Programme Policy Officer - Social Safetynet Programme (SC9)

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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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Despite the economic growth of the last decade, the level of food insecurity has been stagnant over the past five years in Armenia. Although the situation is improving for a large share of the population, those worst off are being left behind, demonstrating significant disparities and uneven territorial development in Armenia. In response to these challenges, WFP Armenia Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2019 – 2024, building on past and current experience gathered in the implementation on its flagship activity since 2010 namely, the school feeding programme, foresees significant strategic investment in the establishment of a comprehensive and strategic response to food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty. The four main pillars of WFP’s CSP 2019 – 2024 will be the continuation of its school feeding programme with a clear handover strategy for a full ownership of the programme by the Government of Armenia by 2023; the establishment of effective and sustainable, nutrition sensitive food value chains; support the Government in tackling malnutrition; and in providing emergency food assistance related to COVID19 and to populations affected by the NK conflict. Capacity strengthening will be a cross-cutting effort at all level and will be key to ensure sustainability of the programmes and activities. Part of the capacity strengthening support included joint work with agencies like UNICEF and UNDP to support beneficiary registration and establishment of a food bank within the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The emergency food assistance and support to food insecure displaced and Armenian populations were coordinated closely with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the United Social Services and the municipalities. The many food security assessments and the WFP beneficiary feedback mechanism showed that due to COVID-19 and the conflict, people had become increasingly food insecure and were using negative coping mechanisms. To mitigate from deterioration of people’sfood and nutrition security situations, shock responsive social safetynets can be put in place, or the current social safetynet platforms can include food security indicators so as to include food insecure populations in a national system. Other types of support can be provided as technical support to the Government for designing short and medium type support programmes from a food and nutrition security lens. WFP Armenia, is establishing a new unit for social protection aiming at working with the government to strengthen national systems from a food and nutrition security lens and provide capacity support. The programme policy officer will be responsible for liaising directly with the Government to identify needs, formulate a road map of support and coordinate the support from WFP.

JOB PURPOSE

Based on operational needs, the Country Office identifies the need for hiring a Programme Policy Officer to provide support to policy and programme activities that effectively meet food assistance needs, in particular shock responsive social safetynets to be put in place, working with the government to strengthen national systems from a food and nutrition security lens and provide capacity support.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• In close cooperation with HQ, Regional Bureau and under the strategic guidance of the Country Director, formulate WFP Country office Social protection / Social safety net strategy and action plan;

• Liaise with the Government at a technical level to provide technical and strategic support to strengthening social safetynets related to food and nutrition security;

• Through internal consultations within Country office, Regional Bureau and Head Quarters formulate a roadmap for capacity support to the Government;

• Through internal consultations design WFP support to the Government for inclusion of food and nutrition security indicators into the social safetynet programming;

• Support the design of food security shock responsive social safetynet programming in close collaboration with WFP’s Vulnerability, Assessment and Mapping unit;

• Provide policy and technical guidance to WFP management for discussions with Government and stakeholders;

• Perform other related duties if required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, Economics, International development, Statistics, Information Technology, Business Management or other relevant field. Masters degree in the related functional area is desired.

Experience: At least eight years of experience in development and programme work, experience in implementing programmes with increased level of responsibility, experience in providing input to policy discussions; previous experience in building capacity and partnerships with government authorities is desired.

Knowledge & Skills: Demonstrate specialist knowledge on Social Protection and social safetynet models, capacity strengthening to Government, formulation and implementation of strategies; Exposure to UN coordination mechanisms. 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. Demonstrates the ability to interpret basic data in the context of WFP specialised fields to contribute to technical programme design, implementation and monitoring.

Languages: Fluency (level C) in English and Armenian languages; working knowledge (level B) of Russian language.

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

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 attach your updated CV in English.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application not later than Thursday 23rd of September.

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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.