Consultant- Food Security Sector Coordinator (International Only) – CST II
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WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.
WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Job Title: Consultant- Food Security Sector Coordinator
Grade: CST II
Type of contract: Regular International Consultancy
Duration: 1 Year
Duty Station: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Vacancy Number : 826834
Date of Publication: 03.05.2023
Deadline of Application: 17.05.2023
WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.
Please visit the following website for detailed information on working with WFP: http://www.wfp.org
Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.
JOB PURPOSE
The Food Security & Livelihoods (FSL) Sector Coordinator plays a vital role in ensuring timely, coherent and effective food security interventions by mobilizing stakeholders to respond in a coordinated and strategic manner to a humanitarian crisis. The role of the FSL Sector Coordinator is to lead food security coordination along with a wide range of stakeholders in:
1. Facilitating a timely, coherent effective and coordinated food security response by mobilizing stakeholders in a strategic manner
2. Enhancing coordination through the reinforcement of linkages and synergies between relevant food security actors as well as between humanitarian and development partners
3. Ensuring that food security is appropriately represented in the overall humanitarian response
4. Supporting service delivery
5. Informing strategic decisions of the Resident Coordinator (RC) and Humanitarian Country Team (HCT)
6. Coordinating and Planning FSL Sector strategies, including contingency planning and preparedness
7. Monitoring and Evaluating Sector performance
8. Building national and FSL sector members capacity in relevant areas
9. Supporting advocacy for food security needs
10. Accountability to affected people
The FSL Sector Coordinator will work impartially with all members of the Food Security & Livelihoods Sector and represents all members of the group equally, and as a whole.
S/he will work closely with the UN Resident Coordinator and the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) and with all other humanitarian stakeholders including other cluster leads.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
1. Continue to build the FSL sector to function in line with RCO led coordination mechanisms, developing products and managing meetings in line with the standard Global Cluster format.
2. Provide expertise advice on capacity building to the co-chair organisation. Development of ToRs for the FSL Sector, including Sector Leads and Co-chair roles.
3. Lead the process for the FSL sector through continued identification of needs, severity, geographical scope, and Persons in Need, and in consultation with the sector partners.
4. If required, undertake planning and strategy development by contributing to joint humanitarian planning (RCO led) and lead the process for the FSL sector through coordination and design of the response strategy, in consultation with the sector partners.
5. Actively ensure membership and engagement of key partners, organize regular sector meetings, and ensure overall coordination of the FSL response in an emergency and as the response transitions to early recovery and livelihoods.
6. Where relevant, establish Technical Working Groups to support partners in key thematic areas (e.g. capacity strengthening, response harmonisation, contingency planning etc.) or key thematic emergencies (e.g. monsoon and cyclone response etc.).
7. Maintain an inclusive governance structure for the FSC (including supporting the NGO co-chair and co-leadership of national authorities where possible).
8. Ensure timely, inclusive and regular information sharing and discussion with the sector partners through various modalities including cluster meetings, email dissemination of FSL sector products (dashboards, maps, assessments, etc.). Facilitate monitoring and reporting of response implementation (including capitalization documents).
9. Facilitate and support needs assessments such as EFSA/CFSAM/SMART etc., and actively promote the analysis and utilization of this information for decision-making.
10. Coordinate and promote mainstreaming of cross-cutting and cross-sectoral issues (e.g., gender, age, HIV and AIDS, human rights, disability, environment, early recovery, protection, nutrition) and appropriate participatory and community-based approaches in sector/inter-sector needs assessments, analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring.
11. Actively promote the application of common standards (e.g. SPHERE standards and CHS), and harmonization of programmatic responses (e.g. SOPs on modality of delivery, minimum assistance package etc.)
12. Contribute to country level contingency planning and coordinate cluster/sector-wide emergency preparedness and response (e.g. on monsoon, cyclones etc.).
13. As relevant, ensure the development of regular food security updates (Sitreps, Bulletins, newsletters, etc.)
14. Identify capacity gaps and needs and work with sector partners to provide training and capacity building opportunities to FSC partners.
