International Consultant_Programme Policy Officer (Cash Based Transfers)

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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 THE ASSIGNMENT:

Madagascar is a low-income country with an estimated population of 26 million. With a gross domestic product per capita of USD 422, the country is ranked 164 out of 189 on the Human Development Index. Almost 70 percent of the population lives on less than USD 1.90 a day. Five million people are affected by recurring natural disasters, including cyclones, floods, and droughts. The 2018 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey showed that the rate of acute malnutrition is 6 percent and the rate of chronic malnutrition is 42 percent, placing Madagascar as the 10th worst country affected by stunting in the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a sudden and deep recession, reversing nearly a decade of income per capita gains. The latest World Bank economic update for Madagascar estimates that the economy contracted by 4.2 percent in 2020 due to COVID-19 disruptions to global trade and domestic activity. While conditions are expected to stabilize, the impact of the pandemic will cast a long shadow on economic and social prospects and could be compounded by other shocks, including droughts and other climatic events affecting vulnerable populations. WFP’s Country Strategic Plan in Madagascar (CSP) aims to promote an integrated, shock-responsive social protection system for ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to nutritious food before, during and after crises. It also aims to provide children in vulnerable communities with access to nutritious foods while at school and extend integrated approaches for the prevention of malnutrition among vulnerable women, adolescent girls and children. Moreover, WFP helps build the resilience of vulnerable smallholder households and communities and ensure that interventions for addressing both chronic and acute needs are supported by enhanced capacities and resources for emergency preparedness and response.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme, the CBT Programme Policy Officer will be responsible for the overall CBT programme leadership and design of the scale-up of cash-based transfer activities in the South following the lean season response and the shift towards recovery and resilience programmes as well as the south-east response. This will be done by providing strategic and operational planning, leadership and technical guidance to CBT staff and other teams for beneficiary management, effective coordination and implementation of the strategy.

The position is based in Antananarivo Country Office, Madagascar, with frequent visits to the field.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide guidance to the programme teams in country office and Field on cash-based transfer activities and scale-up plans, as well as coaching to CBT staff to enable effective performance.
2. Provide leadership in the internal CBT task force to ensure the implementation and scale up of CBT MFI mission recommendations (March 2022 mission report).
3. Ensure WFP presence in the external CBT Cash Working Group meetings and follow up on specific actions for WFP cash activities in the country.
4. Coordinate and ensure alignment between CBT interventions in the South in addition to the cyclone response in the East.
5. Provide guidance for the scale up of CBT interventions in the South where possible, following the results of the MFI assessment for the post-lean season transitional period.
6. Ensure the implementation and scale up of the voucher modality pilot and assess the potential for scale-up in appropriate regions.
7. Provide support in the tendering process for new FSPs and ensure the timely and efficient onboarding of the providers for CBT activities.
8. Liaise with partners to better position WFP within the Shock-Responsive Social Protection System.
9. Other as required.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

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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