Consultant Head of Programme (HoP)

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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, physical or mental 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. Are you a Programme Manager interested in further developing your professional experience while contributing to ending global hunger? Would you like to join the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), a highly reputable organisation bringing positive change to the lives of millions of people affected by hardships? Would you like to join a global organisation investing in its people? If your answer is yes, then this is a great opportunity for you to become part of a diverse and passionate team that works on ending hunger and malnutrition worldwide.

ABOUT WFP

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Our mission is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. With more than 18,000 dedicated professionals worldwide, WFP works 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.

Why WFP?

• Each year, WFP assists more than 86 million people in 83 countries with food, cash and specialized services. Your work will have a positive impact on lives of some of the world’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable people

• You will join a diverse team of professionals and will have a chance to exchange your experience with your colleagues

• WFP invests in development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, mentorship and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities

• Our team is growing internationally and the timing to join us cannot be better! • We offer attractive compensation package (please refer to Terms and Conditions section)

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses

• At least eight (8) years of professional experience with gradually increasing responsibilities in designing, implementing, and monitoring humanitarian and/or development programmes with international governmental or non-governmental organisations.
• Successful track record in supervising multinational and multifunctional teams in complex operational environments.
• Expertise in planning, prioritizing and managing resources (assets, budgets, etc) efficiently.
• Ability to communicate with communities and negotiate with government/ partners in support of Country Office requirements.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

WFP Benin

WFP Benin’s current country strategic plan covers 2019–2023. It enables WFP to reposition itself as a key player of SDG2 – Zero hunger – and to transition from exclusive direct assistance to increased advisory and enabling support to the Government, especially the design and implementation of the national integrated home-grown school feeding programme. WFP country office in Benin is gearing towards the design of a new Country Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 which will integrate lessons learned from the previous plan, with a focus on progressive transition of the leadership and implementation of the National school-feeding program to the government. Enhanced national capacity strengthening will be a major focus of this next generation strategic plan.

JOB PURPOSE

The post holder will report directly to the Deputy Country Director and will work in close collaboration with other units’ heads (e.g. Supply Chain, RAM, Resources Management, Finance, Monitoring and Reporting) to ensure that WFP programmes are coherently integrated into the Peace-Humanitarian-Development nexus.

The Head of Programme (HoP) will liaise with Regional Bureau and HQ to follow programme guidance and implement the latest lessons learnt related to programmatic activities in Benin as well as new potential initiatives.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Lead and inspire a team of diverse professionals, set and follow up on priorities, manage performances and offer advice and opportunities for career and professional development
2. Formulate WFP programme plans in line with both organisational strategy and the practical realities of operating in the field in Benin.
3. Provide advice and support to field offices delivering a complex portfolio of programmes to clarify ambiguities and ensure that policy and programme operations are consistent with WFP policies,
4. Provide leadership in mobilising technical expertise on a wide range of programmes and policy issues including assessment, analysis, choice of objectives, activities, transfer modalities and appropriate food products. Facilitate deployment and testing of innovative approaches and develop strategies to support government efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition.
5. Assist senior government stakeholders and other partners in identifying food assistance priorities and needs of the country and its people. Provide support and technical expertise for planning, development, and implementation of programmes to strengthen government and community ownership and effectiveness of food security and nutrition at national and sub-national levels.
6. Develop operational and maintain established strategic partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative initiatives that improve assistance packages and support advocacy work.
7. Enhance WFP’s leadership status in different forums on subjects related to food security, nutrition, livelihoods, resilience, engagement in humanitarian, transition and development contexts and other related issues through direct participation, briefings, information products and other materials.
8. Contribute to the design and resource mobilization efforts, including the development and drafting of project proposals and their budgets.
9. Ensure constructive collaboration with other UN Agencies and participate to the different coordination meetings/inter Agency coordination and joint programming.
10. Collaborate with the WFP Research, Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) unit to establish sound monitoring systems and coordinate data gathering, ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.
11. Manage or oversee timely preparation and dissemination of analytical reports, publications, and a variety of information products or proposals for internal or external use.
12. Ensure the best use of assigned financial resources for achievement of set objectives within a significant budget.
13. Take responsibility for incorporating gender and protection perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men.
14. Contribute to Country Office Emergency Preparedness i.e. early warning, risk analysis, and contingency planning in order to respond to humanitarian crises and needs.
15. Other as required

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives : Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.
• Be a force for positive change : Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.
• Make the mission inspiring to our team : Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions : Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills : Is able to identify, support and encourage focused on-the-job learning opportunities to address gaps between current skillsets and needed future skillsets for WFP.
• Create an inclusive culture : Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback : Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit : Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios)

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions : Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries.
• Focus on getting results : Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments : Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.
• Be Decisive : Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units : Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning
• Build strong external partnerships : Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships
• Be politically agile & adaptable : Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships : Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name	Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level
Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance	Displays ability to identify the main hunger problem at the national or subnational level to design and implement context-specific programmes that integrate complex analysis and the full range of food assistance tools.
Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Voucher)	Demonstrates the ability to design, implement, monitor and provide oversight over effective and efficient programmes deploying different transfer modalities.
Broad Knowledge of Specialized areas (i.e. Nutrition, VAM, etc.)	Demonstrates the ability to interpret basic data in the context of WFP specialised fields to contribute to technical programme design, implementation and monitoring.
Emergency Programming	Displays ability to translate understanding of programme principles in emergencies and protracted conflict situations into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches
Strategic Policy Engagement w/ Government	Develops thorough recommendations using multiple inputs (e.g., government counsel, research, own experience) to strengthen national or subnational entities and government owned food and nutrition security programmes..

About You

• You have a passion for improving lives of millions of people living in poverty and hunger and solid experience in School Feeding Programmes.
• You have a solid background in managing teams and programmes in complex humanitarian and development contexts, you keep abreast of the latest policy developments on a range of humanitarian issues, including linking humanitarian and development action.
• You are highly adaptive and able to communicate effectively with diverse audiences who might not share the same technical knowledge.
• You can prioritize and strike a balance between ideal goals and operational requirements, and translate gender and protection objectives into tangible results on the ground

Additional/Nice have requirements

• Experience in education, particularly strong competencies in School Feeding Programme implementation, and nutrition (especially nutrition sensitive value chains) and /or work with smallholder farmers

• Knowledgeable and experienced of inter-agency coordination and joint programming.
• Experience in different programme approaches including different transfer modalities.
• Collaboration with government agencies to identify needs and implement food assistance programmes.
• Team leadership in strategic discussions.

TO APPLY

Click ‘Apply’ link below to start the application process. Candidate are requested to create an account in WFP E-Recruitment system before applying.

Please also include your CV with a cover letter, highlighting your motivation and suitability for this vacancy, as part of an online application.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package including basic salary and medical insurance.

Please visit https://www.wfp.org/countries/benin to learn more about WFP’s operations in Benin.

• Please ensure that your application contains accurate and complete information on academic qualifications, employment record and language skills.
• WFP will apply a rigorous and transparent selection process including thorough assessment of technical skills to ensure the best candidates are selected for the job.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for written test and interview.

WFP DOES NOT RECEIVE FEES AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT AND DOES NOT REQUIRE BANKING INFORMATION.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

June 7, 2023

Contract duration: 6 months (Extensible)

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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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