The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. As the international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030, one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. Food and food-related assistance lie at the heart of the struggle to break the cycle of hunger and poverty. For its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict, WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020. Malawi is a small landlocked country in Southern Africa. With a population expanding rapidly at 3 percent per year and the majority of livelihoods dependent on agriculture, the population is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate-related disasters. Poverty is experienced by most rural families, with those headed by women suffering the most. Relying on small parcels of densely cultivated land for their livelihoods, rural Malawians are highly affected by climate change. Episodes of drought as well as severe flooding are increasing in frequency, intensity and unpredictability, giving the most vulnerable households inadequate time to recover. Malawi’s challenges are also compounded by high rates of HIV infection (at 9.6 percent), low primary school completion rate (at 51 percent) and chronic under-nutrition (at 37 percent for children under 5). WFP continues to partner with the government, other UN agencies, NGOs, civil society and the private sector to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, with a particular emphasis on reaching Zero Hunger (SDG 2), addressing structural drivers of hunger wherever possible.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

As ongoing efforts to increase, compliance and risk management and introduce mitigation measures for WFP cash and food distribution through partners in Malawi, a full time Risk and Compliance officer on consultancy contract will be engaged. The consultant will prepare an overall risk management approach for CO; that includes identification of risk areas, provide recommendations on mitigations and follow up/help different units and field operation on the implementation of recommendations. The job will include a focus on internal process, and partners risk mitigation, and will require frequent travel in the field (about 40%/50% of the overall time). The officer will be reporting directly to the Head of Resource Management Unit under the overall supervision of the Country Director.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES: Internal processes for Malawi CO:

Provide advice to CO management and staff on risk & compliance issues and creation of viable control environment to support operational efficiency.
Assist in ensuring that the use of all WFP resources is in conformity with approved CO strategic plans and donor agreements, including resources transferred to all partners (participating partners, private sector counterparts, academic institutions, governmental entities, etc.).
Provide advice on improvement and/or initiate establishment of adequate internal control systems including performance and risk management systems, monitoring and oversight plans and support their implementation.
Planning, designing and implementation of overall risk management policy for WFP related to food and cash transfer to the WFP partners.
Contribute to the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for handling the risk and compliance function, including criteria for conducting risk and compliance missions, training materials and modules, etc. following the best international practices.
Undertake periodic and ad hoc reviews independently or with relevant managers in country and field offices to assess efficiency of the internal controls, identify risk areas, assess the potential for fraud and corruption in operational activities and recommend required actions to the relevant units or management level.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES: Internal Processes for Malawi CO..cont.

Facilitate accountability across functional units, prepare comprehensive reports and formulate sound recommendations on required actions in areas of compliance vulnerability including procedural and regulatory amendments.
Review and provide advice on internal policies and procedures and supervise their consistent and accurate application.
Perform risk assessment and update CO risk registers and follow up on progress towards implementing the risk mitigation actions and the preparation of annual performance planning and reviews.
Assess information/training needs and prepare and deliver training programmes or information sessions for managers and staff in CO to improve compliance with WFP policies, rules, regulations and procedures.
Carry out other programmatic and administrative tasks related to the risk-management function, such as providing guidance to components/sections/units in the preparation of budgets (including results-based budgeting) and the preparation of inputs for audits.
Focal point for education and training on risk, ethics and fraud prevention of staff
Immediately inform management on any suspected fraud or major discrepancies; that could potentially lead to full audit/investigation according to WFP rules and regulations.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES: Partner Risk Mitigation:

Support program sub/units in Malawi CO in reviewing all partners (cooperating partners, private sector counterparts, academic institutions, governmental entities, etc.) reporting requirements, timeliness and provide guidance and training to achieve efficiency.
Provide advice on financial management procedures as well as reporting procedures and requirement of the partners (participating partners, private sector counterparts, academic institutions, governmental entities, etc.) to programme sub/units in order to strengthen the financial management procedures and improve accountability to donors.
Lead capacity building trainings in districts with regular visits/ collaboration in particular, but not exclusively, with CPs and government counterparts. Assist in building a risk mitigation strategy to improve the operational efficiency of the CSP.
Lead discussions with government institutions and CPs on risks; review their internal control procedures; identify risk areas, assess their likelihood, impact; and provide solutions and recommend appropriate mitigation actions.
Prepare a plan for the regular spot checks in particular, but not exclusively, for the CPs and government institutions working with WFP; in order to verify that food and cash transfers and associated expenditures are accurately taken care of to support the beneficiaries as per established field level agreement (FLA).
Provide advice and training to programme units as well as CPs, government institutions and other partners on financial reporting and procedures in order to improve transparency and accountability of the WFP and its partners.
Design and run specific trainings tailored towards WFP field staff on basic control procedures to improve the transparency and accountability of district-based interventions and monitoring activities undertaken in particular, but not exclusively, by the local government institutions.
Prepare reports for each spot check mission, identify high, medium and low risk areas with mitigating actions. Follow up on the implementation of the recommendations.

RESULTS/DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT

Advise management on the risk issues related to WFP cash and food distribution.
Prepare and help management to implement overall CO risk management approach.
Prepare reports on the outcome of spot checks, and prepare mitigation actions plan.
Review internal control procedures of the CPs, identify risk areas, assess their likelihood, impact and suggest workable solutions/ mitigation measures to the WFP management.
Prepare reports for each spot check missions, identify high, medium and low risk areas with mitigating actions. Follow up on the implementation of the recommendations.
Review of relevant SOPs in CO to ensure consistency and adequacy.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education:

Advanced University degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting or related fields, or First University degree in the same subject(s) with additional years of related work experience.
Membership in an international recognized professional accountancy body such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Institute of Certified Public Accounts (ICPA); Chartered Institute of Management Accounts (CIMA) or equivalent is desirable.

.Experience:

Strong experience in Finance/Audit and Risk.

Language:

Proficiency in English

Knowledge & Skills:

Strong analytical skills.
Knowledge of WFP rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Ability to prioritize work and prioritize multiple tasks at the same time.
Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
Ability to work in complicated areas of the country for a prolonged period.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Deadline for receiving applications is 21 April 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.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: wfp.org