Director D1, Regional Center of Excellence Against Hunger and Malnutrition (CERFAM)

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.  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.

Africa remains the continent most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition. The gains made in curbing hunger have reversed in recent years due to several natural and man-made factors that are now exacerbated by the pandemic of COVID19. In addition of being the region with the highest overall prevalence of food insecurity, Africa is also the region with the highest prevalence of under-five chronic malnutrition, while the prevalence of stunting is decreasing in almost all other regions. 

With the negative impacts of the COVID19 on health, education and economic conditions, increased severe food insecurity and poverty pose a major challenge to the region's ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition (SDG2) by 2030. Broken food systems fuel hunger, limit livelihoods and often create a need for food assistance. Insufficient resources allocated to basic social sectors and to food system transformation, limited technical and human capacity, insufficient knowledge of sustainable solutions, innovative technologies and practices, hamper significantly the availability, access and effective utilization of food by a wide range of vulnerable households and communities.

To contribute to overcoming these challenges, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and the World Food Programme (WFP) established the Centre d’Excellence Régional contre la Faim et la Malnutrition (CERFAM) in 2018, through a strategic partnership, to support the efforts of national Governments in West and Central Africa and Africa at large in their quest to develop sustainable policies and implement effective programmes to fight hunger and malnutrition with a view to achieving SDG2. CERFAM is a knowledge hub, a platform of exchange, capacity strengthening, technical assistance, partnership and south-south cooperation, which aims to respond to the increasing demand of national governments and partners striving to strengthen national capacities, through management, documentation and sharing of innovative and sustainable solutions, good practices and lessons learned in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

After two years of existence, CERFAM is fully functional with an organizational structure, assets, strategic documents, operational, communication and advocacy tools and materials in place. Going forward, WFP is seeking a Director with a broad skill set to play a critical role in bringing technical and strategic guidance and oversight to CERFAM’s performance, ensuring a consolidation of its growth and sustainability through the mobilization of the necessary human, technical and financial resources to implement concrete activities. The Director will lead a team that is making strides in promoting good practices against hunger and malnutrition and providing technical assistance support to stakeholders through partnership building, south-south cooperation and capacity strengthening.

This position will report into the WFP Regional Director for the Western Africa region. 

Partnership development and representation

1. Manage the partnership with the with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and ensure effective coordination and collaboration with the Government for the purpose of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU);
2. In line with CERFAM’s mission, identify and build strategic, technical, financial and operational partnerships with a broad range of  partners at the global, regional and local levels, including with research centres, think tanks and academic institutions to promote applied research on food security, nutrition and related topics.
3. Represent CERFAM before relevant authorities and at the highest level, including at national, regional and international forums, ensuring its visibility, reach and role as a knowledge exchange and broker of good practices for food security and nutrition are advocated for and well understood;
4. Lead the positioning of CERFAM in south–south and triangular cooperation initiatives and activities, to support the efforts of governments and other stakeholders in the region to strengthen capacities to achieve Zero Hunger;

Strategy development

5. Lead the formulation and development of CERFAM strategies and implementation plans, in line with the regional, continental, WFP corporate and wider UN strategies, policies and processes;
6. Prepare and submit for approval by the decision bodies, CERFAM’s annual programme of work and budget;

Strategy implementation and ensuring quality delivery

1. Ensure meaningful monitoring and evaluation of CERFAM’s programs and performance and the provision of accurate analysis and routine reporting on CERFAM’s activities;
2. Oversee the development of communication and advocacy tools and approaches to support the implementation of CERFAM’s programme of work.
3. Oversee the team’s production of evidence generation and documentation of innovative and sustainable solutions, lessons learnt and good practices against hunger and malnutrition through proof of concept;
4. Facilitate technical cooperation among countries in the region through knowledge exchange on good practices, innovative and sustainable solutions against hunger and malnutrition;
5. In close coordination with relevant resource mobilization divisions of WFP, identify a clear roadmap to financial sustainability, maintain a definite consideration of different stakeholder interests and effectively perform resource mobilization activities to identify public and private resources to support the implementation of CERFAM workplans;

Overseeing effective and efficient management of centre

6. Operationalize, lead and monitor the implementation of the Organisational structure, work programme, main policies and other business processes;
7. Lead CERFAM’s team and associated experts in providing technical assistance, policy and programme advice to governments, regional institutions and other stakeholders in the region on food security and nutrition, especially on the adoption, adaptation, replication or scaling up of good practices on smallholder farmer support, post-harvest loss management, home grown school feeding, community resilience, nutrition and other related topics; 
8. Exercise authority over personnel and human-resource matters and further strengthen performance management by tracking key performance indicators, in line with WFP corporate practices;
9. Maintain a positive work environment that is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent and facilitates collaboration and teamwork within CERFAM;
10.  Hold accountability for effective management of WFP resources within the area of assignment to ensure timely and effective delivery of the annual work plan of CERFAM;
11.  Ensure that WFP rules, procedures and controls are applied, and that evaluation, audit and compliance recommendations are efficiently implemented within CERFAM;
12.  Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men.
13. Perform other related tasks as required.

Education: Advanced University degree in Economics, International development, Social sciences or other relevant area, or First University degree with additional relevant experience and/or advanced training/courses.

Language: Fluency (level C) in French and English is mandatory.

Experience: Typically thirteen years or more (of which six international) of senior level experience in a relevant field of work, with a background and interest in international humanitarian and development. Extensive experience leading multicultural teams and improving performance. Experience in workign with regional bodies and national governments would be desirable. 

Knowledge & Skills: 

• Broad knowledge on food security, nutrition and development practices with a particular area of leading technical expertise;
• Ability to lead, coach and motivate large and diverse teams and drive improving performance;
• Excellent financial management skills, commercial acumen, with the ability to leverage external partnerships to optimize resources for CERFAM;
• Ability to deal with and influence national governments and regional bodies at the highest levels;
• Ability to oversee research, assimilate and analyse complex issues to develop strategies and policies;
• Detailed understanding of business principles and processes and teh ability to quickly assimilate UN/WFP specific processes and systems;
• Working experience in food security and nutrition interventions in West and Central Africa is an advantage. 

The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of one year. 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. For more details please visit icsc.un.org. 

This position has been classified as rotational, which means that the incumbent is expected to rotate every 2-4 years. The duration of an assignment is determined by the hardship classification of the duty station as established by the United Nations International Civil Service Commission (ICSC). At this stage, Abuja is classified as a C-level duty station, which corresponds with an assignment cycle of 3 years.

Deadline to receive applications is Sunday, 8 November 2020, 11.59 PM (CET). 

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.