Program Policy Officer Emergency_CSTII

JOB TITLE: Program Policy Officer Emergency

UNIT/DIVISION: Program

TYPE OF CONTRACT International consultant/Level II
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Bangui, Central African Republic
DURATION: 11 Months

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: 28.12.2023

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 PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The Central African Republic (CAR), a least-developed country and among the world’s poorest, is impacted by historic conflicts, poor governance, and weak institutions. The compounded effects of widespread violence, socio-political instability, structural and governance deficits, and climate change have left more than half of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. Insecurity has disrupted the health and education sectors, constrained access to basic services and increased inequalities, affecting particularly the most marginalized groups (women, girls, youth, ethnic minorities). The latest results of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC analysis, April 2023) show that 39% of the population analyzed (2.4 million people) are in Crisis and Emergency situations (IPC Phase 3 and 4). As of June 30, 2023, CAR had 485,825 internally displaced persons (IDPs), comprising 129,047 people in sites and 356,778 in host families. This represents an increase of 11,003 IDPs (2.3%) in the overall volume of displacement compared with May 2023, when the number of IDPs was estimated at 474,822. However, most households in host communities (69%) would like to see sustainable local integration in their current area of displacement, while the most cited priority assistance needs in IDP host communities remain food distribution (35%), income-generating activities (IGA) (15%) and shelter items (14%).

To address these challenges, crisis response remains the priority under CAR country strategic plan (CSP 2023-2027) launched in March 2023. Thus, WFP support the Government of CAR and the humanitarian community in providing humanitarian food assistance to the most vulnerable people affected by crisis mainly through general food distributions, nutrition prevention and treatment intervention, school-based programme, and resilience building using in kind food transfer, Cash-based Transfers (CBT) and capacity strengthening. WFP is committed to strengthening the consideration of humanitarian, protection principles, accountability and gender to ensure the full participation of the

community and thus facilitate the resilience during the CSP implementation process. This aim to address a longer-term community engagement approach by strengthen the implementation of gender accountability and protection risk mitigation measures within WFP interventions; This is to put people at the center of all actions “leaving no one behind”while addressing root causes of vulnerability, strengthening systems to support populations in vulnerable situations.

WFP maintains its deep field presence throughout CAR with a Country Office (CO) in Bangui and field- offices located in Bouar, Paoua, Kaga-Bandoro, Bambari, Bria, Bossangoa and Bangassou.

In 2024, through its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) WFP CAR WFP will continue to support the Government of CAR and the humanitarian community in providing humanitarian food assistance to the most vulnerable people affected by crisis. The position of a Programme policy Emergency officer is needed to provide support in planning, and coordination the overall Programme operations management in Bangui and support sub-offices to deliver assistance in a very efficient manner and meet the desired outcomes.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Contribute to the development of projects, concepts, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance,
• Provide project management support to specific and defined programmes and projects, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes that complies with WFP standards and procedures,
• Ensure WFP CO CAR integration of gender, AAP and protection within emergency crisis response activities,
• Contribute to the management of ongoing FLAs, ensuring coordination and facilitating continuous communication with CPs, overseeing payments and reporting,
• Support the identification, development, and management of potential new partnerships for improved food assistance packages,
• Coordinate with RRM partners to ensure WFP’s positioning in the responses to emerging alerts across the country,
• Facilitate/contribute to thematic reviews, which are intended for internal learning, strategic and operational decision-making,
• Follow up on data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained,
• Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on programmes and activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders,
• Liaise with internal counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects,
• Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and government counterparts to prepare for and respond to food assistance needs, e.g. through project management support of learning initiatives,
• Provide guidance to support staff, acting as a point of referral and assisting them with analysis and queries,
• Identify areas of intervention for WFP in close collaboration with local authorities and cooperating partners,
• Participate and contribute to overall humanitarian coordination mechanisms at the level of the CO;
• Liaise with government authorities, international and local NGOs, UN agencies, beneficiaries and pipeline with a view to harmonizing and coordinating ongoing and future food assistance activities;
• Regularly meet with and brief the above-mentioned stakeholders to discuss new findings and corrective actions, when required.
• Coordinate and supervise the duties assigned to the Programme Assistants and Monitoring Assistants;
• Ensure that proper monitoring, data collection and reporting of WFP food assistance supported activities are planned and carried out in collaboration with stakeholders providing relevant quantitative and qualitative information;
• Undertake field visits and spot-check visits to view projects outputs and beneficiaries, inspect storage places, extended and final delivery points where WFP commodities are received in the country;
• Evaluate the performance and capacities of the cooperating partners, and review agreements accordingly;
• Liaise with supply chain team and ensure timely delivery of food to the Cooperating partners and beneficiaries;
• Ensure timely provision of reports (CO Briefs, Situation reports, Weekly/Monthly Activities Report etc), as required;
• Perform any other duties deemed necessary for a smooth implementation of WFP CO CAR operations.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Well managed projects, programmes and/or operations including effectively used of food and CBT resources.
• Programmes are well monitored and timely evaluated;
• Cooperating partners are identified, trained for implementation of WFP emergency activities and evaluated in a timely manner;
• Programme Cross-cutting issues (Gender, Protection and Accountability to the Affected population etc ) are analyzed and mainstreamed in WFP emergency activities.
• Programme implementations challenges are analyzed, and solutions are proposed to the head of Field Office in a proactive manner;
• Effective coordination with government authorities, international and local NGOs, UN agencies, donors, beneficiaries towards the achievement of project objectives.
• QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced University degree in International development, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or First University Degree with at least 5 years of related work experience in emergency and/or trainings/courses.

Experience:

Has gained experience in implementing programmes with cooperating partners.

Proven experience in working in humanitarian operations implementing General Food Distribution, nutrition, resilience, and school feeding activities using in kind and Cash based Transfers with Internal Displaced People, refugees and host populations. • Has gained some exposure in field operations, preferably in a hardship duty station or emergency.

Experience in implementing and managing programmes, as well as providing inputs into programme design. Specific experience with General Food Distribution,

Nutrition, Food for Assets, school-based Programmes and capacity building will be further valued.

Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relations with internally and externally counterparts, partners and stakeholders with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Result oriented attitude.

Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.

Resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgment, excellent communication skills both orally and in writing.

Knowledge & Skills:

Self-starter and able to work with minimum supervision; Good analytical skills and experience in report writing; Sound negotiation skills and ability to accept responsibility;

Experience in use of computer software (particularly MS Word, Excel, Power Point and SPSS, STATA and GIS) and understanding of data collection and

Supervisory skills required.

Languages:

Fluency (level C) in French (as CAR is a French working environment) and in English is required.