Programme Assistant (Nutrition)

WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

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VACANCY DETAILS

Job Title: Programme Assistant (Nutrition)
Grade: Level 5
Type of contract: Service Contract
Duration: 1 Year (renewable)
Reporting to: Programme Policy Officer (Nutrition) , WFP Odisha office
Duty Station: Bolangir, Odisha
Vacancy no : 438369
Date of Publication: 13 February 2023
Deadline of Application: 28 February 2023

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• This vacancy is open to Indian Nationals only.
• This vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. As per the WFP’s Recruitment & Selection Policy, the definition of “internal” is only applicable to WFP staff members holding a permanent, continuing or FT appointment.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test will be used for screening candidates.
• Only recommended candidates will be retained on roster for a period of two years and may be considered for similar positions from roster.
• The salary for this position is INR 63,521/- per month and medical benefits as per WFP's plan. All tax liability for payments from this contract are to be borne by the subscriber.

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

• Ability to engage effectively with a wide range of actors from government, WFP contracted vendors and civil society.
• Very strong communications skills, both in writing and speaking
• Solid planning and problem-solving skills and action oriented
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and simultaneously manage multiple tasks in an autonomous manner.
• Maturity, initiative, courtesy, tact, and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds
• Ability to handle any other additional tasks as requested by the supervisor.
• Ability to undertake travel within the country.

BACKGROUND

The World Food Programme (WFP), operating in India since 1963, provides technical support to strengthen the government’s food safety-nets programmes to improve access to nutritious food for millions of vulnerable households throughout the country. Through its Country Strategic Plan (2023-2027), WFP India aims to support India in achieving their targets under Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 17. Strategic Outcome (SO) 2 is aimed at reducing all forms of malnutrition in India,

To facilitate India’s progress on the SDGs and in sustainably reducing malnutrition, WFP works with National and State governments to improve the nutritional status of the population through introduction of nutritionally viable solutions and best practices in existing systems and enhancing the nutritional effectiveness of the three food based safety nets namely the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), the Mid-day meal (MDM) scheme and the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. Social behaviour change communications (SBCC) accompany all activities to help target audiences to know more about the benefits of good nutrition, appropriate child feeding practices and appropriate health and hygiene practices.

WFP Collaboration with the Department of Women & Child Development (DWCD) in Odisha

Aligned to this overarching vision around improved nutrition, WFP has been working in Odisha with the Department of Women & Child Development to ensure the availability and consumption of nutritious, quality assured and safe take home rations through the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. Till date WFP has supported the research and development of nutritious THR products for young children.

Under this project, WFP will also work closely with DWCD for the roll-out of the THR through a combination of technical assistance and direct support to set up two THR production units. These units set up at block level in two districts will be run by women’s self-help groups; fully automated production plants and will function as Centres of Excellence for the State. Each unit will produce a variety of different food products for different ICDS beneficiary groups such as children between 6 months to 6 years of age, adolescent girls and pregnant/ lactating women.

WFP technical assistance will be focussed primarily on the processes around the production of the THR at the unit and its uptake in the community through social behaviour change communication.

To support the roll out of this alternative model for production of THR, WFP will position staff in the project districts.

PURPOSE & KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

The Programme Assistant (Nutrition), under the direct guidance of the Programme Policy Officer (Nutrition) based at the WFP SO and the overall guidance of the Head, Field Office, Odisha and Head of the Nutrition and School Feeding will be responsible for the following:

Project Management

• Assist in the planning, developing and implementation of various activities and processes in the THR units aligned with guidance from WFP.
• Act as a point of contact for resolution of a range of operational queries and problems within the production units.
• Oversee and/or review the work of the THR unit, providing practical advice and guidance, to contribute to delivering objectives to agreed standards and deadlines.
• Support in organizing and conducting capacity building of the women self-help groups on various project related aspects

Monitoring of the Project

• Regularly visit the THR production unit in Bolangir to monitor the implementation of the project, identify gaps in implementation at the Unit level and suggest mid-course correction to the unit staff in coordination with WFP and Mission Shakti.
• Attend the monthly meetings of the units under WFP responsibility.
• Review the budgetary estimates and expenditure undertaken by each unit.
• Regularly visit the Anganwadi centres attached to the THR production unit to gauge community response and acceptability of the reformulated THR.

Documentation and Knowledge Management

• Support in compilation and identify best practices in the implementation of the project for wider dissemination
• Prepare monthly reports on the progress of the project at unit level for sharing with all project stakeholders.

Coordination

• Coordinate with government counterparts at the district level across DWCD and Mission Shakti as need be to facilitate implementation of the project.
• Liaise with project stakeholders for timely implementation and speedy resolution of issues identified in the projects.

Perform other related duties as required.

HOW TO APPLY

• Interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Applications received on WFP Career page will be considered.
• WFP wants to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible to people with disabilities. For accessibility requirements you may have, please write to us at email: India.hr@wfp.org with Subject line “Accessibility request for people with disabilities – VA No……. ”.

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.

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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.

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