Senior Social Protection Technical Adviser P5 (Rome, Italy)

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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

WFP corporately has embraced a stronger and more proactive stance on social protection, which is now a key pillar of WFP’s ‘changing lives’ agenda and will be prominent in the new Strategic Plan, as well as being a top priority for most regions and countries. WFP’s social protection priorities and approach are contained in the WFP Strategy for Support to National Social Protection (July 2021).

Implementation of this strategy will be the Social Protection Unit’s priority in the coming years and requires specialist expertise at a senior level. The specialist is expected to lead technical support and guidance for the strategy’s implementation; and contribute significantly and substantively to evidence generation, learning, WFP workforce development, and partnerships.

This job is located in the Social Protection Unit, within the Programme Division based in the WFP Headquarters (Rome, Italy). The position reports to the Chief of Social Protection.

JOB PURPOSE

Technical oversight and direction of WFP’s work in social protection, in support of the global implementation of WFP’s new corporate strategy for social protection. The position is a technical specialist role and the nature of the work is strategic and advisory in nature. Supervision of a technical team of experts is also required.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Provide expert technical support to regional bureaux and country offices on the design and implementation of bodies of work aimed at strengthening national social protection systems architecture and programmes, and on improving the effectiveness of social protection in ‘nexus’ contexts. 2. Oversee and direct WFP’s technical support team and other technical experts within the Social Protection Unit to deliver a high-quality portfolio of support across regional bureaux and Country Offices. 3. Establish and guide strategic partnerships with key partners such as World Bank Group, bilateral donors, UN agencies and strategic networks and enhance WFP’s leadership status in relevant social protection global forums. 4. Guide WFP globally and at regional level on priority gaps for the global evidence/research agenda and direct or support the design, resourcing and preparation of such research. 5. Direct knowledge management, as part of technical support to regional bureaux and country offices and to support WFP’s external positioning. 6. Monitor key global trends in social protection and guide WFP on its strategic positioning, arising. 7. Advise on changes to WFP guidelines that may be required to effectively implement the Social Protection Strategy, propose and establish new guidelines within the position’s area of accountability and expertise. 8. Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men. 9. Others as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced University degree (Masters or PhD) in economics, public policy, social sciences, and/or international development policy.

Experience:

• At least 11 years of post-graduate experience in policy, technical assistance, and capacity-building related to social policy and social protection

Knowledge & Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of and first-hand experience in policy development and reform processes, including in crisis and post-crisis contexts
• Demonstrated experience in providing technical advice and guidance for the implementation of social protection policies and strategies
• Broad experience in managing large research projects
• Experience working directly with governments in multiple countries and diverse contexts, including crisis and post-crisis settings
• Extensive experience with social protection systems and solid knowledge of debates and emerging best practices globally
• Experience with capacity-building of government and agency staff
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (may be demonstrated through the submission of recent reports/publications)
• Strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity
• Strong negotiation skills

Language:

• International Professional: Fluency (level C) in the English language.
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This is an International Professional fixed-term position and is open to all nationalities. This position is based in Rome, Italy and the selected candidate is expected to relocate. Visas required for relocation will be provided by the organization.

• The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract of two years (renewable) with a probationary period of one year.
• Mobility is and continues to be a core contractual requirement in WFP. This position is however classified as “non-rotational” which means the incumbent shall not be subject to internal mobility, unless the position is reclassified as rotational.
• WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance. For more details please visit icsc.un.org

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

The deadline to receive applications is Sunday, 17 October 2021 (11.59 PM CET).

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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.