Programme Policy Officer (Social Protection) NOC

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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

The Social Protection Officer is based at the Country Office, World Food Programme, and reports to the Head of Education and Social Protection (SO2 Manager).

JOB PURPOSE

The Social Protection Officer will provide technical support to the Education and Social Protection Unit, located within the Country Office, World Food Programme, in strengthening the organization’s social protection agenda. S/he will contribute in producing policy-relevant and evidence-based recommendations for developing social protection policies and programmes in Pakistan. S/he will also assist with coordination, policy and planning, implementation, capacity building, and follow-up with the private sector and international and donor community.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

General Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, facilitation, coordination and technical advice on social protection to federal and provincial Government, private sector, UN agencies, donors and other relevant stakeholders to alleviate poverty in Pakistan;
• Lead the development of a well-defined and clearly articulated multi-year social protection agenda, policies, strategies, plans and programmes in general for WFP;
• Lead the analysis, advocacy and documentation of social protection programmes and their impacts and results on socio-economic, nutrition and education outcomes;
• Provide leadership and support in technical reviews of proposals, concept notes, research and evaluation studies and provide strategic analyses to the Head of Education and Social Protection;
• Coordinate and liaise with relevant stakeholders including government, donors, national and international NGOs/networks, and academia for knowledge sharing of evidence-based good practices and strengthen networking across relevant social protection stakeholders;

Stunting Prevention Programme

• In consultation with the National Social Safety Net Programme (Benazir Income Support Programme – BISP), different departments of the Government, donors, national and international implementing partners, lead implementation of a nutrition-sensitive cash-based programme for stunting prevention in children living in the poorest sectors of the country;
• Supervise day-to-day management and implementation of the stunting prevention programme including operational issues, awareness raising on programme objectives and procedures, interaction with programme stakeholders (such as Government departments and WFP partners) and coordination with on-going programmes, including training and support to WFP staff in good practice guidelines;
• Ensure the stunting prevention programme remains compliant with all Government and WFP policies and procedures;
• In cooperation with stakeholders, recommend ways to refine the stunting prevention programme and thereby improve the interventions offered to beneficiaries and facilitate implementation by WFP;
• Lead coordination with BISP and WFP Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) units in the development of operational M&E methodology and formats; and field level monitoring of implementation including outputs and outcomes;
• Lead the completion of all reporting obligations and identify lessons learnt and best practices established for use in scaling up of cash and food programme interventions;

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

Commercialization of Specialized Nutritious Foods (SNFs)

• Provide technical support to the Senior Commercialization Advisor as needed;
• Assist the Senior Advisor with technical reviews of national policy frameworks, development of strategic partnerships, and development and delivery of advocacy strategies related to commercialization;
• Assist the Senior Advisor with conducting consultations with the federal and provincial Government, commercial industry and other relevant stakeholders to establish strategies, scope, methodology/models and action plans for conducting commercialization of SNFs;
• Assist with the Senior Advisor with the establishment of government, public and private collaboration platforms to support strategic market oriented value chain planning for SNF commercialization in Pakistan;
• Lead the preparation of briefs, guidelines, and case studies on policy issues related to commercialization of SNFs, proposed new and innovative research on SNFs, and review lessons learnt from local SNFs production and report these results to the Head of Education and Social Protection;
• Provide leadership as well as supervise the consultants for the tax exemption of SNF raw materials in collaboration with the government and private industries;
• In collaboration with the government, lead the marketing development to create demand for SNFs at household, district and provincial levels;
• Provide leadership in coordinating with the government for the mandatory registration of SNFs producers at federal and provincial level to ensure WFP’s technical support is obtained to meet the global specifications, quality and safety of SNFs;
• Provide technical support, capacity building and assistance to the government for the creation of national standards for SNFs under the PSQCA;
• Lead operational implementation of commercialization to ensure availability, access, demand and consumption of SNFs;

Education Programme

• Lead the coordination and facilitation of Private Public Partnerships to ensure development of innovative approaches to reducing short-term hunger, micronutrient deficiencies as well as improving dietary diversity among school age children;
• Provide management and support for the implementation of the School Meals Programme in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) for the improvement of dietary diversity among school age children through the provision of dried healthy snacks and freshly cooked meals;
• Provide technical guidance to the Government on empowering rural women and providing them an income generating opportunity through the School Meals Programme;
• Lead the coordination and facilitation with BISP for the Education Support Programme to ensure better education in ex-FATA and pave the way for adolescent girls to attend secondary school;
• Provide leadership and facilitation related to implementation of the Education Support Programme, in coordination with BISP and Directorate of Education ex-FATA; and
• Conduct any other function and responsibility, which may be assigned by the Supervisor.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives : Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.
• Be a force for positive change : Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.
• Make the mission inspiring to our team : Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions : Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills : Is able to identify, support and encourage focused on-the-job learning opportunities to address gaps between current skillsets and needed future skillsets for WFP.
• Create an inclusive culture : Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback : Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit : Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios)

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions : Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries. 
• Focus on getting results : Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments : Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.
• Be Decisive : Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units : Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning
• Build strong external partnerships : Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships  
• Be politically agile & adaptable : Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations 
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships : Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in social /public policy or related field, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experiene: At least 10 years’ work experience in social policy issues that address the needs of social development particularly nutrition and education.

Language: Fluency in English and Urdu; knowledge of any other language would be an asset.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has taken a leadership role in implementing programs related to social protection and education;
• Has provided technical guidance and inputs into policy discussions and decisions at higher level in areas of social policy;
• Has in-depth Social Protection knowledge, especially related to social safety nets, cash transfers, vouchers, insurance, social assistance and workfare;
• Has knowledge about the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP);
• Has strong analytical skills and excellent written, oral and presentation skills in English and Urdu; and
• Is familiar with working with senior government officials across different ministries and agencies and must be committed to participatory approaches.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Deadline for applications in 28 May 2019

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Qualified female applicants 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.