Nutrition Learning and Development Specialist

 

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

 

 

Job Title: Nutrition Learning and Development Specialist

 

Type of Contract: Consultant (level I)

 

Division: NUT - Nutrition Division

 

Duty Station (City, Country): HQ, Rome Italy

 

Duration: 11 months

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

 

Assisting 91.4 million people in around 83 countries each year, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies, and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. The mission of WFP is to end global hunger. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no one goes to bed hungry and that those left furthest behind can access the nutritious foods they need.

 

More than ever today, “Leaving no one behind” in the fight against malnutrition requires a more coordinated and innovative approach from all international stakeholders to have a sustainable impact.  As the world’s leading agency fighting hunger worldwide, WFP has called for a transformative and multisectoral approach to end all of forms of malnutrition, with an increased focus on prevention and sustainable healthy diets; and a cooperate commitment towards integrating nutrition throughout WFP supported programming.  

 

To this purpose, the Headquarters (HQ) Nutrition Division has dedicated a team exclusively to Knowledge management with the objective of enhancing internal and external skills and capabilities of nutrition and non-nutrition related workforce in line with the nutrition policy, WFP strategical plan and other relevant policies and strategies. More than 18,000 people are working in WFP world-wide reflecting the rich diversity of the world in which we work, and even more partner to support or facilitate the implementation of WFPs vision and strategy.

 

Learning and development provides an opportunity for WFP nutrition to maintain relevance as a thought leader in nutrition especially as related to operational practices and capacity building in support of government and other partners. Empowering our staff and partners with the right expertise and skills is critical to our success. The Nutrition function is committed to offer an innovative and effective set of tailored learning journeys, experiences, and resources for all (internal and external).

 

 

 

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

Under the general direction of the Chief of knowledge management and digital innovation, and directly reporting to the knowledge management and learning officer when recruited, the nutrition learning and development specialist will contribute to WFP’s ongoing learning transformation. This role will support a broad range of learning and development activities and interventions such as the identification of nutrition learning needs across at country, regional and HQ level and the design and development of functional learning paths and curricula to continue to build a wide range of technical and cross-cutting skills within and outside the organization. This will focus on the nutrition workforce, but also on the wider programme workforce focusing on nutrition specific and sensitive skillsets and create linkages with learning and development opportunities on cross-cutting topics such as leadership, digital transformation and monitoring and evaluation.

The incumbent will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Support the development of a knowledge management and learning strategy, with a focus on the inclusion of learning solutions for nutrition according to the latest learning and development trends and standard methodologies.
   1. Develop a solid understanding of the nutrition policy and global and regional priorities, and support drawing out of the capability development implications.
   2. Lead the development of continues learning needs analysis, and formulation and/or updating of knowledge management and learning strategy
   3. Lead the identification and development of appropriate design and delivery mechanisms to meet the needs of target audience and establish relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track the impact of learning interventions.
   4. Lead the continuous and ad hoc monitoring and evaluation (utilization, reach and effectiveness among other indicators) of current and newly proposed learning solutions and other mechanisms, and propose solutions and improvements within the knowledge management and learning strategy as required.
2. Researching of appropriate learning resources globally on relevant nutrition and not-nutrition related topics/skills and capabilities with the intention to create linkages and leverage to reduce duplication of effort and maximize access, availability, and utilization.
3. Own the development, maintenance/improvement, and implementation of a wide-range of nutrition learning solutions (online and blended), related to both internal functional learning and cross-functional skills, including specialised learning pathways
   1. Design deliver and/or support training interventions and sessions including coffee chats and brown bags, both face-to-face and remotely as needed; with a focus on proposing improved quality of learning of the interventions and sessions provided. This includes effective collaboration with Subject matter experts on the design of such sessions to ensure high levels of engagement and knowledge transfers.
   2. Work with online content development tools (e.g. Articulate Storyline/360, Rise, Captivate, Camtasia, WeLearn (WFP internal learning platform) standard animation software etc.) to develop and/or maintain learning solutions as required
   3. Evaluate and lead the identification, contracting and procurement processes of external vendors including the monitoring of the identified activities of the related selected providers, and subsequently manage the relationship for learning development products, including kick-off discussions, meetings, timelines, and budget proposals.
   4. Guarantee that all learning solutions maintain of the highest quality possible and reach the required audience addressing the intended learning gaps. This includes managing the dedicated WeLearn Nutrition Learning channel and all the associated resources (internal WFP learning channel). 
   5. Represent nutrition within corporate learning initiatives including WFP programme learning journey, induction of new staff among others, Act as a Nutrition Learning focal point and promote collaboration and partnership projects with the wider UN NUT Community in representing WFP in Nutrition training related initiatives.
   6. Contribute and link with the community of practice amongst WFP learning focal points through active participation in WFP’s Learning Management Group (LMG) to share tools, methods, and approaches for learning and development and enable effective knowledge management.

 

4. As required, support other talent management and capability development initiatives and projects

 

 

 

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT (below are examples, deliverables will be adapted based on the finalization of the knowledge management and learning strategy):

 

The following deliverables will be expected:

 

• Finalized knowledge management and learning strategy, with inclusion of learning solutions for nutrition according to the latest learning and development trends and standard methodologies (including M&E)
• Knowledge management and learning strategy is successfully implemented, this might include the following sub-set of deliverables
  • New Nutrition Staff and Other Programmes induction packages and learning journeys are supported Learning Platforms effectively and successfully managed. This includes analysis and assessment of effectiveness of current learning of and clear transition plan of resources to be updated, removed, developed for different target audiences
  • Development of training packages and other learning opportunities/tools kits for priority areas successfully completed and tools launched with clear outcomes and impact measures
  • Coffee chats and brown bags organized, and in-kind/online learning facilitated at the required quality

 

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

 

Education:

 

Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Human Resource Management, Learning and Development, Psychology or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience or trainings/courses. Proven education or courses on nutrition will be an added value.

 

Experience:

 

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in learning and development
• Extensive knowledge of instructional design theory, learning principles and state of the art learning techniques and tools
• Prior experience in developing e-learning, training, or capacity building
• Proven track record of experience working on complex projects/ programmes in large organizations with decentralized workforces
• understand technical subject areas and work effectively with subject matter experts to transfer technical content into learning outcomes required
• Solid understanding of key Nutrition areas is preferable, Experience in learning, workforce development, and capacity development
• Experience in working with and managing external vendors
• Experience in web-content design and using e-learning authoring tools such as Adobe Captivate, Articulate, or Cross Knowledge and Mohive
• Experience in designing and facilitating knowledge and learning face-to-face or virtual sessions

 

Knowledge and Skills:

 

• Broad or specialized knowledge of learning and development best practices, techniques, and processes with some understanding of the basic theoretical background.
• Demonstrated project management skills
• Ability to build simple learning resources using standard authoring tools is desirable
• Ability to work effectively with and keep up to date on learning and development technology. Understanding and experience of developing blended learning solutions
• Experience in managing and delivering learning solutions through a Learning Management System (LMS) and/or Learning Experience Platforms (LXP)
• Flexibility and initiative, and ability to deliver high quality results often under tight timeframes.
• Solid verbal and written communication skills required to present and facilitate sessions.
• Ability to identify needs and match them to appropriate solutions
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues in a multi-cultural and global context.

 

Language:

 

Fluency (Level C) in English language, working knowledge of French language (Level B) desirable

 

 

 

Terms and Conditions

 

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

 

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP.

 

http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

 

Deadline for applications: 17 August 2021

 

Ref.: VA No. 145249

 

 

Qualified 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.