Programme Policy Officer – Deputy Head of Access Unit

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT JR# 831005

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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 or disability.

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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

In September 2018, after more than five years of civil war, the Republic of South Sudan signed a peace agreement with several opposition parties, including the SPLA-IO. Yet implementation of the peace agreement has stalled and South Sudan continues to present a wide array of challenges to the secure, principled and predictable delivery of humanitarian assistance. Armed conflict continues in several parts of the country. Sub-national and local violence has increased in Jonglei and Unity states, resulting in the killing of civilians, large scale displacement and contributing to widespread food insecurity and malnutrition. Civilian authorities and security forces also persistently compromise humanitarian space through illegal taxation, bureaucratic impediments and interference in the implementation of humanitarian activities. South Sudan also remains one of the most dangerous countries for humanitarian personnel to work, with consistent attacks on aid workers, humanitarian convoys and the looting of relief.

To effectively deliver humanitarian assistance in a complex context like South Sudan, WFP needs to ensure the safeguarding of its humanitarian principles, advocate and negotiate for adequate humanitarian space with all relevant stakeholders on all levels.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Provide oversight of national access officers day-to-day access notifications and clearances for WFP and Logistics Cluster road, river and air movements, and assist them in solving ad-hoc challenges facing WFP and Logistics Cluster movements in the Deputy’s geographic area of responsibility, including through liaising with relevant unit within the CO and FOs.
• Assist in analyzing the context and key actors and contribute to regular and ad-hoc reports, including detailing the current and potential impact of constraints are on WFP’s operations.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders that can influence WFP’s and its cooperating partners’ access, by engaging in meetings, communication by phone and email, and by engaging in regular field missions.
• In consultation with the Head of Unit, advocate and negotiate for adequate humanitarian space and humanitarian principles, such as multi-stakeholder windows of peace to facilitate the implementation of WFP operations and efficient and effective clearance procedures and systems to enable the safe and unhindered movement of WFP and partner staff and assets.
• In consultation with the Head of Unit, provide advice, recommendations, and strategies to Senior Management for negotiations with higher-level authorities. Negotiate for Senior Management/Field Offices on their behalf when requested.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES CONTINUED

• Lead the Access Unit’s activities to support the training staff on humanitarian negotiation policies and advocate for similar/consistent practices with humanitarian partners.
• As part of the WFP Conflict Security and Access Team, support efforts to respond to emergencies by analyzing, advising, conducting crisis negotiations and coordinating the response.
• Contribute to institutional memory by documenting missions, key meetings and negotiations, and by collating and documenting information relevant to humanitarian operations including ground dynamics, humanitarian needs, environmental conditions, conflict dynamics, and their interplay with WFP activities. Provide input to strategic reports to donors, OCHA, UN Security Council etc.
• In the absence of the Head of Unit, assume the role of Officer in Charge.
• Perform other related duties as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EXPERIENCE

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Strong knowledge and understanding of humanitarian response in complex emergencies and persistent national, sub-national, and local violence
• Demonstrated experience in humanitarian access, engagement and negotiation, as well as civil-military coordination;
• Strong initiative and independence, maturity of judgement, tact and interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Ability to deliver on responsibilities with minimal guidance

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS CONTINUED

• Ability to establish and work within teams and build effective working relationships with persons of many national and cultural backgrounds
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to cope with emergency situations and to live in challenging environments
• General knowledge of humanitarian principles, UN rules, regulations and procedures
• Relevant contextual knowledge is desirable. Good knowledge of WFP programming.
• Flexibility in accepting work assignments outside normal desk description or outside Terms of Reference

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.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions : Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.

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.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback : Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit : Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios)

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.
• Be Decisive : Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.

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
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships : Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

15-April-2024

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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.