Re-advertisement: Programme Policy Officer (Head of Field Office) - NOB, Lodwar

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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

These jobs are found in relatively small Field Offices where the range of implemented programmes and activities are limited. Job holders work under close supervision of the Head of Area Office, or Deputy Country Director.  

JOB PURPOSE

Through the five-year Country Strategic Plan, WFP in Kenya continues its shift from service delivery to capacity strengthening of national and county institutions to implement sustainable hunger solutions.   Furthermore, WFP aims to ensure that food systems in the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya are resilient, efficient and inclusive, enabling people to access and consume food that is safe and nutritious.

The purpose of this post is to lead a cross-functional field team, and to provide technical coordination and support to the county government(s) to incorporate disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) for improved food security and nutrition.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Planning and implementation

• Lead, plan and manage WFP programmes within the areas of assignment to ensure effective and efficient delivery of food assistance and that daily operational issues are timely resolved to prevent losses, delays or reputational risks;
• Provide technical guidance to the county governments in capacity needs mapping to identify gaps in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. This may include policies and legislation, humanitarian supply chain management, food security coordination, food security analysis and monitoring systems;
• Collaborate with county government departments to design and implement programmes that strengthen the capacity of county and community institutions to prepare for, and respond to climatic shocks, and build resilient food systems while protecting the most vulnerable members, including women.
• Help the county government(s) incorporate age and gender-responsive food security concerns and climate change adaptation options into their policies, plans and budgets;
• Facilitate the integration of DRR/CCA approaches and tools into resilient livelihoods, market support, nutrition, school meals and shock-responsive safety nets;
• Coordinate targeting of vulnerable communities, adoption of new projects or approaches on sustainable, inclusive resilient food systems. Identify communities ready to transition from support and select new expansion areas in consultation the relevant county departments.

Partnerships, Coordination and Resource Mobilisation,

• Establish and maintain partnerships at county level, and identify synergistic opportunities for collaborations for locally-driven solutions (includes private sector and civil society);
• Manage and monitor performance of partners or contractors, and verify monthly invoices before submitting to the country offices;
• Ensure WFP’s representation in the relevant coordination forums at county level;
• Contribute to preparation of funding proposals, ensuring funding is utilised according to the donor requirements/earmarking conditions, and advocate for increased investments on DRR/CCA by the county government(s);
• Plan and manage donor missions to the areas of operations.
• Liaise with technical and functional areas in Nairobi to support effective programme delivery

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting –

• In coordination with M&E unit and partners, ensure project monitoring data is collected and verified, support for outcome monitoring, baselines and evaluations given;
• Generate, manage and share information and knowledge continuously, to support improvement in programme design, and learning
• Ensure regular reports summarizing key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned, are prepared and shared on timely basis.

Team leadership and office management –

• Effectively manage the Field Office to ensure the continued development of a cohesive and high performing team by planning, organizing, guiding, distributing, and coordinating the flow of work, as well as support capacity building of WFP staff;
• Ensure that allocated resources are utilized efficiently and are in line with agreed plans, with any deviations reported to the country office;
• Make recommendations concerning recruitment, performance, and other personnel actions, ensuring staff perform their functions with the highest standards of integrity as required by the Charter of the United Nations and in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service, the WFP Code of Conduct

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced University degree in one or more of the following disciplines: Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change, Environment, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a field relevant to international development assistance; or First University Degree with additional five years of related work experiences and/or training/courses.
• At least five years’ postgraduate professional experience in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, capacity building and institutional development, project management, emergency preparedness and response and resilience-building programmes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the project cycle management
• Strong analytic, communication and interpersonal skills, including conceptual analysis, planning and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with government with the required diplomacy and tactical skills to handle complex situations;

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
•  Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
•  Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
•  Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Working experience with UN agencies or other International Development Organizations
• Strong understanding of national socio-economic and political issues and the complexity and range of WFP programmes to plan and oversee implementation;
• Conversant with national and international frameworks related to DRR/CCA how they affect food security and nutrition.
• Experience in writing funding and project proposals
• Ability to drive a four-wheel light vehicle within the field office boundaries, as may be required from time to time

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• WFP is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge fees from applicants at any stage of the recruitment process. Only short listed applicants will be contacted. 
• Qualified female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
• For any queries write to Nairobi.queryhr@wfp.org  

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Deadline for application: 31 March 2019.

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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.