Programme Policy Officer (SBCC) SC10 - Maputo

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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

Even though Mozambique has had two decades of stability, the country still ranks 180 of 189 countries in the 2019 Human Development Index, and chronic food insecurity is estimated at 24 percent with over 1.4 million people at risk of acute food insecurity. According to the WFP’s Hunger Monitoring Unit, in July 2020, 9.8 million people had insufficient food consumption, which is suspected to worsen during the upcoming lean season (September 2020 to March 2021). Although the greater part of the population might be able to afford food to meet their body’s energy requirements, there exists a gap, being that majority do not have the access to a nutritious quality diet of locally available foods. According to the Fill the Nutrient Gap study, 25% of households are facing food insecurity overall; 23% of households with moderate food insecurity, and 2% with severe food insecurity. In this sense, although majority of the population have food security, few have access to nutritious foods, which is again underlined in the food consumption expenditure in the IOF 2015 survey, which states that 57% of rural households nationwide would be unable to afford a nutritious diet. Adding on to this, Mozambique is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world and the levels of food insecurity have been severely worsened by multiple shocks. In 2019, Mozambique suffered from droughts, extreme rains, cyclones, floods and pests. Poor performance of the rainy season in the south and the impact of cyclones Idai and Kenneth in the central and northern parts of the country resulted in major agricultural losses, destruction of infrastructure, assets and livelihoods, internal displacement and other damages, leaving nearly half of the population below the poverty line. In the Northern Province of Cabo Delgado, this was further worsened by the armed attacks by alleged Islamic Militarists, which caused thousands of Mozambican peoples to become internally displaced, leaving behind their livelihoods.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Advanced University degree in Anthropology, Social Sciences, Economics, Food Security, Public/ Health Nutrition or any related field.

At least three years’ experience working with Governments, UN and international donors or NGOs on nutrition projects in development and or/humanitarian contexts.

Strong understanding of SBCC and CBT/FFA modalities.

Language:

Fluency (Level C) in English and Portuguese

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The high level of food insecurity and poverty has manifesteditself in one of the world's highest stunting rates, which has remained relatively unchanged between 1997 and 2011, affecting almost half of the children under five. As stunting before the age of two predicts poorer cognitive and educational outcomes in later childhood and adolescence, it has significant educational and economic consequences at the individual, community, and national levels. A 2016 study on the Cost of Hunger estimated that a loss of almost 11 % of GDP annually can be attributed to malnutrition in Mozambique. Against this backdrop, the first 1,000 days of a child life is an area of high importance. In this short timeframe, the damage done by poor nutrition can cause stunting – impaired development as a result of chronic malnutrition with irreversible damage to children’s bodies and brains. Achieving a sustainable decrease in malnutrition rates requires an integrated response, which includes a strong focus on nutrition sensitive measures with the result of improving dietary diversity for vulnerable groups.

A key focus area for WFP to improve nutrition is through Social Behavior Change communication. As the portfolio is gradually expanding, there is a need to hire a coordinator to support the development of SBCC materials and approaches across the program portfolio, under nutrition and HIV unit responsibility.

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.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Lead formative assessments for district specific adaptations of existing SBCC materials.
• Lead the mapping of existing materials and develop a detailed operational plan for areas in which the nutrition sensitive planning may be improved through SBCC.
• Coordinate the operational planning with other WFP Unit and Programmatic teams unit and Field Offices for integration of nutrition-specific and nutrition sensitive SBCC throughout the WFP activities;
• Lead training of Field Office focal points and Field Monitors in SBCC and Nutrition Sensitive Approach.
• Lead all stages of project implementation including the the daily coordination and implementation in close collaboration with relevant WFP field office focal points.

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.

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..

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Coordinate the development of visibility materials and communication materials for SBCC projects developed
• Lead the qualitative part of monitoring and evaluation and coordinate all efforts on studies (including an extensive KAP study), baselines, and end-lines.
• Support the development of project proposals and concept notes on SBCC.
• Lead the continued development of SBCC materials across the Nutrition and HIV programme Portfolio.
• Support the expansion of the nutrition sensitive SBCC to include other nutrition specific approaches, gender and protection considerations.
• Lead the engagement with MISAU to ensure alignment with Government strategies and plans on SBCC, nutrition and beyond.
• Any other support needed to the overall nutrition and HIV unit progamme portfolio.

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

Type of contract: Service Contract (SC10)

Duration: 12 months

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

01.04.2021

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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially 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.