Expression of Interest Call - Social Protection Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean

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.

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.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is assisting 91.4 million people in around 83 countries each year, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, WFP supports national efforts to improve food and nutrition security and reduce the impact of emerging crises, natural disasters, and climate change among vulnerable populations. The Regional Bureau Panama (RBP) coordinates technical strategic support and guidance to Country Offices in the region, promotes strategic partnerships, and support resource mobilization efforts.

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

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:

1. Development of a wide variety of projects, plans, and processes, ensuring alignment with corporate policies and guidance relevant to social protection.
2. Project management of social protection programmes and activities, ensuring a coordinated approach that complies with WFP standards and procedures.
3. Research and analysis of a range of policy and operational issues to inform the development of in-country social protection policies, strategies, programmes, and activities.
4. Development and coordination of data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that quality standards are maintained for social protection programmes and activities.
5. Preparation of accurate and timely reporting on social protection programmes and activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
6. Consolidation, development, and dissemination of knowledge products pertinent to social protection.
7. Effective collaboration, monitoring of ongoing interventions, and identification and management of risks. 
8. Identification, development, and management of external partnerships for improved support to national social protection.
9. Capacity strengthening of WFP personnel, partners, and national governments to identify and address in-country social protection needs, e.g. by providing inputs into specific social protection guidance materials and/or learning initiatives.

Education:

Advanced University degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, International Development, International Relations, Sociology, or other fields relevant to social protection, or, a First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Years of relevant professional experience:

• Junior Consultancy: One to three years of relevant professional experience.
• Level I Consultancy: Three to five years of relevant professional experience.
• Level II Consultancy: Six to ten years of relevant professional experience.

Languages 

• Fluency (level C) in English language.
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Spanish or French are highly desirable.

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

• National development programmes, policies, strategies, or plans and institutional structures, preferably in relation to social protection and/or revolving around food security and/or nutrition.
• Deepened technical knowledge pertinent to social protection, through exposure to technical teams.
• Provision of inputs into policy discussions and decisions.
• Humanitarian assistance and/or development work of the United Nations or other international governmental or non-governmental organisations.

The World Food Programme (Panama Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean) is seeking Expressions of Interest from qualified individuals for future consultancies in the region.

All applications received will be reviewed and go through a selection process to asses relevant experience and qualifications. Applicants who meet the selection criteria may be contacted for further interviews or assessments and to confirm their continued interest and availability.

Successful candidates will be placed in a roster for short-term opportunities. Rostered applicants may be contacted in the upcoming 12 months on an as-needed basis.

WFP offers a competitive compensation package determined on the basis of the Terms of Reference and the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. 

15 September 2020

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 race, sex, colour, ethnic group, age, sexual orientation, other affiliation or 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.