Food Security Cluster/Sector Coordinator

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 Food Security Cluster (within the Emergency Operations Division, EME), co-led by WFP and FAO, coordinates the food security response in humanitarian crises addressing issues of food availability, access and utilization. The global Food Security Cluster (gFSC) is based at WFP HQ in Rome and provides support to country level clusters through information management, programming, and HR surge.

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND OF THE ASSIGNMENT
 

The Food Security Cluster/Sector Coordinator (CC) plays a vital role in ensuring timely, coherent and effective food security interventions by mobilizing and supporting stakeholders to deliver a coordinated and strategic response to a humanitarian crisis. The role of the Food Security Cluster Coordinator, as set out in the IASC Generic Terms of Reference and the main core functions, is to lead food security coordination along with the support team (includes an Information Management Officer (IMO), but may vary according to country specific situation) and a wide range of stakeholders in:
 

1. Facilitating a timely, coherent effective and coordinated food security response by mobilizing stakeholders in a strategic manner
2. Enhancing coordination through the reinforcement of linkages and synergies between relevant food security actors as well as between humanitarian and development partners
3. Ensuring that food security is appropriately represented in the overall humanitarian response 
4. Supporting service delivery
5. Informing strategic decisions of the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and Humanitarian Country Team (HCT)/Country Management Team (CMT)
6. Coordinating and Planning Cluster strategies, including contingency planning and preparedness
7. Monitoring and Evaluating Cluster/Sector performance
8. Building national and FSC members capacity in relevant areas
9. Supporting advocacy for food security needs
10. Accountability to affected people 

The Food Security Cluster/Sector Coordinator will work impartially with all members of the Food Security Cluster (FSC) and represents all members of the group equally, and as a whole. S/he will work closely with the UN Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator and the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) or their designated official, and with all other humanitarian stakeholders including other cluster leads.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSABILITIES (not all inclusive)
 

1. Establish and maintain the Food Security Cluster/Sector:  actively ensure membership and engagement of key partners at national and sub-national level, organize regular cluster meetings, and ensure overall coordination of the food response in an emergency.
2. Establish an inclusive governance structure for the FSC (including co-leadership with national authorities where possible, establishing a Strategic Advisory Group, inviting NGO to co-chair)
3. Contribute to the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) and Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) by managing the process for the FSC supported by the IMO, with inputs from, and in close consultation with, the cluster partners.
4. Ensure monitoring of the FS response (for both quantitative and qualitative aspects), and report on its implementation
5. Ensure timely, inclusive and regular information sharing and discussion with the cluster partners through various modalities including cluster meetings, email dissemination of cluster products (dashboards, maps, assessments, etc.) and establishment of relevant technical working groups.
6. Facilitate and support needs assessments such as EFSA /CFSAM/SMART/MIRA, etc, and actively promote the analysis and utilization of this information for decision-making
7. Coordinate and promote mainstreaming of cross-cutting and cross-sectoral issues (e.g. gender, age, HIV and AIDS, human rights, disability, environment, early recovery, protection, nutrition) and appropriate participatory and community-based approaches in cluster/inter-cluster needs assessments, analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring
8. Actively promote the application of common standards (e.g. SPHERE standards and CHS), and harmonization of programmatic responses (SOPs on modality of delivery, Minimum Expenditure Basket, minimum assistance package)
9. Contribute to country level contingency planning and coordinate cluster/sector-wide emergency preparedness and response
10. Ensure the development of regular food security reports (Sitreps, Bulletins, newsletters, etc.)
11. Undertake advocacy and resource mobilization on behalf of the FSC partners in a neutral and impartial manner.
12. Contribute to the effective management of country based pooled funding schemes by leading the process for the FSC
13. Identify funding for the FSC team in order to have a running FSC, in close collaboration with the Cluster Lead Agencies (FAO and WFP). Actively track FSC funding status in consultation with CLAs to ensure continuity of operations
14. Identify capacity gaps and needs and provide training and capacity building opportunities to FSC partners
15. Supervise and guide the IMO and provide guidance to the co-chair and other Cluster team members, ensure a smooth and inclusive relationship of the Cluster team with all partners, and report regularly to the CLAs
16. Together with the IMO, support gFSC initiatives such as CCPM (Cluster Coordination Performance Monitoring) and the global cluster annual overview

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT
 

1. Food Security needs analysis and response plan
2. Food Security Cluster/Sector workplan with key deliverables
3. Cluster-relevant Contingency plans, SOPs and harmonized packages
4. Multi-sector joint planning with other clusters, as relevant
5. Food security sitrep, newsletters/bulletins (stand-alone and inter-sector)
6. Advocacy notes and round table meetings minutes (with key actors such as donors, government) if relevant
7. FSC resource mobilization strategy and business case
8. Handover report with shared folder with documents at the end of the assignment

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

University degree in food security, agriculture, economics, humanitarian affairs or related field

Experience
 

Minimum 7 years of professional experience in humanitarian response at a mid or senior level. Experience in food security related topics is mandatory and experience with inter-agency coordination is desirable

Knowledge and Skills

Good understanding of FS Assessments, Survey, and Monitoring and Evaluation

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

30 July 2021

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.