Programme Policy Officer (Cooperating Partner Management), NOA, RBDakar

🚩 Vacancy Announcement N°: 674720

📢 Job Title: Programme Policy Officer (Cooperating Partner Management), NOA

✨ Grade: National Professional Officer, FT-NOA

📧 Duration: 12 months (renewable subject to performance and availability of funds)

✅ Unit / Division: Programme Unit

📍 Duty Station: Regional Bureau Dakar, Senegal

⏰ Closing date: 05th April 2023

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.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance. Female Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), a highly prestigious, reputable & world’s largest humanitarian organization, operates in more than 120 countries and territories, bringing life-saving assistance in emergencies, building pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change and supporting sustainable and resilient livelihoods for a world with zero hunger. At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do, and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high-performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: UN World Food Programme (WFP), and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

COUNTRY CONTEXT/ ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

The West and Central Africa region is facing multiple crisis with a number of hotspots where the deterioration is already causing significant humanitarian impact, and others where violence and fragility threatens to cause further displacements, human and livelihood losses, and instability. This is against a well-known backdrop of chronic vulnerabilities, recurring shocks, state fragility and poverty, in particular in the central band of the region.

The Regional Bureau Dakar (RBD) provides support, guidance, and oversight to the 19 offices in Western and Central Africa. The Programme Cycle Unit team, within the Programme Support Unit (PSU), of the Regional Bureau provides this guidance, support and oversight to the various country-level programme teams and functional areas, including on issues of Cooperating Partner (CP)/NGO management.

The role of CPs is especially critical in the face of a global food crisis, with rising food, fuel and fertilizer prices, as well as existing climate and economic shocks. Against a backdrop of rising needs, a robust CP management framework must be put in place to ensure the quality of WFP programmes and effective delivery of assistance to the people we serve.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

WFP Regional Bureau Dakar provides strategic guidance, technical support and direction to its operations in the region. This position sits within the RBD Programme Support Unit and provides technical guidance and operational support to Country Offices (CO) on programmatic, technical and business processes as well as risks related to Cooperating Partner (CP)/NGO management. WFP’s commitment to the Grand Bargain (specifically the Localization stream) focuses on being a better strategic and operational partner with its CP/NGO stakeholders and the RB plays a key role in facilitating these changes at the Country Office level.

The incumbent will collaborate closely with other unit colleagues such as: Finance, and Risk Management.

Under the supervision of the Programme Policy Officer CP Management, covering this portfolio, the incumbent will provide support in the following areas, while also coordinating with other RB units.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Contribute towards the development of a limited number of projects, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance:

• assisting in guiding COs on the development of emerging models, [i.e., Tripartite partnerships with government, academia, consortium within countries, etc.].
• Supporting the rollout of Partner Connect in COs, ensuring CO capacity to support CPs and maintain the platform.
• Contribute to the development of a regional strategy and regional network to support improved strategic engagement with CPs.

1. Provide project management support to specific and defined programmes and projects of small to moderate size that are relatively straight forward in nature, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes that complies with WFP standards and procedures:

• especially to COs in strengthening the capacities of national NGOs, in alignment with the Grand Bargain.
• Assist in providing guidance to COs in collaboration regarding proper contracting mechanisms.

1. Follow data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.
2. Research and analyse policy and operational issues to support senior colleagues in the development of policies, programmes and activities.
3. 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.
4. Liaise with internal counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects.
5. Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working leading to improved food assistance packages in providing advice to COs on streamlined FLA processes, including the establishment of multiyear or longer-term field level agreements (FLAs), from partnership scoping and selection to budget monitoring, and timely invoice payments.
6. Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to prepare for and respond to food assistance needs, e.g. through project management support of learning initiatives.

• Provide support in the arrangement and hosting of annual regional workshops.
• Support the organization CP Mgmt. training to field offices to address key risk issues identified in the external audit and CO internal audits, specifically focusing on invoicing & payments and ensuring SOPs are updated, CD endorsed and operationalized (noting it’s CO Programme colleagues who validate the invoices before they are processed by Fin colleagues)

1. Provide guidance to support staff, acting as a point of referral and assisting them with analysis and queries such as providing guidance to COs on the implementation of capacity assessments, spot-checks, and onboarding/orientation of CPs.
2. Ensure all COs have fully adopted UNPP PSEA UNPP Capacity Assessment (training to be organized by OIGI-NGO Unit in Dakar, and the roll-out of the project to all COs), and Performance Evaluations functionalities (external/internal audit, regional evaluation).
3. Others as required.

Education:

You have

Advanced university degree (Master's degree equivalent, BAC+4/5) recognized by https://www.whed.net/home.php in one or more of the following disciplines: political sciences, economics, agriculture, international relations, social sciences, development studies or a field relevant to international development assistance. or First University degree (Bachelor's degree equivalent, Licence/BAC +3) recognized by https://www.whed.net/home.php with additional years of related work experience or trainings/courses.

Should you not find your university degree in this link kindly note that it will be your responsibility to obtain a formal letter from your Ministry of Education stating their recognition of the university and degree

Experience:

You have:

At least one (1) year of progressively responsible professional postgraduate (Master’s) experience related to establishing partnerships and overseeing budgets, preferably in government institutions, with a UN agency, or NGO in the region, or a minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in the same fields for first university degree holders.

Languages:

Fluency (level C in reading, writing and speaking) in English and French.

You have developed the following Experiences, Knowledge & Skills:

• Project Management and Contract Management.
• Excellent communication (written/oral/presentation) and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrates high moral integrity and proven capacity to take initiative, show discretion and autonomy.
• Strong planning and time management, with a structured results-oriented approach and quality monitoring and reporting.
• Client focused and builds strong relationships to improve processes and support the strengthening of CO CP Mgmt. function.
• Prior knowledge of the UN system or NGO space is an asset.
• Ability to work patiently and tactfully in a team, with people of different backgrounds and expertise, to deliver as one toward common operational goals.

Deadline for application: 05th April 2023

WFP Value Proposition

• Meaningful and impactful careers – Our day-to-day work makes a difference in the lives of the people we serve.
• Continuous learning and training – We provide learning tools for our staff to continually develop their careers.
• Multicultural and stimulating working environment – We encourage gender and cultural diversity to make our teams stronger.

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU APPLY

• All employment decisions are made based on organisational needs, job requirements, merit and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
• No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Join Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.
• Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply. WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
• Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance
• 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.
• 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.

Special Notice on WFP RBD office relocation:

WFP and other UN Agencies will be moving to the new United Nations House, presently under construction in Diamniadio, 30 kilometres from downtown Dakar. The name of the duty station for this position will remain Dakar, Senegal.

Special recommendation:

Before you apply, please confirm that both (i) your on-line profile and CV are accurate and up to date, (ii) your CV should include your employment history, academic qualifications, and language skills.

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