Islamic Social Finance Officer SC 9

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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.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:  Advanced University degree in Economics, Finance, Law, Political Science, International Development, Communications or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years in relevant fields of work.

Experience:

• At least ten years of postgraduate professional experience in relevant fields of work, with demonstrated experience advising nonprofits, governments and other stakeholders on Islamic Social Finance Officer (ISF).
• Background and interest in cause-driven multi-sectoral partnerships, fundraising and advocacy campaigns, corporate social responsibility, communications, emergency response, development programmes and other related fields.
• Previous experience in the Gulf region is required.
• Previous experience with Islamic banks, financial institutions and/or consultancies is an asset.
   

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Arabic is mandatory.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Assisting 91 million people in around 83 countries each year, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s leading humanitarian organization fighting hunger. Entirely funded through voluntary donations, WFP relies on the financial support of governments, foundations, businesses, NGOs and individuals to reach those impacted by conflicts, natural disasters, displacement and protracted crises with crucial food assistance and develop long-term solutions against hunger and malnutrition.

JOB PURPOSE

In Dubai, WFP's Partnerships Unit is comprised of two teams. The Government Partnership team manages partnerships with Gulf States. The Private Sector Partnership team manages parterships with companies, foundations, NGOs and individuals in the Gulf region, oversees regional fundraising campaigns and supports private sector engagement efforts led by other WFP offices in the wider Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe region. The selected candidate will be working with both teams to guide WFP’s efforts in engaging with relevant governmental entities, scholars, experts, private entities and the public at large, in the region and globally, to enable innovative funding solutions through Islamic Social Finance (ISF).

Job Title: Islamic Social Finance Officer

Level: SC 9

Salary: Starting from AED 32,444.84 per month (inclusive of pension), plus medical insurance and other entitlements.  

Duration of Employment: 12 months with possibility of extension

Report to: Head of Private Sector Partnerships for the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, based in Dubai.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Collate, analyse and report on internal and external data and studies and collect insights and guidance from officials, scholars and experts to establish key challenges and opportunities around ISF, map existing approaches deployed by other UN agencies and INGOs globally, identify countries most prone to support WFP’s pilot initiatives, and recommend effective and innovative solutions and tools for WFP to mobilize resources through ISF.
• Develop and lead the implementation of WFP’s ISF strategy and action plan in coordination with all relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• Work with WFP’s Communication division to establish a solid advocacy framework around ISF, directly building on WFP’s mission, operations and core values.
• Work with WFP’s Legal and Finance units to establish a new legal and financial framework and fundraising tools that would enable WFP to further comply with ISF principles, receive Zakat, Sadaqah and Waqf funds, while staying aligned with WFP’s core values, policies and regulations.
• Work with WFP’s Government Partnerships team in Dubai and other WFP regional bureaus and country offices outside the Gulf region to advance the thinking and planning process through high-level exchange with national Zakat funds, governmental organizations, scholars and other relevant authorities. 
• Work with WFP’s Private Sector Partnerships team in Dubai and global Individual Giving unit in Rome to roll out effective and compelling fundraising campaigns, fundraising events and activations during Ramadan and throughout the year. 
• Work with WFP’s Private Sector Partnerships division in in the Gulf and around the world to identify and engage corporate partners – notably in the financial and media sectors – prone to support WFP through Zakat obligations and support WFP’s outreach efforts during Ramadan.
• Draft briefs, reports and cheat sheets, to enable informed action planning and decision-making by senior stakeholders.
• Provide strategic guidance and technical support to WFP’s regional bureaus, country offices and technical units eager to explore fundraising opportunities through ISF.
• Enter and update data, contacts and documents pertaining to ISF in SalesForce and other relevant internal platforms.
• Produce reports, brochures and PowerPoint presentations on ISF.
• Guide and supervise volunteers and interns, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries.
• Help identify meetings and events prone to advance WFP’s efforts in engaging into ISF, attend those events as required and debrief senior stakeholders.
• Perform other related duties as required.

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

• Solid expertise in ISF.
• Robust research, analytical and reporting skills.
• Strong networking, communication and presentation skills.
• General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures governing administration is an asset.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• The United Nations World Food Programme is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified female candidates and UAE Nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates shortlisted will be notified.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

9th of April 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.