Programme Policy Officer (Protection and Humanitarian Policy) P4 - Panama City, Panama

.

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.

Are you a Protection and Humanitarian Policy Advisor interested in further developing your professional experience while contributing to ending global hunger? Are you passionate about helping those in need? Would you like to join a global organization investing in its people?

If so, an exciting & fulfilling career awaits you! Join our diverse and passionate team that works on varied and international projects directly contributing to saving & changing millions of lives around the globe.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted by Sunday, May 22, 2022 (10:59 PM CET)

WHO WE ARE

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), a highly prestigious, reputable & world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: UN World Food Programme (WFP) and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

WHY JOIN US?

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment
• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities
• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe
• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

WFP teams are providing life-saving assistance in the region that is affected by drought, floods and conflicts causing displacement and hunger. The World Food Programme Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean based in Panama provides strategic guidance, technical support and direction to WFP country operations in 13 countries in the region. This post is intended to ensure dedicated expertise in the Regional Bureau, with a focus on countries in conflict, affected by crisis as well as in transition.

THE ROLE

The Regional Programme Officer for Protection and Humanitarian Policy is a technical expert that is fully dedicated to the implementation of WFP guidance on people-centred programming which encompasses: protection, accountability to affected populations (AAP), beneficiary data protection, conflict sensitivity, humanitarian access and disability inclusion in alignment with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines and the Sphere Standards. They will also frequently cover programmatic aspects related prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. Travel to country offices in the region, including field missions to emergency and hardship duty stations, is to be expected to provide guidance and protection and on the job mentoring

Efforts to integrate protection, AAP, conflict sensitivity and peacebuilding, and humanitarian principles in WFP programmes are informed by WFP’s Humanitarian Protection and Accountability Policy (2020), WFP’s Policy on its Role in Peacebuilding in Transition Settings (2013), WFP Policies on Humanitarian Principles (2004) and Access in Humanitarian Contexts (2006) and WFP Guidance on Data Protection and Privacy (2017), WFP CFM Guidance (2020). All efforts must also be closely coordinated with the implementation of WFP’s forthcoming Gender Policy.

Under the supervision of the Head of Programme Unit, you will be responsible for coordinating the regional bureau’s efforts to provide technical advice and support to country offices and coordinate and engage regularly with dedicated Programme Officers/focal points at the country office level and with relevant technical units in the Regional Bureau and Headquarters (HQ). You will support respective country offices and cooperating partners to integrate people centred programming principles in assessments, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting tools.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

You will:

• Provide strategic and technical support for the mainstreaming of protection and AAP across WFP operations in the region.
• Support the development of country strategic plans (CSPs) to ensure the centrality of protection and other people-centred programme design elements are effectively integrated into programme design.
• Translate the WFP protection and AAP policy, statements on humanitarian principles and access, and respective guidance on Community Feedback Mechanisms (CFMs), data protection, and conflict sensitivity into regional level of practices and strategies to support diffusion and implementation of WFP corporate policies.
• Lead and regularly update context, protection, and conflict risk analyses and diversity mapping at the regional level, in coordination and collaboration with respective country office protection teams.
• Coordinate protection assessments, privacy impact assessments, conflict analyses, and context analysis exercises, and design action plans to address the findings as required.
• Advise the regional bureau, respective country offices and cooperating partners on implementation of mitigating measures in operations and appropriate adjustments to ensure inclusion of most vulnerable and at-risk categories.
• Support principled humanitarian action and act as a humanitarian access focal point – as and when needed/requested by the Regional Bureau and the respective country offices.
• Develop and implement functional trainings in the areas covered by this ToR to address WFP personnel and cooperating partners gaps; a capacity building strategy on protection, inclusion and community engagement for cooperating partners and WFP staff for the Regional Bureau and directly support country offices with no dedicated protection personnel in coordination with the Programme Unit priorities and budget availability;
• Act as a subject matter expert for staff in relevant functional areas both at the regional and country office level, providing relevant guidance and support based on needs and gaps identified;
• Identify staffing needs at country level for the areas covered by this role and support the Country office to recruit and select the most suitable candidate in line with the functional requirements;
• Disseminate WFP corporate guidance across the region.
• Promote partnership with and cross-learning from cooperating partners on integrating people-centered programming principles in food security activities;
• Liaise with protection partners on analysis, capacity development, referral procedures and pathways
• Represent WFP and actively contribute to the different regional coordination mechanisms;
• Keep abreast of protection mandated organizations’ discussions and initiatives on Gender-Based Violence, Civil documentation, Land and property in regional and national foras;
• Contribute to building synergies and support UN/INGOs efforts on promoting principled humanitarian assistance and humanitarian access;
• In collaboration with the regional donor relations unit, raise awareness with donors on WFP’s work on protection, accountability and humanitarian access and develop concept notes and sections of proposals to raise funds for continued regional expertise and operational requirements of country offices.
• Other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY REQUIREMENTS

Education:

You have:

• Advanced University degree, OR First University degree with additional years of experience and training/courses in one or more of the following disciplines: International Law, Humanitarian/Development Studies, Human rights, International Relations, Anthropology, Social Sciences or other related fields.

Experience:

You have:

• At least eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in development projects and/or humanitarian experience, of which at least 5 years of international field experience. This should include experience working in crisis or post-crisis contexts.
• Field experience working on protection and establishing accountability mechanisms towards affected populations.
• Experience working in Latin America and the Caribbean region.
• Experience in training, mentoring and capacity building.

Language:

You have:

• Fluency (level C) in the English language.
• Fluency (level C) in the Spanish language.

MORE ABOUT YOU

You have:

• Demonstrated high performance and leadership capacity;
• Demonstrated excellent partnership building skills with external and internal stakeholders;
• Proven strategic and policy engagement skills in an international setting;
• Strong client orientation with excellent interpersonal skills;
• Flexibility to travel frequently and on short notice, when necessary;
• Strong analytical, written and oral communication skills, as well as conceptual thinking;
• Demonstrated learning abilities and thirst for constant growth.

ADDITIONAL / NICE-TO-HAVE REQUIREMENTS

You have:

• Solid understanding of food security programming with previous experience from WFP or any of its cooperating partners.
• Strong motivation to contribute to WFP’s mandate.
• Familiarity with WFP and the UN system will be regarded as an asset.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

These are the common standards of behaviour that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Leads by Example with Integrity Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative Teamwork Applies Strategic Thinking Builds and Maintains Sustainable Partnerships Lives the WFP values and shows humanity and integrity by role modelling care for others

Delivers on commitments and adapts readily to change

Is inclusive and collaborative, and contributes to a culture of learning and personal growth

Demonstrates commitment to gather perspectives, analyse options and risks, and propose new ways of doing things

Builds and nurtures external partnerships and collaborates with partners to deliver common objectives

Different expectations of behaviour are defined depending on your grade and role/responsibilities within WFP.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Mobility is and continues to be, a core contractual requirement in WFP. The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term as well as a rotational contract with a probationary period of one year.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel, visa and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance. For more information, visit https://icsc.un.org/.

The selected candidate will be required to relocate to Panama City, Panama to take up this assignment.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
• Please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

.

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.