Career Opportunities: Programme Policy Officer Social Protection & Country Capacity Strengthening CST LII Ouagadougou (798704)

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.

COUNTRY CONTEXT & JOB PURPOSE

Social protection is an increasingly popular strategy for governments to reduce extreme poverty, hunger and inequality. 
Virtually every country in the world has at least one social protection scheme in place, and 2.5 million people are already covered by some type of social protection programme. 
As a global leader in fighting hunger and malnutrition worldwide, often in very difficult contexts, the World Food Programme (WFP) is increasingly called upon by governments to support national social protection systems. 
In 2019, WFP partnered with governments in 75 countries to support their national social protection systems, making support to social protection an integral part of WFP’s activities in most of the countries where it operates.

The Burkina Faso country office has been engaged in the social protection sector for more than two years, forging a strategic partnership with key government agencies such as SP-CNPS, SP-CONASUR, RSU, as well as the World Bank. 
WFP is an active member of the National Social Protection Working led by the World Bank with whom WFP has a memorandum of Understanding dedicated to Social Protection actions dedicated to strengthening Government Institutions.

WFP also played the role of technical advisor for MOH, CONASUR, SONAGESS to support their capacity to addressing food insecurity. 
In this 'enabling' role, WFP availed its technical strengths, analytical and operational capacities to help governments response options chronic food insecurity and emerging crisis.
This position is intended to ensure dedicated expertise on social protection and safety nets, with a view to enhancing the WFP Burkina Faso Country Office’s capacity in supporting the Government to strengthen the national social protection system, in line with WFP’s Country Strategic Plan and the Government of Burkina Faso National Social Protection Strategy.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1.    Act as the country office social protection focal point, ensuring a clear and strong connection between the field operations, Regional Burau, and HQ.
2.    Translate corporate and regional policies and strategies pertinent to social protection into country-level practices; 
3.    Contribute to the implementation of the Country Strategic Plan in line with WFP’s corporate and regional policies and strategies on social protection, as well as Executive Board decisions and other relevant guidance; 
4.    Design and manage social protection programmes of moderate size or complexity that effectively meet food security and nutrition needs, including the development of a social protection strategy for the country office;
5.    Assist government counterparts identify and analyze policy problems, and provide - or mobilize - support and technical expertise for the design and delivery of suitable social protection solutions;
6.    Act as a WFP’s subject-matter expert on Social Protection for the elaboration of the national social protection policy
7.    Represent WFP in policy dialogue on Social Protection with key actors (e.g., Ministries, UN agencies, social partners)
8.    Establish and maintain strategic and operational partnerships for complementary and collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve social protection and support related advocacy work within all relevant audiences.
9.    Enhance WFP’s leadership status in different forums pertinent to social protection.
10.    Manage operational research and evidence building on issues relevant to social protection.
11.    Manage the preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical reports, publications, and a variety of knowledge products or proposals for internal or external use that position and strengthen the credibility of WFP as a partner in social protection.  
12.    Contribute to resource mobilization efforts for WFP social protection activities, including by articulating a business case for WFP’s contributions to social protection and exploring new potential resource channels;  
13.    Ensure the best use of assigned financial resources for achievement of set social protection objectives within a moderate budget.
14.    Advise and support the design of learning initiatives that enhance the capacity of WFP staff and partners to engage in social protection-relevant policy dialogues, programme design and delivery.
15.    Lead, motivate and develop a team of high performers.
16.    Other as required.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives : Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.
• Be a force for positive change : Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.
• Make the mission inspiring to our team : Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills : Is able to identify, support and encourage focused on-the-job learning opportunities to address gaps between current skillsets and needed future skillsets for WFP.
• Create an inclusive culture : Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions : Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries. 
• Focus on getting results : Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments : Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units : Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning
• Build strong external partnerships : Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships  
• Be politically agile & adaptable : Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCES REQUIRED FOR THE ROLE

• Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, Social Protection, International Affairs, Economics, Public Administration, Public Policy or other field relevant to international development assistance.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in social protection implementation in low- and middle-income countries, including at least 3-5 years of operational experience in national social protection systems and interactions with government partners?
• Full proficiency in English & French (C Level) required.
• Experience working in collaboration with a diverse array of humanitarian actors, including governments, NGOs, U.N. agencies, civil society etc. as well as donor experience such as DFID, World Bank, etc. 
• Previous work experience in complex/large scale emergency contexts/operations is preferred.
• Previous work experience in the Sahel region is preferred.
• Willingness to be deployed in a non-family duty station (family of international staff cannot be installed with them at the duty station)
• A sound understanding of policy making processes and the ability to distil operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for governments and other partners;
• Strong capacity for analysis, learning, research and innovation.
• Capacity to foster strong cross-agency collaboration.
• Good leadership and interpersonal skills

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Type of Contract: International Consultant (CST LII/P3)

Duration: 11 Months

Estimated Start Date: Asap

Duty station: Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)

NB:

Ouagadougou has been placed under temporary family restriction meaning staff will not be able to bring their family with them for this assignment.

However, the Rest & Recuperation (R&R) system has been put in place, allowing staff to have 7 days of break outside of the country office every 8 weeks 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Wednesday May 17th, 2023, Midnight Ouagadougou time

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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.

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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.