Africa, Western recrute 01 Programme Policy Officer

Programme Policy Officer (Resilience) Dakar Regional Bureau for West Africa (87546)

Identifiant de la demande 87546 – Publié 04/10/2018 – Fixed Term – Africa, Western – Senegal – Dakar – Langue de travail (2) – PROGRAMME & POLICY

Internal Job
Programme Policy Officer (Resilience)_ Dakar Regional Bureau Office (Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply)
Title: Programme Officer – Resilience
Contract type: Fixed-Term
Grade: NOB
Duration: 1 year – Renewable
Duty Station: Dakar, Regional Bureau for West Africa (RBD RB Office)
Closing date of application: 15 October 2018

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.

 Background and rational

The World Food Programme (WFP) supports people’s resilience for food security and nutrition by supporting and developing strategic and operational partnerships with governments and other partners to improve adaptive, absorptive and transformative capacities at individual, household and community levels. The NOB position will work in resilience unit, his/her focus will be mainly required for supporting the new Japan Bilateral Project (currently in Sierra Leone, with possible extension to other countries) – and, to the extent possible, support specific resilience projects in the Sahel countries where WFP’s priority is building resilience for food security and nutrition. Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with governments and effective partnerships with other United Nations agencies, regional organizations, Non-governmental organizations, civil society, academia and the private sector will enable WFP to better to invest in strengthening the resilience of the most vulnerable populations. The WFP Regional office in Dakar (RBD) supports WFP country offices (COs) in their efforts with governments and partners in context analysis, integrated programming/planning and programme design, development of complementary partnerships, programme implementation, but also monitoring/evaluation, reporting, documentation, sharing of lessons learned and good practice and advocacy.

 Context and justification

Resilience programming, including asset creation (FFA) and complementary activities such as nutrition, smallholder farmers food systems enhancement, rests on a three-pronged approach (3PA); i.e. the integrated context analysis (ICA) at national level, the Seasonal Livelihood Programming (SLP) at sub-national level (regions and municipalities) and the community participatory planning (CBPP) approach the municipal/community level. The 3PA and a package of nutrition and market sensitive activities constitute the core focus of the new JBP in Sierra Leone. A main objective and scope of the JBP will be to support WFP CO implement its Country Strategy Programme, and to support the government embrace the 3PA tools to foster partnerships and implement convergent and integrated activities at community level. To this effect, the NOB is required to guide and support the rollout of these tools, to assist CO establish strategic and operational partnerships able to ensure convergence, concentration of integrated efforts, and meaningful coverage of these activities at community level. This is required to realize resilience over time. Furthermore, the incumbent will be requested to adapt a robust gender, market and nutrition-sensitive lens to resilience programming within the context of Sierra Leone (and possible other coastal countries as they may be included in the future), particularly in encouraging and supporting the involvement of women in planning, implementation, and sharing of benefits of the different resilience activities. The NOB will also be responsible to develop and support mechanisms for concrete empowerment of women and youth so that they will take a much stronger leadership and decision-making role, and to benefit from the different activities and assets created.

 Responsibilities and results expected from the Programme and Policy officer

Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Resilience & Livelihood Unit, and under the direct supervision of the Regional Coordinator of the Project 201122 (JBP), the Programme Policy Officer is responsible for the following duties:

1. Support the Sierra Leone Country Office (CO) in rolling out the resilience programming tools 3PA, and seek modalities to implement CSP resilience related activities in a number of targeted areas selected as models for convergent and integrated packages for building resilience. Among others, specific attention will be provided on developing synergies across programme activities. Particular attention will also be placed in guiding Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) activities implementation, nutrition sensitive efforts and on how to improve market access for smallholder farmers, women in particular
2. Support CO use a robust gender, market and nutrition-sensitive programming lens – centered on concrete actions aimed at improving the empowerment of women and youth in particular; foster participatory planning and empowerment, tackle land tenure aspects through specific agreements with customary leaders and government; assist develop specific tools for such programming; and provide training as required by CO.
3. Based on models emerging from the above, support the Sierra Leone COs in rolling out capacity strengthening of government and NGO partners on 3PA tools and related resilience activities through training of trainers and on-the-job training and technical support, including on post-harvest, market access and nutrition sensitive activities in target communities.
4. Support the modeling and expansion of capacity development efforts in additional coastal countries such as Gambia, Guinea, Cameroon, etc., for replication of resilience building projects ;
5. Support strategic missions to engage Government and local UN and donors’ partners on JBP project sites in SIL and, wherever possible, to other WA coastal countries for new/existing donors’ programmes.
6. As the programme expands to other coastal countries or there is urgent demand in Sahel countries, the incumbent will also provide time-bound support to Sahel cluster countries.
7. Assist in the development of concept notes/proposals and budget plans as part of Japan Bilateral Funds, etc.
8. Support the COs in the preparation of project proposals for SIL CO and/or in other targeted coastal countries of West Africa as they may arise;
9. Support the COs on specific technical aspects (e.g. nutrition sensitive programming, settlement of disputes and tenure issues, quality of FFA, integration with School Meals (SM), and SAMS) or assist mobilize expertise related to livelihood assets and resilience building;
10. Assist the Regional Project Coordinator on tracking progress of the bilateral project activities, including development of project principles, actions plans and budget implementation;
11. Support the Country Offices in project annual review and planning and M&E exercises, including budget preparation, with ensuring that the different and appropriate technical support elements have been included in CO work plan and are timely organized based on the needs at the CO level – as well as on specific M&E and advocacy requirements able to promote the results of the project;
12. Facilitate the formation of partnerships with FAO / UNICEF / AfricaRice / JICA to have their expertise in monitoring, evaluation and training;
13. Consultation and coordination with other organizations and UN relevant Agencies regarding matters related to climate change resilience, social cohesion and empowerment, among others;
14. Development of synergies between FFA and other programme activities for greater effectiveness of mutually reinforcing interventions (Nut, SF, Gender, Cash, Markets, etc.).
15. Follow up closely with the COs to ensure the timely project implementation;
16. Ensure that the CO reports are submitted timely and assist in the compilation of the Quarterly Project Report; and,
17. Perform other related duties as required.

 Qualifications and experiences

Education: University degree, preferably at the advanced level, in agriculture / rural development, economics / agriculture economics, environment or international development.

Experience: At least 5 years of professional experience in developing and implementing agriculture / rural development and/or nutrition-sensitive projects using participatory approaches and tools;

• Working experience and knowledge of West Africa Coastal areas farming systems and socio-economic conditions is desirable;
• Competences and demonstrated record in developing, implementing and managing livelihoods programmes, teams and technical experts, particularly from thematic areas related to asset creation and livelihoods as well as complementary efforts (e.g. with other programme areas such as nutrition, smallholder farmers procurement, etc.) – strong gender and nutrition-sensitive programming capacity is highly desirable for the position;
• Consolidated experience in reviewing performance, developing work plans, preparing reports and measuring outputs and outcomes of livelihood programmes and resilience building projects;
• Familiarity with participatory tools and approaches for rural development – including albeit not exclusively on WFP three-pronged approach (3PA) tools is desirable;
• Experience in developing and implementing joint programmes with partners.

Language: Good working-proficiency in English and French, both written and oral.

5. Competencies

• Resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgment, tact, negotiation skills
• Ability to work harmoniously with people of different national and cultural backgrounds
• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan
• Flexibility to work in an environment with strict deadlines and changing operational priorities

6. Terms and condition

Position open to Senegalese nationals only.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

Applications received after the deadline on 15 October 2018 will not be considered.