Regional Family Liaison Officer

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WFP - World Food Programme

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Sunday 30 Jan 2022 at 00:00 UTC

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This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) 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. The core policies and strategies that govern WFP activities are: save lives in emergency situations; improve the nutrition and quality of life of the most vulnerable people; and help build assets and promote the self-reliance of poor people and communities, particularly through conditional food for work and training programmes. Through the Wellness Strategy, WFP has committed to providing a corporate culture of health, and fostering an enabling and supportive workplace. Operating within conflict zones and hazardous environments, combined with highly mobile careers, places unique stressors on staff and their families. Little attention has been paid to the linkages between staff and family wellness, and at present, very few policies are in place outside of financial remuneration and insurance to specifically address the wellness of families. It is in the best interest of WFP to foster a sense of commitment to Wellness on the part of the staff, and a key part of staff wellbeing involves the wellbeing of dependents. This UNV assignment will drive and implement programmes and interventions to address the wellness of families of staff in WFP Eastern Africa region.

The Regional Family Liaison Officer will have a dual reporting line: administratively, RBFLO reports to Regional Staff Counsellor; and technically, RBFLO reports to Global Family Liaison Officer. The position will be based in Nairobi and have a regional remit. Travel is required to remote and difficult locations.

The RFLO will drive various programmes and interventions. These would expand in scope in line with the findings of surveys and focus groups. They would include but not be limited to:

• Identifying needs, advocating, and implementing creative solutions to support families to fulfil the WFP goals of inclusivity and to ensure dependants and families feel supported wherever they are located. • Facilitating social support through local WFP FLOCK groups to help alleviate the acute stress and isolation common during relocation or when families have to live at distance from the WFP staff member. (supporting the global Facebook group and database and the creation of local social media groups where appropriate). • Identifying local resources for families (mental health professionals, specialized services for children with special needs, schools, shelters, social organizations for spouses, training opportunities - language, employment networks). • Outreach and creation of external partnerships that can further improve support to WFP staff and their families. • Working across functions to maximize support to families and advocate for their needs (HR, security, admin) and acting as a liaison within the Region for family issues. • Contributing to developing family pages for the local pages of the WFP Wellbeing Platform/App and other communication platforms. • Participating in developing specific projects and programmes and raising awareness on topics such as domestic abuse/ parenting. • Participating in the Regional and targeted Country Wellness Committees and advocating for family activities • Counselling services for dependents or with staff on family specific issues Results/Expected Outputs As an active WFP team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to WFP and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Needs assessment (including a minimum of 9 focus groups facilitated and one questionnaire) completed in at least 3 pilot countries. • Presentation of the Needs assessment final report at country and regional level, including programming recommendations and an implementation plan. • Creation of a minimum of 3 Local sections of the Flock. • Creation of a database of local resources for families in at least 3 countries. • A minimum of 6 local family pages created on the Wellbeing app. • 6 missions. • Organize at least 6 family events in a minimum of 3 different countries.

Commitment and Motivation, Communication, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams

relevant field is required. Demonstrated experience working with families is essential. International experience is an added value.

Knowledge & Skills: • Excellent communication skills (oral, written and presentations). • Ability to identify needs and suggest and/or develop appropriate solutions. • Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients at all levels of WFP as well as external entities. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines • Must be an excellent team player and value working with a multidisciplinary and culturally diverse team. • Ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries and establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighboring Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; the National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population stood at 47,6 million in 2019 and is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO). In 2019, the country’s GDP per capita estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP) was $4,521, and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the GDP grew at an average rate of 5,5% annually (World Bank). In 2020, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics presented data that show that more than 1 in 3 Kenyans (36% or 15.9 million) are monetary poor, and that that 53% of the population or 23.4 million Kenyans are multidimensionally poor.

Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, tele-communication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. Safe and secure accommodation is widely available in various parts of the city, with a broad price range depending on the area and type of living arrangement. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many domestic destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP. The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest considering criminality and previous terror attacks. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate.

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unv.org