Budget and Programming Officer Consultancy (CSTII, International), Chisinau, Moldova
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Our employees reflect a wide range of socioeconomic, cultural and religious
affiliations within their countries, including people with disabilities.
ABOUT WFP
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest humanitarian organisation delivering food assistance to over 90 million beneficiaries in 80 countries on a yearly basis. With over 5000 trucks, 50 ships and close to 100 planes on the move every single day, WFP, together with its partners, operates a global network to deliver life-saving food assistance to the most hard-to reach places.
JOB PURPOSE
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency, working towards achieving a world with zero hunger. Since the beginning of the Ukraine refugee crisis in February 2022, WFP set up operations in Moldova to assist in the refugee response. To respond to the deepening vulnerabilities of the crisis-affected populations and to strengthen the government shock-responsive capacity, WFP has drafted a Transitional Interim Country Strategic Plan (T-ICSP), which outlines the activities in the country for the next year (September 2022 – August 2023). To support the implementation of the T-ICSP, WFP Moldova is seeking to fill the position of Budget & Programming Officer to lead the Budget and Programming Unit of the Country Office in line with strategic directions of work agreed with counterparts and Government of Moldova.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
- Support the Office Management in the development of a strategy to further position WFP in Moldova with the aim of expanding funding streams.
- Work closely with the Partnerships Officer, the Head of Programme and the Head of Support Services in all the budget aspects of all Funding Proposals, incl. to support the CO in accessing new funding opportunities. Ensure a proactive approach and active engagement with other units on a daily basis.
- Guide the development and implementation of systems, tools, policies and procedures for budget and programming activities, ensuring that objectives are achieved in compliance with WFP and functional strategies.
- Manage the development, preparation, revision and review of budget plans analyzing trends and making recommendations that align budgeting processes to existing frameworks, standards, policies, procedures as well as industry best practices.
- Create and review project budget plans and monitor ongoing project performance against budget, ensuring adherence to guidance and policies, and providing financial analysis and advice to optimize resources. Collate and analyze data to provide strategic advice and built-in scenarios on resource management.
- Monitor and provide strategic advice on fund utilization and advance financing, loan and borrowing, repayment and refinancing arrangements; alerting all relevant units to approaching deadlines for unassigned funds and potential resource shortfalls/surpluses and proposing appropriate solutions.
- Monitor and manage the resource pipeline to maximize operational effectiveness, adhering to standards and processes, and providing strategic advice on resource allocations based on severity of pipeline shortfalls using relevant pipeline tools.
- Ensure correct budget and project documentation is created and ensure relevant resource data is recorded in internal systems for reference, in line with WFP standards and procedures.
- Lead the CO Resource Management Committee (RMC) as per agreed timelines, overseeing resource analyses and recommendations to be delivered on how to prioritize available and incoming resources against the Country Portfolio Budget (CPB) implementation plans, proactively engaging stakeholders to resolve identified issues (surpluses, deficit and unspent balances).
- Coordinate the preparation of accurate reports, to provide consistent information for stakeholders, and to identify trends/issues and propose solutions that support decision-making by senior management at a strategic level.
- Analyze data and propose well-researched ideas to senior officers for improvement to systems, techniques, tools, processes and procedures to better monitor and manage budgets and funds.
- Represent the unit at internal and external meetings/committees/working groups as required, in order to contribute to discussion of key issues from a budget and resource programming perspective.
- Recruit, train and manage junior BPO, train relevant Moldova Office staff to ensure appropriate development and enable high performance in the area of Budgeting and Programming. Further develop capacity of WFP staff in budgeting, funds management and operational planning, through preparing and delivery training, coaching, guidelines and manuals.
- Provide insight and critical analysis of internal business processes, develop innovative Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and training packages on resource management matters as well as onboarding new colleagues in the team.
- Manage change processes within or beyond the division to promote improved team performance, engagement and motivation during change processes
- Coordinate data analysis efforts and develop innovative reports, to meet varying requirements and enable informed decision-making, ensuring consistency of information presented to senior management and external stakeholders.
- Identify opportunities to develop and improve systems, techniques, tools, processes and procedures to better monitor, manage and report on WFP budgets and resources.
- Contribute to standard emergency preparedness practices, providing technical recommendations and guidance and monitoring the management of financial risks.
- Perform other relevant duties as required.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Advanced University degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.
Experience: At least 8 years progressive work experience in the following areas: Translating operational requirements into financial information; Preparing budgets and reports for management; Consolidating pipeline information, budgets, supply chain and operational plans; Reviewing plans and budgets.
Knowledge & skills:
- Ability to manage, motivate and instill a sense of ownership in others to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of resource management across units.
- Proven ability to proactively approach problems and provide solutions and generate ideas for optimal team outcomes amidst operational challenges and resource constraints.
- Exhibits expert knowledge in improving business planning processes and promoting Value-for Money principles in accordance with corporate policies and strategic mission, as well as national priorities.
- Have in depth knowledge of programme operational requirements and how those translate into resource management requirements, enabling the proposition of recommendations for improvement in a proactive rather than reactive manner.
- Proficiency in Windows, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Languages: Fluency (level C) in English language and/or in one of official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish). Knowledge of Romanian and/or Ukrainian language is desirable.
OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Position: Budget & Programming Officer
Type of contract: CST II
Duty station: Chisinau, Moldova
Unit/division: Programme
Duration: 11 months
Application deadline: 23 January 2023
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
Application deadline: 23 January 2023
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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.
