Programme Policy Officer (Cash Based Transfers) P3-FIT Pool-All Locations

ABOUT WFP AND THE FIT POOL

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.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  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. At WFP, we are driven and defined by our mission to fight world hunger, save lives, feed people’s dreams of a brighter future, reduce risk and help enable people, communities and countries meet their own food and nutrition needs. WFP goes anywhere it’s needed and does what it takes to get the job done. You will find our people at the heart of every major humanitarian intervention around the world, providing the essential life-saving foundation required for those furthest behind. Each year, we reach an average of 80 million people with food assistance in around 80 countries. Delivering our mission requires deep respect for personal and cultural differences and close collaboration between every member of our global team. While the 16,000 people working for WFP reflect the rich diversity of the world in which we work, the vital importance of our shared mission underpins a remarkably close community of purpose.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is offering life-changing job opportunities you are unlikely to find in other organizations. Working at WFP will give you the opportunity to work beyond your expectations, to be enriched by truly meaningful work and deepen your professional expertise.

The Future International Talent Pool (FIT Pool) is an entry point for a professional international career with WFP. WFP is looking to build a pool of highly qualified and dynamic talents interested in going to any of our 80 countries in which WFP operates, including hardship duty stations, when the need arises.

A FIT Pool member is placed on the pool for a period up to 2 years during which he/ she is considered with priority each time WFP has a specific need for a Fixed Term International Professional staff member in his/her functional area and level.

JOB PURPOSE

These roles can be found in Headquarters (HQ), Regional Bureaux and Country Offices. WFP is looking for candidates with a strong passion to make a difference and to contribute to its mandate of achieving Zero Hunger. Strong analytical capabilities, learning agility as well as the potential to develop into a leadership role are prerequisites for successful candidates.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The Programme Policy Officer (Cash Based Transfers) at the P3 level will be responsible for the following key duties:

• Contribute to formulation and implementation of WFP’s CBT programme strategy in line with the organisational strategy, WFP-wide programme policies and context at Country Office level; translate the CBT strategy and WFP-wide programme policies into Regional/Country level practices;
• Design any operations by being inspired by the principle of cost-efficiency and effectiveness. Proactively juggle with transfer modalities to reach the most appropriate choice for a defined context;
• Be innovative and visionary at the programme design phase to reach the highest effectiveness of a given response. Consider integration of market interventions into existing programmes to make emergency responses more responsive to local markets and more beneficial to general coping capacities or, consider financial inclusion to empower both beneficiaries and communities beyond the end of the project life, or consider linking the delivery system with reliable existing systems from financial service providers, private sector or governments to boost the sustainability of the project;
• Lead and manage the WFP CBT Working Group at Country level when required;
• Guide and coordinate Country Office units to ensure synchronized technical backstopping and compliance with corporate policy, strategic objectives, guidance, and incorporation of gender perspectives in programme design;
• Set programme objectives as guiding lines all over the intervention for all functions;
• Enhance WFP’s leadership status in forums relating to CBT and wider programme policy focus areas such as food security, nutrition, livelihoods, resilience or engagement in humanitarian, transition and development contexts through direct participation, briefings, information products and other materials;
• Represent WFP in external humanitarian Cash Working Group to ensure a closer coordination with other UN agencies and donors;
• Maintain close contact with key partners and advise on opportunities for strategic collaboration; assist counterparts in governments and/or other stakeholders in identifying where CBT interventions can be usefully employed;
• Reassess context during project implementation and be flexible to adjust operational planning if required;
• In the project closure phase identify lessons learnt and contribute for a better future planning;
• Identify and select cooperating partners andfinancial service providers able to deal efficiently and effectively with the delivery part of the cash-based transfers programmes; negotiate in details Field Level Agreements and/or Service Providers contracts according to established rules and regulations;
• In collaboration with other units develop, update and ensure Standard Operational procedures (SOP) aligned with corporate manuals and guidelines;
• Contribute to resources mobilisations efforts for WFP projects, including clearly articulating the need for CBT and related programme opportunities, and follow up on the resource situation of projects;
• Provide general support and technical guidance to field offices;
• Work closely with advocacy and policy advisors to develop key messaging and materials related to cash transfers’ programming;
• Advise and support the development and execution of functional and multi-functional trainings related to cash based transfers’ programming to enhance the capacity of WFP staff and partner to design and deliver effective food assistance programmes;
• Lead, motivate and develop a team of staff to enable high performance;
• Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men;
• Other as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Advanced University degree (Master or higher) in International Affairs, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Science or other field of relevance to international development assistance, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience:

• At least five years of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in the private or public sector demonstrating high performance;
• Demonstrated interest and experiences in humanitarian and development work;
• At least two years of relevant working experience in CBT programming in diverse contexts;
• Solid experience in the design, set-up, implementation and monitoring of in-kind food, cash and voucher transfers;
• Proven capacity to manage innovation in programme approaches;
• Awareness and strong interest on social protection issues are highly desirable especially the knowledge of policies and practices around long term financial opportunities for the poor and vulnerable.

Language:

• Fluency in oral and written English;
• Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages).

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Solid understanding of the theory and application of food security and/or safety net programmes;
• Solid understanding of Project Cycle Management and its application;
• Excellent understanding of CBT programming and proven ability to asses, design, implement, monitor  CBT programmes.
• Experience  in complex emergencies and protracted crisis situations is an advantage;
• Solid attitude towards partnership
• Good background knowledge in financing processes and experience in analytical work are considered as desirable assets.

• Solid understanding of the theory and application of food security and/or safety net programmes;
• Solid understanding of Project Cycle Management and its application;
• Excellent understanding of CBT programming and proven ability to asses, design, implement, monitor  CBT programmes.
• Experience  in complex emergencies and protracted crisis situations is an advantage;
• Solid attitude towards partnership
• Good background knowledge in financing processes and experience in analytical work are considered as desirable assets.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong motivation to make a difference and to contribute to WFP’s mandate;
• Proven effective cognitive abilities, analytical and problem solving skills;
• Demonstrated learning agility and thirst for constant growth;
• Displayed openness and passion for new experiences and multicultural environments;
• Taken initiatives when implementing programmes;
• Exhibited ability to communicate effectively and build sustainable partnerships;
• Deepened technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams;
• Provided input into policy discussions and decisions.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Selected candidates will be placed in the FIT Pool and may be contacted as the needs arise for fixed-term international positions in any of the countries in which WFP operates, including hardship duty stations. The FIT Pool membership will last 2 years.

Mobility is and continues to be a core contractual requirement in WFP. These positions are rotational which means that the incumbent shall be subject to the regular reassignment process unless the position is reclassified as non-rotational. Professional level positions are rotational on a period of 2 to 4 years, mobility is the essence of WFP.

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, pension plan and medical insurance.

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP. Click on: “Where we work” and “Our work” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

To find out more about:

• WFPs work, www.wfp.org
• Compensation https://icsc.un.org/secretariat/sad.asp?include=ss  

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

11 June 2018

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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.