Programme Policy Officer SC8

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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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Social protection is an increasingly popular strategy for governments to reduce extreme poverty, hunger, and inequalities and promote the access to essential needs for the most vulnerable. Virtually every country in the world has at least one social protection scheme in place, and 3.5 billion people are already covered by some type of social protection benefits. As a global leader in fighting hunger and malnutrition worldwide, often in very difficult contexts, the World Food Programme (WFP) is increasingly called upon by governments to support national social protection systems.

By providing advice and being a complementary actor in regions, WFP is supporting national efforts, as it works with governments and communities to extend the coverage, comprehensiveness, adequacy, and quality of national social protection systems, with the aim to ensure that all people have access, throughout their lives, to strong national social protection systems. These social protection systems should help individuals meet their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs, and to reduce and address the risks and shocks they face.

During 2020-2021, when twin shocks of Covid-19 pandemic and the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh hit Armenia, in line with its core mandate and expertise, WFP Armenia has implemented strategic discussions with the RA Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MLSA) on the provision of significant support to the MLSA in several areas to bolster social protection strengthening, in line with WFP’s dual humanitarian and development mandate. This strategic engagement is in line with WFP’s global Strategy to Support Social Protection that highlights WFP’s strategic priorities of engagement in social protection and WFP Armenia Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2019 – 2024, Strategic Objective 2: national policies, programmes and systems are strengthened so that they improve food security and nutrition among targeted groups by 2024.

In November 2021, WFP Armenia established a new Social Protection Unit to strategize its work in social protection engagement in the strengthening of social protection policies at the national level. The unit has already embarked on close collaboration around the strategic portfolio to support the design of the Armenian national Social Protection Policy, system and schemes with specific focus on food security, nutrition, socio-economic inclusion and shock response

JOB PURPOSE

To deliver against the above, the Country Office is seeking a Social Protection Programme Policy Officer (Level: SC-8) to provide support to the activities of its Social Protection Unit.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Policies and Program management

• Provide project management support to specific and defined programmes and projects of considerable size/complexity, ensuring alignment with the SP CO and corporate strategy, policies, and guidance relevant to social protection.
• Research and analyze policy and operational issues to inform the development of in-country social protection policies, strategies, programmes, and activities.
• Work collaboratively with relevant units on data gathering and monitoring ensuring that quality standards are maintained and deliverables on track for social protection programmes and projects.
• Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on programmes and activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
• Liaise with internal counterparts and functional units to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects.
• Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working leading to improved social protection policy and schemes.
• Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to prepare for and respond to social protection needs, e.g. through project management support of learning initiatives.
• Support in the development, management and sharing of knowledge products pertinent to social protection.
• Other as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, International Development, International Relations, Social Sciences, or other fields relevant to social protection, or a First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses in social protections.

Experience: 3 or more years of relevant professional experience related to implementing national development programmes, policies, strategies or plans and institutional structures, in relation to social protection and/or revolving around food security and/or nutrition and/or emergency responses. Has experience working across the policy and programme cycle management, 3 or more years of experience in program/project design and management, preferably in the field of social protection.

Knowledge and Skills: General knowledge of UN policies, strategies and programs, with particular focus. Knowledge of current thinking and developments in the field of social protection and public policy. Knowledge of current thinking and developments in country capacity strengthening and effective knowledge transfer models, concepts, and principles. Knowledge of key national and regional contexts and issues. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written outputs and ability to present in English and the working language. Ability to develop and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders, conveying an informed and professional demeanour toward internal and external partners and stakeholders. Appetite for exploring and experimenting with new ideas and approaches. Ability to work independently in a timely and organised manner. Ability to work as part of a team, participating in open dialogues and valuing diverse opinions of others, regardless of gender, culture, background, experience, or country assignment. Moderate to proficient computer literacy.

Language: Fluency in Armenian, and highly competent in the English language; working knowledge (level B) of Russian language is desired.

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.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Contract Duration: 12 months with possibility to extend

Applications must be submitted online through WFP e-Recruitment System.

Internal WFP staff can access the VA through the internal WFP CAREER page via the link: http://newgo.wfp.org/services/e-recruitment

Make sure that you answer all mandatory questions accurately and to upload your updated CV in English.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The successful candidate will have to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 to be able to perform his/her duties. The UN strongly recommends UN personnel, and their dependents receive a COVID-19 vaccine that has been approved by WHO.

Female applicants and individuals with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application not later than Tuesday, 26 July 2022.

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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.