme, the Peace & Conflict advisor is responsible for providing evidence-based strategic and operational advice regarding peace and conflict dynamics, conflict sensitive programming, as well as the social, economic, political, and institutional context. Based on in-depth conflict analysis, the Peace & Conflict advisor will contribute guiding WFP Ukraine in recalibrating its approach in line with rapidly evolving conflict dynamics, shifting areas of control, parallel administrative structures and populations in need in NGCAs and in territories under de facto authorities.

The Peace & Conflict Advisor will contribute to inform Programme design and activities through conflict sensitivity lenses, as well as provide conflict sensitivity recommendations for implementing conflict sensitivity programming so that WFP actions contribute to promote de-confliction at the community level. Specifically:

• Provides analytical support to the Emergency Coordinator Management on conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity.

• Develop a work plan for systematic and context-specific conflict analysis (CA) and conflict sensitivity risk assessment (CSRA).

• Increases understanding of conflict sensitivity amongst WFP and partners.

• Prepares and drafts relevant forward-looking analysis and scenarios on the national, sub-national and regional context surrounding the conflict in Ukraine including assessments on humanitarian, conflict sensitivity and access implications for WFP Ukraine operations.

• Conduct CA and CSRA in conflict-affected areas, in areas temporarily occupied by Russian Federation (RF) and currently under Ukranian control; areas currently under RF control and in areas currently or likely to be under RF control. The analysis will be based on secondary sources, consultations with stakeholders (UN agencies and national NGOs) and key informants interviews wherever possible.

• Prepares and shares risk assessments informing Programme prioritization and targeting on the basis of conflict analysis and the most likely conflict trajectory.

• Drafts specific conflict sensitivity recommendations and risk mitigation strategies for the programming implementation so that WFP activities minimize negative impacts and where possible and appropriate actively contribute to community-level conflict mitigation.

• Routinely update conflict analysis and risk assessments to track evolution of conflict dynamics, risks and opportunities and quickly suggest ways to update programme and or operational implementation if course correction is needed

• Maintains awareness of all contextual aspects, which could potentially affect the WFP operation in Ukraine, to include up-to-date knowledge of events relating to the security and conflict-related environment of WFP operations through monitoring of situation reports, media and other open sources.

• Prepares analytical inputs for regular reports, operational updates, analytical reviews, background notes on operational and contextual topics.

• Liaises with all relevant units to contribute to WFP country policies, plans and operations from a conflict and peace lens.

• Provides inputs for briefings to staff, donors and partners.

• Actively coordinate and liaise with other agencies and those in similar functions at other agencies, as well as with local and international NGOs and CSOa working on peace and conflict in Ukraine. Performs other duties as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) preferably in political or social science, conflict studies or international relations. science, conflict studies or international relations: Experience: At least 6 years of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian and/or development work with key experience in integrating conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity, into humanitarian programming; knowledge working on and building an understanding of methodologies for forward-looking conflict analysis and scenario-building; extensive experience in leading and conducting conflict analysis at various levels, including integrating security, gender and program considerations; and an ability to design and conduct research projects and perform studies.

Knowledge & Skills: Knowledge of WFP emergency operations. Strong analytical and writing skills, including the ability to write in an engaging and informative manner, and conceptualize and clearly synthesize information. Ability to work within tight timelines, under pressure, and managing multiple priorities simultaneously with minimum supervision. Ability to lead or facilitate consultations and coordinate the work of technical experts outside of a supervisory role. Initiative, enthusiasm, and flexibility with excellent interpersonal skills and team spirit.

Languages: Excellent writing skills in English are essential. Intermediate knowledge of a second official UN language is an advantage. Knowledge of Russian and Ukranian is a plus.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has experience working across the Program portfolio including VAM/Nutrition.
• Has led a Sub Office or a small country/area office programme team or a component of a country office programme portfolio.
• Has engaged in policy discussions and provided input into policy decisions.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Monday, 25 July 2022

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All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wfp.org