15. Undertake advocacy on behalf of the FSC partners in a neutral and impartial manner.
16. Take part or lead various coordination forums including Inter-cluster, technical working groups (e.g. ISCG and Cash WG).When relevant, supervise and guide the FSL sector IMO and provide guidance to the co-chair, ensure a smooth and inclusive relationship of the FSL team with all partners, and report regularly to the CLAs.
17. Promote localization agenda and actively support coordination and advocacy efforts with civil society and private sector. Identify opportunities to strengthen preparedness activities and develop an action plan.
18. Any other works assigned by direct supervisor.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
• University degree in food security, agriculture, economics, humanitarian affairs or related field.
Experience:
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in humanitarian response at a mid or senior level.
• Experience in food security related topics is mandatory.
Desirable criteria:
▪ Experience in the Food Security Coordination is desirable.
▪ Willingness and ability to work in difficult environments, in often stressful time- critical situations
▪ Formal training in Cluster CC or previous Cluster experience is strongly desirable.
▪ Experience of the country or region of deployment is desirable.
Knowledge and Skills:
Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building/maintaining Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing
Technical Skill
• Ability to work and plan at both operational and strategic level;
• Understanding of the international humanitarian response architecture, including humanitarian principles, coordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform and action, and funding mechanisms (e.g. Humanitarian Programme Cycle – HPC, Central Emergency Response Fund and Flash Appeals, Pooled funds and the humanitarian development and peace nexus – HDPN);
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context;
• Ability to express and summarise ideas orally and in writing in a diplomatic and inclusive manner;
• Ability to interact with a number of different stakeholders and represent the FSL sector in strategic meetings and discussions;
• Ability to organize workshops, meetings and to present outcomes on behalf of a group of stakeholders
• Good understanding of FS Assessments, Survey, and Monitoring and Evaluation.
Languages:
- Proficiency in both oral and written communication skills in English.
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 (SDG 2) 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. WFP has been present in Sri Lanka since 1968 providing assistance to the country in emergency situations and conducting protracted recovery interventions in the aftermath of man-made disasters such as the 27-year conflict and recurrent natural disasters (droughts and floods/landslides). The country’s on-going economic crisis — the worst in decades – has triggered a spike in the cost of living, along with lost jobs and reduced incomes. Coupled with the lingering effects of COVID-19 and impacts of climate change, the country is experiencing a concerningly high level of food insecurity. These challenges threaten to reverse years of development gains, undermining the country’s ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Even before the ongoing crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lankan women and children had very high rates of malnutrition: 17 percent of children under 5 were too short for their age (stunted) and 15 percent were too thin for their height (wasted), a figure which is considered 'very high’ in WHO classifications. The current economic crisis will likely aggravate this further. WFP commenced its second-generation five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for the period 2023 – 2027 (CSP 2018-2022) which aims to address immediate food and nutrition needs while building medium to long-term solutions through four strategic outcomes.
All WFP Employees are expected to demonstrate the competencies and standards of behaviour aligned with our core values and defined in the WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK, namely:
Leading by example with integrity,
Driving results and delivering on commitments,
Fostering inclusive and collaborative teamwork,
Applying strategic thinking,
Building and maintaining sustainable partnership.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The mission of WFP is to end global hunger. 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.
In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. Present in nearly
80 countries, the organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to nutritious food and contribute to the lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas. In Sri Lanka. a lower-middle-income country, WFP is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in tandem with sister UN Agencies and the government, and in particular, SDG 2, Zero Hunger.
Despite sound health indicators in Sri Lanka, in comparison to its South Asian neighbours, maternal, new born and child malnutrition continue to pose major challenges for the country, which is characterized by a high level of acute malnutrition, mild to moderate level of chronic malnutrition and widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Further compounding the issue is the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity, as the country undergoes a dramatic nutritional transition influenced by economic growth, urbanization and shifts in the quality and quantity of diets.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
Wednesday, 17 May 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.
