Programme Policy Officer -Humanitarian Logistics- SSA9- Vientiane

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WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the winner of the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.  We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. In Lao PDR, WFP supports the government in providing school lunches for primary students, counters malnutrition with targeted food support to the most vulnerable, and helps communities build resilient lives with sustainable livelihood options.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

These jobs are found in Country Offices (COs) and job holders report to Programme Officer.
Job holders operate with a high degree of independence, manage more junior staff to ensure that programme and policy objectives are achieved in full. They are usually involved in a wide variety of programme and policy activities and analytical work, some of which may be of a considerable complexity. At this level job holders are expected to contribute to performance improvement.

JOB PURPOSE

In Lao PDR, WFP has been working to strengthen the government capacities in logistics preparedness and humanitarian logistics to ensure that disaster affected populations have improved access to services in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Since 2019, the Logistics Preparedness Project has been implemented with the goal of supporting national emergency preparedness and response operations. The project has developed a logistics preparedness roadmap and action plan that has been endorsed by the Government and its partners. Key areas of capacity strengthening needs identified through the action plan include the enhancement of: 

1. warehouse capacity  

2. relief item management  

3. coordination, and  

4. information management.  

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Preparation Work
Review the existing government regulations on goods importation (including, customs clearance and tax exceptions, food and drug policy) and disaster management.  
Undertake wider literature review of national and regional practices, processes and lessons learnt in humanitarian relief item importation and unsolicited relief item management (Deliverables 2 & 3). 
Undertake stakeholder consultations with relevant Ministerial Departments, subnational authorities, UN partners, INGOs through bilateral meetings and key informant interviews in collaboration with the WFP Country Office for both humanitarian relief item importation and unsolicited relief item management (Deliverables 2 & 3).  
Draft SOP and Information Package 
Develop a proposed template and outline for the Standard Operating Procedure and information package (Deliverables 2 & 3) in collaboration with DOSW and WFP Country Office based on the findings of the literature review and stakeholder consultations.  
Draft the Importation of Humanitarian Relief Items SOP (Deliverable 2).  
Draft the Information Package for Unsolicited Relief Item Management (Deliverable 3).  
Stakeholder Validation and Feedback 
1.    In collaboration with WFP and DOSW, lead a stakeholder consultation workshop on the Importation of Humanitarian Relief Items SOP (Deliverable 2) to validate the proposed standard operating processes.  
2.    In collaboration with WFP and DOSW, collate written feedback from key stakeholders on the Humanitarian Relief Items SOP (Deliverable 2) to validate the proposed standard operating processes.  
3.    In collaboration with WFP and DOSW, lead a stakeholder consultation process on the Unsolicited Relief Item Management in Disasters Information Package (Deliverable 3), collating feedback from both central and subnational authorities.  
Review and finalize SOP and Information Package
1.    Address feedback for both the Standard Operating Procedure and information package (Deliverables 2 & 3).  
2.    Submit the final draft of the Standard Operating Procedure and information package (Deliverables 2 & 3) to the WFP Country Office and DOSW for comment.  
3.    Finalize the Standard Operating Procedure and information package (Deliverables 2 & 3).  
 

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree with experience in one or more of the following disciplines: economics, social sciences, rural development, disaster risk reduction and management. 
Language: Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language, if different.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
•  Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
•  Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
•  Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

Qualified women and men are encouraged to apply. WFP is committed to an inclusive working environment which values diversity and has zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment and abuse of any kind.

WFP is committed to gender equality and parity (50% women and 50% men) and to diversity more generally, among employees across all grades, functions and contract modalities. WFP supports the use of flexible working arrangements to assist women and men in balancing work and personal responsibilities, translating into effective, efficient and dedicated participation of women and men in the workforce. WFP offers an attractive salary and other benefits, including annual leave, parental leave and health insurance for staff and eligible dependents.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• At least 5 years progressively responsible, job related experience in goods importation, community development work, disaster management or related area. 

• Experience in developing SOP/guidelines and learning materials suitable for official Government use and practice.  

• Experience in project management and a proven ability to coordinate with multiple stakeholders.  

• An understanding of government operations in emergencies or customs processes in Lao PDR.  

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Contract type: Special Service Agreement - SSA

Post title and level: Programme Policy Officer -Humanitarian Logistics 

Contract duration: Three months with estimate 30 working days 

Number of post: One

Duty Station: Vientiane and work remotely

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Opening date: 26 May 2023

Closing date:  8 June 2023

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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.