Programme Policy Officer, NOC, Dadaab
Design and manage food assistance programs to meet needs.
Overview
Design and manage food assistance programs to meet needs.
You have:
- Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, or related field.
- Fluency in English language (level C) and knowledge of a second official UN language.
- Experience in establishing partnerships in challenging environments.
- Experience in managing complex programs and teams effectively.
- Experience in providing technical advice on food assistance programs.
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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. The Kenya Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2018 – 2023 is aimed at ensuring refugees and asylum seekers living in camps/settlements and populations affected by natural and man-made disasters have access to adequate food to meet their food and nutrition needs throughout the year.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Kenya enacted a new and more progressive Refugee Act of 2021 that has potential to bring positive change to the refugee operations in regard to the overall management of the refugee operations both by national, county government and the humanitarian actors and a potential paradigm shift to program design and implementation. This role will also lead at the field level in articulating, defining, and ensuring WFP’s space and mandate is delivered as the operations shift from a pure refugee camp operation to a settlement approach as enshrined in the new refugee act of 2021.
JOB PURPOSE
To design and manage programmes of moderate size or complexity that effectively meet food assistance needs, or contribute to policy formulation and/or provide technical advice or oversight on programme strategy and implementation. The role will also lead at the field level in articulating, defining, and ensuring WFP’s space and mandate is delivered as the operations shift from a pure refugee camp operation to a settlement approach as enshrined in the new refugee act of 2021.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
- Contribute to formulation of WFP-wide programme policies in line with both organisational strategy and the practical realities of operating in the field; or translate programme policy into Regional/Country level practices. Developing programme guidance and implementation modalities and operations, to ensure a clear and strong connection between HQ and field operations.
- Provide advice and support to COs on moderately complex issues to clarify ambiguities and ensure that policy and programme operations are consistent with WFP policies, Executive Board decisions, and other relevant guidance.
- Provide technical advice or mobilise technical expertise on programme and policy issues including assessment and analysis, the choice of objectives, activities, transfer modalities and appropriate food products, the deployment and testing of innovative approaches and the development of strategies to support government efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition.
- Assist counterparts in governments and other partners in identifying where food assistance can be usefully employed and provide support and technical expertise for the planning, formulation and implementation of moderately complex food assistance programmes to strengthen government and community ownership and effectiveness of food security and nutrition programmes at national and sub-national levels.
- Establish and maintain operational partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve assistance packages and support advocacy work.
- Enhance WFP’s leadership status in forums relating to area of specialism, for example food security, nutrition, livelihoods, resilience or engagement in humanitarian, transition and development contexts through direct participation, briefings, information products and other materials.
- Manage operational research and evidence building on issues relevant to food assistance.
- Manage the preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical reports, publications, and a variety of information products or proposals for internal or external use.
- Contribute to resources mobilisations efforts for WFP projects, including clearly articulating the need for food assistance and related programme opportunities, and follow up on the resource situation of projects including commodity and cash availability, seeking advice from senior colleagues where necessary.
- Advice and support the development of functional training in areas of expertise to enhance the capacity of WFP staff and partner to design and deliver effective food assistance programmes.
- Lead, motivate and develop a team of staff to enable high performance.
- Ensure the best use of assigned financial resources for achievement of set objectives within a moderate budget.
- Contribute to Country Office Emergency Preparedness i.e. early warning, risk analysis, and contingency planning in order to respond to humanitarian crises and needs.
- Other as required.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
Language:
International Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese.
National Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language, if different.
FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES
Capability Name
Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level
Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance
Displays ability to identify the main hunger problem at the national or subnational level to design and implement context-specific programmes that integrate complex analysis and the full range of food assistance tools.
Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Voucher)
Demonstrates the ability to design, implement, monitor and provide oversight over effective and efficient programmes deploying different transfer modalities.
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 ability to translate understanding of programme principles in emergencies and protracted conflict situations into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches
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..
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.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. The World Food Programme DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
- WFP embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that celebrates diversity and inclusivity in all ways.
- All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications and merit.
- Applicants profile MUST match the C.V attached. Any discrepancies between the C.V and the profile will lead to automatic disqualification.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
The deadline for application is 17 October 2022.
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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment
WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.
Potential interview questions
| Describe a time you successfully led a project team under tight deadlines. | This assesses your leadership and project management skills under pressure. | Provide a clear example highlighting your role, the challenges faced, and the outcome. |
| How do you approach the implementation of a policy in response to changing field conditions? | The interviewer wants to understand your adaptability and problem-solving skills. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you give an example of how you've helped develop a program that improves food security? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies do you use to engage stakeholders in your projects? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Discuss a time when you had to analyze complex data to make a programmatic decision. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |