Senior Programme Associate - Training & Technology, SB3, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

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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.

VACANCY DETAILS

Type of Contract: Service Contract (SB-3) 
Location: Bhubaneswar, Mission Shakti Department, Goverment of Odisha
Duration of Contract: One year (Renewable, depending upon availbility of funds)
Reporting to and under direct supervision of : Head, Supply Chain & PDS Unit, WFP India Country Office 
 

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization that is committed to saving lives in emergencies and changing lives through sustainable development. WFP is working with 83 countries around the world, supporting governments in their efforts to reach the targets under Sustainable Development Goal 2 – improving access to food, ending all forms of malnutrition, improving incomes, and promoting sustainable agriculture. In India WFP has been closely working with national and state Government of Odisha since 1963.  Since 2012, WFP has been providing technical assistance and capacity development to Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, School & Mass Education, and Planning and Convergence Departments to ensure improved access food through transformation of TPDS, access to nutritious food through food fortification, and analysis of food and nutrition security scenario respectively. In addition to closely working with Odisha, understanding the working and aspiration of the state, WFP also brings in its vast global expertise gained by undertaking innovative programmes for promoting women’s social and financial mobility.
In line with its global commitment, WFP India’s current Country Strategic Plan (CSP), 2019-23, too articulates a strong commitment to enhancing livelihoods, gender equality and women’s empowerment by incorporating gender as a cross-cutting theme across all components of the plan and adopting a gender-transformative approach in its programmes. WFP aims to focus its efforts on promoting policies and interventions that interweave gender, women’s empowerment, and food security and nutrition at multiple levels.
Recognizing the role played by women small and marginal farmers, and Women Self Help Groups (WSHG) in enhancing the well-being of the population, the Government of Odisha has taken pioneering steps to empower women and ensure their equal participation in the development process. Mission Shakti, the dedicated department for women empowerment, has prioritized enhancement of women’s livelihoods and incomes as a broad-spectrum strategy for empowering women. WFP and Mission Shakti, Government of Odisha, have collaborated to provide technical assistance in the thematic areas of improved livelihoods, women empowerment, and nutrition to support Mission Shakti in achieving its outcomes. A series of activities will be implemented under the partnership to build capacities of Mission Shakti and the WSHGs to enhance women’s economic participation, market linkages, incomes, and empowerment.

JOB PURPOSE

The Senior Programme Associate (Training and Technology) will be based at Bhubaneswar, Odisha, in the Mission Shakti Department, and work under the technical guidance of the Head Supply Chain & PDS Unit (SO1) in the WFP Country Office, New Delhi, and in close coordination and consultation with Head of the Sub Office in Bhubaneshwar on program, administrative and other issues as required (who will also function as the defacto program coordinator for the project).  She/he will complete the assigned tasks in consultation with the supervisor(s) and will be required to liaise with colleagues in other units, partners in Mission Shakti and the Odisha Field Office (FO) team on a regular basis, and other external partners as required. She/he will also be required to travel to project field sites.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the direct supervision of the Head Supply Chain & PDS Unit (SO1), the Senior Programme Associate will be responsible to perform the following duties: 
1.    Coordinate and organize trainings and skill development
a.    Support the creation of a scoping document of the local demand for skills and services in WSHGs (in different economic sectors including farm, non-farm and off farm) as well as aspirations of the WSHG members.
b.    Identify opportunities and key stakeholders for initiating skills training, vocational education and micro-enterprise development training and develop partnerships with training institutions to explore and facilitate collaborative training programmes. 
c.    Support in designing vocational and skills training activities for WSHGs in different areas, in consultation with the technical team, key stakeholders and beneficiaries.
d.    Liaise with WFP and MS team members to facilitate the utilization of the LMS on MS portal, including completion of women empowerment and financial literacy training modules by MS cadre. 
e.    Identify and facilitate development of any new training modules, based on the scoping exercise and stakeholder engagement. 
f.    Ensure effective delivery of skills training and establish innovative learning models, such as peer learning networks and apprenticeships. 
g.    Support the department in organizing training workshops, seminars, and field visits.
2.    Provide technology related inputs and support
a.    Support the development and deployment of technology solutions under the project and flag technical, policy or procedural issues and concerns and support the team in resolving them.
b.    Leverage MIS to monitor performance, identify key technical and operational issues being faced by the implementation teams and work with relevant stakeholders for resolution.
c.    Collate and analyse data to contribute to the preparation of accurate reports on technical solution development/deployment activities, investments and costs, identifying ideas to increase cost-efficiencies where possible. Conduct in-depth analysis of the identified challenges and problem areas.
3.    Support M&E, reporting, analysis, information, and communication
a.    Provide monitoring, capacity building and handholding support for all training and technology related activities, including capacity building, data collection and other field activities. 
b.    Provide inputs to all operating procedures, formats, templates, dashboards, etc. to enhance implementation and monitoring of the training and technology component.
c.    Document and monitor progress on the training and technology component of the programme on a regular basis and prepare periodic reports and provide timely progress updates for sharing within WFP (with senior management, regional office, or HQ), or with Mission Shakti or other partners as required.  
d.    Prepare articles, briefs or other communication material based on training and technology activities and support its dissemination through various communication media.
4.    Other responsibilities
a.    Provide background notes, data and updates on the training and technology component as required.
b.    Document project processes, as required. 
c.    Participate in external partner meetings on the theme, as required, and support in related activities. 
d.    Support in any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor.
 

