Programme Policy Officer (Nutrition)

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WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

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.

BACKGROUND OF ASSIGNMENT

The current WFP Country Strategic Plan (2019-2023) in Cambodia aims to complement and contribute to the Royal Government of Cambodia’s (RGC) efforts to achieve zero hunger through supporting school based programmes, strengthening resilient local food systems, enhancing government capacities on emergency preparedness and response and enhancing food security, nutrition and social protection governance.

In Cambodia 32 percent of children under 5 years of age are stunted, while 10 percent are wasted. Girls and boys from across the lower wealth quintiles are equally affected. Dietary deficiencies in zinc, iodine and B-vitamins widely affect women of reproductive age and children. Undernutrition is estimated to cost Cambodia approximately 1.7 percent of its annual GDP and is a major contributor to mortality and decreased health and productivity. In addition, overweight and obesity are increasing; 18 percent of women of reproductive age are overweight or obese (mostly older women) while 14 percent are underweight (mostly younger women).

In Cambodia, WFP is the chair or co-chair of several strategic coordination mechanisms within the nutrition sector, including the UNDAF Nutrition Accelerator and the SUN UN Nutrition (UNN) and Business Networks (SBN). In these leadership positions WFP is responsible to facilitate action across different stakeholders and sectors to work more efficiently and effectively together to increase convergence for accelerated nutrition impact in support of national nutrition efforts.

In line with the National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition II, WFP also supports food fortification. Over the last ten years WFP has pioneered rice fortification to address micronutrient deficiencies and generate an evidence base for the impact of rice fortification on micronutrient status of school-age children. WFP has supported the prioritization of fortification in national policy, mainstreamed fortified rice in the school feeding programme, and piloted local production of fortified rice. The next steps for rice fortification in Cambodia will entail a multi-pronged approach that addresses both the enabling environment for food fortification through legislative and policy action as well as support to private sector for commercialization of rice fortification.

Further, WFP will take a nutrition-sensitive approach to address underlying causes of malnutrition, contributing to the nutritional well-being of vulnerable groups throughout the life cycle, including through operations, such as the nutrition sensitive school meals programme, nutrition analytics to inform the work of government and other partners (e.g. Fill the Nutrient Gap), and research to address emerging issues such as overweight and obesity.

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT

Under direct supervision of the Country Director in WFP Cambodia, the purpose of the assignment is to: i) lead the nutrition unit and contribute to the overall Country Strategic Plan, ii) co-chair nutrition coordination mechanism (e.g. Nutrition Accelerator, UN Nutrition, and SUN Business Network), iii) integrate nutrition within the school feeding programme, and iv) advance efforts for food fortification.

JOB TITLE: Programme Policy Officer (Nutrition)

TYPE OF CONTRACT: International Consultant/Regular

UNIT/DIVISION: RBB, Cambodia

DUTY STATION: WFP Country Office, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

DURATION: 11 months (01 July 2021 – 30 May 2022)

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Lead the Nutrition team and take responsibility for all activities related to nutrition in WFP Cambodia.

a. Support the strengthening of national nutrition initiatives, including the development of national government policies related to nutrition as well as nutrition strategies, action plans, protocols and guidelines in line with the SUN Movement and international guidance and current evidence.

b. Represent WFP at regional, national and international meetings to contribute in technical discussions, exchange experiences, advocate for nutrition interventions and identify areas of potential collaboration.

c. Work with staff in procurement, logistics, finance, other programme units and other divisions to ensure effective design and delivery of WFP nutrition programming.

d. Prepare and support accurate and timely reporting, communications, and learning, contributing to a knowledge base and information sharing that informs decision making of WFP and other stakeholders.

e. Support the monitoring and evaluation of WFP activities, provide technical analysis, and interpretation. Design, conduct and communicate the nutrition situation clearly and effectively to nutrition stakeholders, including support to Fill the Nutrient Gap.

g. Provide guidance and support for team member to complete tasks in a timely manner with high quality outcomes based against weekly individual work plans and in alignment with yearly unit work plan. Identify potential learning gaps and build capacity within team members. Conduct staff assessments and evaluations.

2. Lead the UNDAF Nutrition Accelerator and SUN Movement UN Nutrition (UNN) and SUN Business Networks (SBN) to facilitate collective action across stakeholders and sectors in support of national nutrition efforts.

a. Develop rolling work plans and country-level TORs (2021-2022) for Nutrition Accelerator and UN Nutrition and support SBN Coordinator in development of work plan and country-level TOR for SBN.

b. Convene regular coordination meetings for Nutrition Accelerator and UN Nutrition and participate in SBN meetings. Develop agendas, send out invitations, lead coordination meetings, take meeting minutes and review previous action points and ensure dissemination of relevant meeting documents for all members.

d. Follow-up with key speakers to ensure participation at Nutrition Accelerator/UNN on thematic areas of interest and take note of other thematic areas for presentation in future meetings

e. Attend bilateral meetings with Government, meetings with other networks, and thematic meetings of interest, draft NFR, and disseminate, when relevant, with Nutrition Accelerator/UNN members

f. Create online platform to facilitate work of Nutrition Accelerator/UNN, create a library of relevant documentation, both global and national, based on policy and programmatic areas of interest, create an archive of Nutrition Accelerator/UNN meeting minutes, and other network meeting minutes.

g. Oversee and contribute to development of Cambodia SUN Business Network Strategy, lead resource mobilization efforts, and develop communication plan. Provide support and guidance to SUN Business Network Coordinator in implementation of strategy and engagement of private sector.

