INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

📢 Vacancy Announcement n°: 178519

👉Job Title: Programme Policy Officer (Gender), NOA (RE-ADVERTISED)

⏩ Grade: National Officer (NO-A)

📌Type of Contract: Fixed-Term

🚩 ️ Unit / Division: Programme Support Unit

📍   Duty Station: Dakar, Senegal

🌟 Duration: 1 year (renewable subject to performance and availability of funds)

⏰ Closing date: 08 December 2022

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.

Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Are you passionate about mainstreaming gender policies & activities in humanitarian programmes?
• Do you have general knowledge of how to reduce entrenched harmful cultural norms, and customary and religious practices that perpetrate gender-inequalities? 
• Would you like to make a significant contribution to achieving Zero-hunger?
• Would you like to be part of a multicultural team?

If yes, then join the World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa (RBD) in Dakar. We are seeking a talented Programme Policy Officer (Gender) to be hired at the NOA level and to be based at RBD in Dakar.

We are a close community of focused, passionate people who care deeply for each other and for those we serve. Whether we are out in the field or in our headquarters, we respect our differences and celebrate our like-minded passion for saving lives.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to end global hunger. 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. To learn more about WFP, visit our website and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

COUNTRY CONTEXT/ ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Regional Bureau for Western Africa (RBD) region is one of the largest in terms of geographical coverage, with 19 country offices covered in Western and Central Africa. The Region presents degraded Sahelian lands, vulnerability to climate change, and depends on rain-fed agriculture combined with specific challenges regarding the socio-cultural norms, and economic and political context that has a direct impact on equal access to food security and nutrition. The majority of the region’s countries are characterized by low human development, startling global hunger index scores, widespread poverty, pervasive forms of malnutrition, and high fertility rates. Limited access to basic services and inequalities in access to services and opportunities – particularly for women and the rural poor – are characteristics of the RBD region. The region is also afflicted by devastatingly high rates of child mortality and low levels of education.

Despite existing, national, and international legal frameworks and agreements meant to reduce gender-based inequalities, entrenched harmful cultural norms, and customary and religious practices often contribute to creating a wedge between discourse and practice.

RBD works with its country offices to mainstream gender in their programmes and ensures that specific regional projects such as "Breaking the barriers to girls’ education”, Mastercard foundation for women’s economic empowerment, and the Joint Programme on Rural Women Economic Empowerment specifically integrate Gender and identify entry points to advance women’s economic empowerment.

RBD aligns its work with WFP's Gender Policy 2022-2026 with a long term objective to positively transform Gender norms through the implementation of Food assistance programmes adapted to different needs; promoting equal participation of women and men participate in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of programmes and policies; increased Women and Girls access to decision-making processes and protection of women, men, boys and girls from violence, and harmful practices while ensuring respect of their rights and dignity.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Under the supervision of the Regional Gender Adviser, the Programme Policy Officer (Gender) will provide strategic and technical support for the mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) in Country Offices (COs) across the Region. The incumbent will contribute to mainstreaming gender across WFP activities through dedicated support COs in the implementation of their Country Strategic Plan (CSP) as well as in strengthening their capacities.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide technical guidance for the integration of gender in the implementation of Country Strategic Programme (CSP) activities.
2. Support and strengthen the undertaking and use of gender and age analyses, as standalone activities and integrated into all assessments/data collection.
3. Support in designing and delivering learning opportunities for WFP Country Offices staff, as well as partners (as applicable), to increase their abilities to integrate gender into their work/ functional areas.
4. Coordinate the work of the Gender Results Network at Country Offices and Regional levels.
5. Manage annual completion of the online entries for the Gender and Age Marker Monitoring exercise, including providing guidance to Country Offices.
6. Support in reporting and communication activities, including review of regular updates and briefing materials.
7. Support in awareness-raising as well as coordination advocacy.
8. Perform other relevant duties as needed.

Below is a comprehensive list of activities that the Programme Policy Officer (Gender) may be expected to undertake. These tasks are generic and should be adapted to reflect the regional context, humanitarian and development environments and priorities, and the types of programmes and operations the WFP is implementing in the region.

1. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT, INFORMATION, AND ANALYSIS

• Support the collection, analysis, and use of sex-and-age disaggregated data (quantitative, qualitative, and anecdotal) both at the Country Offices and Regional levels.
• Support context/gender analysis in-country offices so that the country team identifies strategic and concrete responses to fight gender inequalities, within WFP operations.
• Support the work of the Gender Results Network in the region. Contribute to gender knowledge networks and communities of practice through the identification of best practices and lessons learned.
• Support evaluation and monitoring processes and ensure gender is integrated.

2. PROGRAMME SUPPORT

• Engage with Gender Officers and Gender focal points and support in developing and implementing a Gender action plan.
• Provide direct technical and programmatic support in Country Strategic Programme (CSP) implementation.
• Coordinate the Gender Marker Coding at the regional and country levels.
• Support in reviewing Country Strategic Programme (CSP) revisions and extensions as well as Gender budgets.
• Support Country Offices in assessing the need for capacity building.
• Support in the development of gender-sensitive training materials and adapt existing training resources to the regional/local.

3. ADVOCACY – PARTNERSHIP

• Provide technical support and identify opportunities for advocacy for the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Provide support to the Regional Bureau/Country Offices for the development of regular updates and briefing materials for advocacy.
• Take the lead in organizing activities to mark International Women’s Day and the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, as well as relevant events.

SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education:

Advanced university degree in one of the following disciplines: social sciences, gender, international development, development economics, or another related field like international relations, human rights, political science, or humanitarian studies OR  First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses 

Experience: 

At least one (1) year of relevant professional work experience in the gender field and dealing with human rights and/or gender-based violence OR three (3) years or more for holders of a 1st University degree.

Languages:   Fluency in English (Level C – reading, writing & speaking). Intermediate knowledge of a second official UN language is desirable.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Has gained experience in implementing technical programs (i.e. gender mainstreaming, etc.). Has implemented programmes and provided input into designing operations.
• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions
• Solid analytical, writing skills, and communication skills (including developing advocacy messages).
• Sound knowledge and skills in training and facilitation.
• Knowledge of UN system policies and functions of gender-mandated agencies.
• Flexibility to travel on short notice and in challenging and difficult environments.
• Team spirit and excellent interpersonal relation

Before you apply...

• WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.
•  All employment decisions are made based on organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
•  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.

⏰ Closing date: 08 December 2022

Why work at WFP

• Meaningful and impactful careers - Our day-to-day work makes a difference in the lives of the people we serve.
• Continuous learning and training - We provide learning tools for our staff to continually develop their careers.
• Multicultural and stimulating working environment - We encourage gender and cultural diversity to make our teams stronger.

Special notice on WFP RBD office relocation:

WFP and other UN Agencies will be moving to the new United Nations House, presently under construction in Diamniadio, 30 kilometres from downtown Dakar. The name of the duty station for this position will remain Dakar, Senegal.

Special recommendation:

Before you apply, please confirm that both (i) your on-line profile and CV are accurate and up to date, (ii) your CV should include your employment history, academic qualifications and language skills. Candidates should clearly state their areas of expertise in their cover letters.