Regional Consultancy Roster – Programme & Policy Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean At World Food Programme

Do you want to be part of the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide? This is your opportunity!

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

WHAT IS A ROSTER?

It’s a pool of potential candidates with the necessary mix of knowledge, experience, skills, and values that match with our priority hiring needs in WFP Latin America and the Caribbean. Candidates who are recommended following the competitive selection process, will be placed in the Roster for a specific profile and level, for consultancy opportunities.

WHY SHOULD YOU APPLY TO THIS ROSTER?

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. This is your opportunity to be part of an organization with a humanitarian purpose “Saving Lives, Changing Lives”, and to be part of a talent pool for future Programme & Policy Officer positions for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Qualified female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are particularly encouraged to apply.

JOB PURPOSE

To provide support to policy and programme activities that effectively meet food assistance needs.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Depending on your experience level and expertise areas, you will be involved to a greater or lesser degree in work related, but not limited, to the following:

Level I Consultancy:

1. Contribute towards the development of a wide variety of projects, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance.
2. Provide project management support to specific and defined programmes and projects of considerable size/complexity, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes that complies with WFP standards and procedures.
3. Develop and coordinate data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.
4. Research and analyse a range of policy and operational issues to inform the development of policies, programmes and activities.
5. 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.
6. Liaise with internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery.
7. Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working leading to improved food assistance packages.
8. Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to prepare for and respond to food assistance needs, e.g. through providing inputs into training materials.
9. Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries

Level II Consultancy:

1. Contribute to formulation of WFP-wide programme policies in line with both organisational strategy and the practical realities of operating in the field; or translate programme policy into Regional/Country level practices. Developing programme guidance and implementation modalities and operations, to ensure a clear and strong connection between HQ and field operations.
2. Provide advice and support to COs on moderately complex issues to clarify ambiguities and ensure that policy and programme operations are consistent with WFP policies, Executive Board decisions, and other relevant guidance.
3. Provide technical advice or mobilise technical expertise on programme and policy issues including assessment and analysis, the choice of objectives, activities, transfer modalities and appropriate food products, the deployment and testing of innovative approaches and the development of strategies to support government efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition.
4. Assist counterparts in governments and other partners in identifying where food assistance can be usefully employed and provide support and technical expertise for the planning, formulation and implementation of moderately complex food assistance programmes to strengthen government and community ownership and effectiveness of food security and nutrition programmes at national and sub-national levels.
5. Establish and maintain operational partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve assistance packages and support advocacy work.
6. Enhance WFP’s leadership status in forums relating to area of specialism, for example food security, nutrition, livelihoods, resilience or engagement in humanitarian, transition and development contexts through direct participation, briefings, information products and other materials.
7. Manage operational research and evidence building on issues relevant to food assistance.
8. Manage the preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical reports, publications, and a variety of information products or proposals for internal or external use.
9. Contribute to resources mobilisations efforts for WFP projects, including clearly articulating the need for food assistance and related programme opportunities, and follow up on the resource situation of projects including commodity and cash availability, seeking advice from senior colleagues where necessary.
10. Advice and support the development of functional training in areas of expertise to enhance the capacity of WFP staff and partner to design and deliver effective food assistance programmes.
11. Lead, motivate and develop a team of staff to enable high performance
12. Ensure the best use of assigned financial resources for achievement of set objectives within a moderate budget.
13. Contribute to Country Office Emergency Preparedness i.e. early warning, risk analysis, and contingency planning in order to respond to humanitarian crises and needs.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses

Years of experience:

• Level I: Three to five years of experience
• Level II: Six to ten years of experience

Languages:

• Fluency (level C) in English and Spanish.
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of French is highly desirable

Competencies: Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance, Emergency Programming, Transfer Modalities, Effective Communication, ability to work in a multicultural team.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

Professional experience is desired (but not required) in one or several of the following areas:

• Deepened technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams.
• Guide/ Leadership in implementing programmes.
• Provided input into policy discussions and decisions.
• Humanitarian assistance and/or development work of the United Nations or other international governmental or non-governmental organisations

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

8 March 2022.

YOU ARE AT THE CENTER of our process, so we will maintain a fluid communication with you about the overall selection process.

WFP offers a competitive compensation package.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our values and humanitarian principles. Selection is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• After completing your application, you will receive a communication indicating that your profile has been successfully received.
• All applications received will be reviewed and go through a selection process to assess relevant experience and qualification.
• Applicants who meet the selection criteria may be contacted for further assessment or interviews and to confirm their continued interest and availability for the Roster.
• Applicants who do not meet the selection criteria, will be informed about the status of their application.
• Successful candidates will be placed in the Roster for consultancy opportunities. Rostered applicants may be contacted in the next 24 months on a needs basis.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies, and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. 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. 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.

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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.