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Coaches team in the most effective ways to communicate WFP’s Strategic Objectives to WFP team and partners in the field.
•  Be a force for positive change: Implements new methods or tools to improve team’s work processes and productivity.
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Maps team’s activities and tasks to specific successes in beneficiary communities to showcase positive impact.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Explains to teammates how each unit contributes to the overall WFP mission.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Identifies skill development opportunities such as training modules or on-the-job experiences for self, colleagues and direct reports.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Facilitates team building activities to build rapport in own unit.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Facilitates the pairing of junior colleagues with coaches within own team.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Proactively anticipates potential challenges and develops mitigation plans to ensure that team meets goals and targets.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Identifies opportunities to be creative in own work and to help team be more innovative and accurate in their respective tasks and areas of work.
•  Focus on getting results: Monitors team’s deliverables and provides feedback to ensure outcomes are delivered consistently and accurately.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Provides accurate guidance to team on expected responsibilities and tasks, whilst also upholding own commitment to the team.
•  Be Decisive: Sets an example and provides guidance to junior team members on when to escalate issues when faced with challenging issues in the workplace or in the field.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Facilitates partnerships with other WFP units to accomplish missions in the field.
•  Build strong external partnerships: Sets an example and provides guidance to team on how to build relationships with external partners.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Articulates to colleagues or direct reports the value of contributing to other WFP teams and agency partnerships in fulfilling WFP’s goals and objectives.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Organizes, monitors, and prioritizes own and team’s efforts to ensure that they will fulfil the needs of internal and external partners.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses from an institute of repute in any of the following disciplines: Business Administration, Project Management, Development Studies, Engineering, Rural management, and social science would be acceptable.
Experience:
At least six years of progressively responsible professional experience working in rural livelihoods projects, particularly in training and capacity development.Knowledge:
Knowledge of the Indian Government bureaucracy and livelihood operations required. 
Languages: 
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English. Working knowledge of Odia is preferred.
 

COMPETENCIES & SKILLS

The post holder should have strong technical, analytical and problems solving skills; ability to think through complex issues to conceptualize, design and execute action plans. Demonstrate passion and motivation with the ability to manage complexities, multiple tasks with commitment to deliver against multiple, tight deadlines at work. Excellent team player with an ability to work collaboratively, share information and build strong working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds while focusing on impact and results. Excellent oral and written communication skills, presentation, and documentation skills. Maturity and presence required to effectively participate and contribute in meetings with private sector stakeholders and senior government officials.  

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. A written test will be used as a form of screening. In the event your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide in advance a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/ certificate(s) required for this position.
This is a national position therefore candidates who are non-Indian nationals will not be considered.
Mode of Engagement: The salary for this position is INR. 1,181,902/- per annum (depending upon the last drawn remuneration of the candidate), plus medical benefits as per WFP's plan. All tax liability for payments from this contract are to be borne by the subscriber.
WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organisation. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection & recruitment process, and for work-related needs upon joining the Programme. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Applications for the positions are to be submitted online on the E-recruitment links as mentioned below: https://www1.wfp.org/careers/job-openingsNote: Candidates are requested to Create an account in the system before applying. Candidates curriculum and applications will be registered and allows them to update their profile and apply for a job through wfp careers website. 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

VACANCY CLOSING DATE : 26 September, 2021

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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.