3. Integrate nutrition within the school feeding programme (SFP) in support of the School Feeding Unit (SFU):

1. Provide technical advice to SFU on nutrition specific and sensitive programme and policy issues including assessment and analysis, the choice of objectives, activities, transfer modalities and commodity choice for nutrition specific and sensitive programming in line with WFP standards and processes.
2. Support the development of nutrition standards and guidelines in collaboration with FAO, WHO, and UNICEF and in alignment of ASEAN school nutrition guidelines project.
3. In collaboration with VAM and SFP, support research on snack foods and the school environment, building on previous research undertaken and aligning with regional and global agenda.
4. Support development of communication and documentation materials related to nutrition sensitive school feeding programme, including case study in collaboration with HQ Nutrition Division, development of abstracts, articles, etc.
5. Explore linkages between SFP support to pre-primary students and UNICEF ECD and nutrition support to schools to identify potential synergies and points for collaboration specifically related to prevention of wasting in this age group. Ensure linkages to the snack food research.
6. Provide nutrition input to donor reporting and proposals.

4. Advance efforts for food fortification, with a focus on rice fortification:

1. Advocate for development of unified food fortification roadmap, including rice fortification, with Government and other stakeholders building on momentum from country-level Food System Summit.
2. Oversee development of communication materials for food fortification, highlighting the role of private sector, with a focus on rice fortification.
3. Support the development of a business case for commercialization of rice fortification with medium- and large enterprises.
4. Engage with private sector to locally produce fortified rice, exploring possibility of local production of fortified rice kernels (FRK).
5. Produce scientific abstracts and presentations for international conferences to showcase the important work of Cambodia on rice fortification

5. Performing other relevant duties as requested by the Nutrition Unit or Country Office

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

1. Nutrition Accelerator and UN Nutrition rolling work plans (2021-2022) and TORs finalized
2. SUN Business Network Strategy (2021-2023) and resource mobilization mapping finalized
3. Concept notes and proposals developed to operationalize SUN Business Network Strategy
4. Food Fortification Roadmap initiated and finalized
5. Nutrition sensitive school feeding programme model documented, including development of programme impact pathway and selection of core indicators.
6. Liaise with RBB/HQ to participate in at least one Brown Bag on SBN, rice fortification or nutrition sensitive SFP
7. Submit/present at least 2 abstracts at regional or international for a to highlight the work of Cambodia CO on SBN, rice fortification or nutrition sensitive SFP

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education:

Master’s degree in nutrition, public health, policy or other relevant field required.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant working experience: in the field of nutrition, public health, policy or other relevant field within humanitarian / development agencies
  • Demonstrated experience managing a team
  • Experience working with governments on developing nutrition policies and/or implementing a nutrition programme (within food security or health).

Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent project management, interpersonal, coordination and communication skills.

  • Successful track record with nutrition sensitive programme implementation.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide range of partners with varying interests and priorities.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of team.
  • Exhibited cross-cultural competence.

  Languages:

  Fluency (level C) in English language.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Create an account on the WFP Career Website: http://www1.wfp.org/careers/job-openings
• Under Filter By “Country”, type “Cambodia” and select the position you want to apply to.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

• The vacancy will be closed on Tuesday, 25th May 2021 at 17:00 GMT+7

• WFP recognizes the positive potential of flexible working arrangements to enable staff members the opportunity to select and alter their work schedules to better fit personal needs and help balance work, personal, and family responsibilities whenever operationally possible.

• WFP is committed to gender equality and parity (50% women and 50% men) and to diversity more generally, among employees across all grades, functions and contract modalities.
• WFP offers an attractive salary and other benefits, including health insurance.
• WFP Work Environment: WFP is committed to ensuring that all its workplaces are free from abuse, offensive behaviour, harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. WFP does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS and disability status. WFP is also committed to promoting a work culture in which every employee understands, and is able to carry out, his/her personal responsibilities for maintaining the dignity of work colleagues. WFP seeks to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. We believe our mission of fighting global hunger worldwide can only be achieved if women, men, girls and boys are offered equal opportunities in terms of access to resources and services, and participation in decision making roles.

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

WFP is committed to an inclusive working environment which values diversity

and has zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment and abuse of any kind