Programme Policy Officer- Project Implementation Coordinator, CST-I

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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

Lao PDR is characterized by high levels of stunting (33%), wasting (10.7%) and micronutrient deficiencies in children and women of reproductive age. Overweight and obesity have significantly increased in the past decade, echoing global and regional trends, and is a growing concern particularly among adult women. Thus, Laos can be characterized as experiencing the triple burden of malnutrition. Nutrition remains a high priority in the national development agenda. 
Since January 2022, WFP has been implementing a Country Strategic Plan 2022-2026 which is formulated around the achievement of four strategic outcomes. Through Strategic Outcome 2, WFP aims to improve the nutritional status of key population groups. This includes promoting changes in people’s behavior through the introduction of complementary, nutritious foods; diversification of diets; improving infant and young child feeding practices; and enhancing communities’ ownership of initiatives such as school feeding. WFP aims to improve the nutritional status of vulnerable people throughout their life cycle, as well as increase their resilience to seasonal and long-term shocks and stresses. 
Several Nutrition sensitive projects funded by various donors are being implemented jointly with the government structures, particularly with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF). The projects promote nutrition sensitive agriculture and encourages local communities to improve their planning capacities and nutrition outcomes and diversify their agriculture practices through among others, Farmer Nutrition Schools and the distribution of grants.

JOB PURPOSE

The International Consultant will support the nutrition team and activities within Strategic Outcome 2 of the WFP Country Strategic Plan (CSP, 2022-2026) and report to Head of Nutrition in Country Office. He/she will particularly be responsible of the coordination and support to the management of the WFP implemented projects under the Nutrition Portfolio, as well as supervise the team of the project managers involved in the project implementation.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

•    Overall management of the projects implemented under the SO2 nutrition portfolio. 
•    Provide technical guidance to the national programme officers managing projects under his(her) supervision, ensuring a coordinated approach with other programmes in line with WFP standards and procedures. 
•    Develop and coordinate data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained. 
•    Liaise with other team members in Nutrition Unit and other colleagues in the country office, seek for the technical support on specialized areas such as nutrition, SBC, CBT etc. when required to ensure the quality of implementation activities. 
•    Lead the projects implementation assessment for each project as well the tracking the expenditures under various grants to ensure smooth implementation of the projects. 
•    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 and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects, and highlight potential risks to project delivery. 
•    Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries. 
•    Advice and support the development of functional training in areas of expertise to enhance the capacity of WFP staff and partners to design and deliver effective programmes. 
•    Maintain communication with the Partnership Officer as well as donors and government partners to ensure timely reporting according to the donor and government requirements. 
•    Lead, motivate and develop a team of staff to enable high performance. 
•    Perform other tasks as required. 
 

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:  Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses. 
University degree or specialized courses in Nutrition/Health, Agriculture are an asset. 

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

•    Understanding of WFP’s operations in the developing world or those of similar humanitarian organizations.
•    Understanding of the nutrition-sensitive programme management processes is highly desirable.
•    An experience in managing the nutrition sensitive agriculture project will be considered a plus.
 

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

•    At least four ( 04) years of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience implementing humanitarian, and/or development programmes. 
•    Proven and demonstrable project management and coordination skills. 
•    Action management skills and ability to take decisions. 
•    Effective interpersonal communication and coordination skills. 
•    Teamwork and partnership in multicultural environment. 
•    Analytical skills 
 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Contract type: International Consultant – regularly 

Level: CST-I

Duty station: Vientiane 

Duration: 11 months – renewal 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Opening date: 24 May 2024 

Closing date: 06 June 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.