Programme Policy Officer (Integrated Livelihoods Approach), FT-NOA, based in Lilongwe (1)- Re-advert

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Job Title: Programme Policy Officer (Integrated Livelihoods Approach) - Re-advertisement

No. Position/s: 1 (One)

VA No.: 140861

Contract Type: Fixed Term Grade: NOA

Date of Issue: 05 March 2021 Deadline: 19 March 2021

Functional Unit: Programme and Policy

Duty Stations: Lilongwe (1)

Position/s Duration: One year with a possibility of extension.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. As the international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030, one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. Food and food-related assistance lie at the heart of the struggle to break the cycle of hunger and poverty. For its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict, WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

Malawi is a small landlocked country in Southern Africa. With a population expanding rapidly at 3 percent per year and the majority of livelihoods dependent on agriculture, the population is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate-related disasters. Poverty is experienced by most rural families, with those headed by women suffering the most. Relying on small parcels of densely cultivated land for their livelihoods, rural Malawians are highly affected by climate change. Episodes of drought as well as severe flooding are increasing in frequency, intensity and unpredictability, giving the most vulnerable households inadequate time to recover.

Malawi’s challenges are also compounded by high rates of HIV infection (at 9.6 percent), low primary school completion rate (at 51 percent) and chronic under-nutrition (at 37 percent for children under 5). WFP continues to partner with the government, other UN agencies, NGOs, civil society and the private sector to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, with a particular emphasis on reaching Zero Hunger (SDG 2), addressing structural drivers of hunger wherever possible.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

This job is found in WFP Malawi Country office based in Lilongwe. Job holders typically report to the Programme Policy Officer & Activity Manager and/or the SO manager & Head of Resilience & Crisis Response or the designate.

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.

JOB PURPOSE

Provide resilience-building support, education and systems-strengthening services to smallholder farmers and value chain actors.

In realizing the Outcome and implementing Activity 5, WFP Malawi works with multiple government partners WFP and will operationalize the global shift to an integrated approach promoting resilient food systems transformation adopted to the Malawi context.

The livelihood approach seeks to graduate food- and nutrition insecure farmers from subsistence to surplus-producing livelihoods, where they can access well-functioning markets that support national food systems, all in line with the Government’s priorities and following a clear graduation resilience pathway. The Livelihoods programme leverages its existing, long-standing field presence, and partnership base to implement Food Assistance For Assets (FFA) , an Integrated Risk Management programme including Climate services and SAMS in an integrated approach thereby enhancing the capacity of targeted communities to improve their production and productivity. Small holder farmers also are supported to increase their financial skills, gain access to and control over resources, and generate economic opportunities and income through business establishment of Village Savings and Loan Schemes.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The Livelihoods Programme Officer NOA will focus on the provision of technical support for the implementing and reporting of the selected livelihood activities in partnership with other functional areas to support the achievement of the strategic outcome 4 included in the Malawi CO - CSP. Under the direct supervision of the strategic outcome 4 Activity Manager, in close collaboration with the SAMs section and the 2 Livelihoods Programme Associates, the Livelihoods Programme Officer – shall perform the following duties:

  1. Contribute to the development of the technical guidance for the following specific integrated livelihoods activities:

- Food Assistance for Assets (FFA)

- Integrated risk management (Insurance and VSLA)

- Climate services (PICSA and Climate information)

  1. Support the development of the integrated livelihood programme activities, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider nutrition sensitive guidance for livelihoods/resilience approaches.

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3. Provide support to specific and defined livelihood activities, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes/projects that complies with WFP standards and procedures.

4. Develop and co-ordinate with the M&E section the data gathering and monitoring/assessment systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained, and all available data is used to make informed decisions.

5. Track and analyse data to provide input into reporting activities and contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting of the COs livelihood activities that enables informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.

6. Liaise with implementing partners (internal and external) to ensure timely oversight of the ongoing projects, ensuring effective collaboration, timeliness and efficiency, and highlight potential risks to project delivery.

7. Support the identification of potential partners and partnership negotiations to ensure a collaborative and holistic approach through the 3PA and the analysis of PICSA findings to ensure the livelihood activities are in line with the specific needs of women men, youth and children within the food-insecure target group of WFPs operational area.

8. Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to adjust the different programme activities to maximize their opportunity for integration within and across the COs Strategic outcome and WFP Malawi’s CSP activities, for example by producing and review of training materials.

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9. Support the strategic objective 4, Activity Manager in the development of a CO sourcing strategy for the 3 integrated livelihood activities.

10. Partner with suppliers and private sector organizations to understand and incorporate the industry best practices in commodity handling, value addition and procurement strategies for external entities.

11. Build relationships and collaborate cross functionally with counterparts in the key supply chain departments in country to promote an integrated supply chain approach to in-country food handling, aggregation and commodity trade.

12. Collaborate with WFP field staff and partners to take a proactive approach to reduce gender gaps while taking the responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women, men and youth

13. Ensure oversight for WFPs field teams and CP staff to ensuring appropriate development of standards and enable high performance.

14. Contribute to preparedness of technical recommendations and guidance and the management of commodity specific risks affecting food quality in close collaboration with the Bureau of standards.

15. Perform other related duties as required.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

  • Has gained experience in implementing integrated livelihood/resilience activities
  • Has provided input into designing livelihoods/resilience operations.
  • Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.
  • Has experience in the development of livelihood technical related tools, guidelines and protocols.
  • Has experience working on food assistance programs development projects.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in Agricultural Economics, Environmental Science, Social Science or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience: At least 1-year relevant professional experience in project management focusing on Agricultural and development projects with focus on agribusiness and community resilience building for Maters degree holders OR a first university degree with at least 2 years’ relevant professional work experience in related field.

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English. Knowledge of the local language or UN official language is an added advantage.

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.

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WFP is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly 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