Consultant -Programme Policy Officer – Food Voucher Project Manager
.
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.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT
Despite decades of steady economic progress, and aspirations to become an Upper Middle-Income country, socio-economic progress in the Philippines is hampered by exposure to multi-hazards (typhoons, volcanos, earthquakes, landslides) and conflict. The country is ranked as number 1 on the World Risk Index, with the highest disaster risk worldwide due to its very high exposure, vulnerability, susceptibility combined with lack of coping and adaptive capacities. In parallel, the Philippines faces a range of challenges related to food security and nutrition. Malnutrition across life cycle remains a significant issue in the Philippines and is characterized by high levels of stunting, persistent wasting in young children below 5 years of age, growing overweight and obesity across age group, and micronutrient deficiencies. Over 75 million Filipinos are unable to afford a healthy diet. The total cost to the Philippine economy by childhood undernutrition was estimated at 1.5% of the country’s GDP. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change. WFP’s engagement in the Philippines is constantly evolving. The upcoming Country Strategic Plan 2024 – 2028 aligns with national development plans and aims to support the Government’s commitments to strengthen the national social protection programme.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT (Continued)
In this context, WFP with Asian Development Bank (ADB) decided to undertake a feasibility study to assess the potential for cash-based transfers in the form of food vouchers to reduce food insecurity and malnutrition. This was intended to design and develop a pilot program to support the dietary and nutritional requirements of vulnerable households by improving their access to affordable, healthy and diverse food sources. Based on these results, and in close collaboration with ADB and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), WFP is in the process of developing a 6 month- food voucher pilot program that would use food vouchers combined with SBC to effectively address malnutrition. The results of the pilot project will be used to support DSWD in its scale up effort for the national food voucher programme.
JOB DETAILS
Job Title: Programme Policy Officer – Food Voucher Project Manager- Consultant
Grade: CST- Level-II
Type of contract: Consultant
Duration: Eleven (11) Months
Duty Station: Manila, Philippines
Vacancy Number: 826871
Date of Publication: 5 May 2023
Deadline of Application: 18 May 2023, 11:59 PM (Manila)
JOB PURPOSE
In support of implementation and future scale up of the Food Voucher pilot program, WFP is seeking to hire a committed, innovative, and dynamic Project Manager to join its Philippine Country Office. The Project Manager is expected to have significant experience in setting up and/or managing a similar voucher programme.
The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and scale up of the food voucher program in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. This includes coordination with government agencies, local partners, and vendors to establish a voucher distribution system, monitoring the utilization of vouchers, collecting and analyzing data on program outcomes, and reporting on progress. The incumbent will report to the Head of Programme under the overall guidance of the Deputy Country Director.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
The Food Voucher Project Manager will be responsible for:
- Coordinating with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, local partners, and vendors, to establish a transparent and efficient voucher distribution system, ensuring compliance with established protocols and guidelines.
- Overseeing the day-to-day implementation of the food voucher program, including beneficiary identification, registration, monitoring voucher utilization, tracking progress, addressing challenges, and ensuring the program is implemented in accordance with WFP's policies and procedures.
- Establishing and managing monitoring and evaluation systems, in collaboration with the monitoring team, to track the progress and impact of the food voucher program, collecting and analyzing data, and producing regular reports to inform decision-making and ensure accountability.
- Coordinating with other WFP teams, government agencies, particularly DSWD, and local partners to ensure effective communication, collaboration, and coordination of activities.
- Managing the project budget, including tracking expenditures, reviewing financial reports, and ensuring compliance with WFP's financial policies and procedures.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (Continued)
- Identifying capacity gaps among project staff and partners, and developing and implementing capacity building initiatives to strengthen their skills and knowledge in food voucher program management.
- Identifying potential risks and challenges associated with the food voucher program, developing risk mitigation strategies, and ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to manage risks effectively.
- Preparing regular progress reports, briefings, and presentations to WFP management, donors, and other stakeholders, and ensuring that project information is communicated effectively and in a timely manner.
- Prepare scale up plans in collaboration with DSWD and ADB based on pilot project experience and process review.
- Other duties as required.
DESIRED EXPERIENCES
- At least 5 to 10 years of experience in project management, with particular focus on cash-based transfer
- Experience working on in similar food voucher project is desired
- Experience working with WFP and good understanding of SCOPE system will be an asset
- Demonstrate experience in strategic policy engagement with Government Develops thorough recommendations using multiple inputs (e.g., government counsel, research, own experience) to strengthen national or subnational level.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to manage and supervise staff.
- Displays ability to identify issues around education, poverty, and nutrition at the national or subnational level to design and implement context-specific programmes.
- Demonstrates ability to analyse and consolidate quantitative and qualitative information from different sources (e.g., market studies) to inform transfer modality selection and programme development.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to plan and organize work; resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgment, tact, and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with other UN agencies, Government departments, Cooperating partners and communities of different national and cultural background.
- Knowledge of development context in the Philippines and work in the field is desirable.
Proficient in using computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
Vacancy Announcement closes: 18 May 2023 11.59 pm (Manila time)
HOW TO APPLY
To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings).
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
We want to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible. Please contact us at philippines.hr@wfp.org to advise us of any accessibility needs you may have.
This email is only to be used for any accessibility requirement in terms of application and not for sending the application itself.
.
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.
