Programme Policy Officer-Outcome Manager FT NOB

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Programme Policy Officer – Outcome Manager

NOB

Fixed-term

Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

827787

15/06/2023

02/07/2023

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Outcome Managers lead a programmatic pillar of the Country Office’s Strategic Plan, ultimately responsible for managing resources to results as outlined in a Theory of Change, and are tasked to support policy and programme activities that – for Strategic Outcomes 1 – strengthen national social protection measures to effectively meet the essential needs of vulnerable populations for improved food security and nutrition and strengthened food systems, and – and dormant Outcome 2 – enabling crisis-affected populations to meet their food and nutrition needs and early recovery during and in aftermath of crises.

Strategic Outcome 1 is aligned with the national efforts to promote prosperity and resilience for all citizens of Kyrgyz Republic through inclusive and green socioeconomic development as well as preventive and promotive social protection measures as described in the National Development Plan.

(Dormant Strategic Outcome 2 covers support of WFP to the government and humanitarian partners in responding to crises and emergencies that exceed the government response capacity, in form of food or cash transfers to women and men of all ages.)

Supervision received: The Outcome Manager for Strategic Outcomes 1 is directly supervised by a Head of Programme (who has advisory responsibilities esp. as concerns digital programme offerings), supervises Programme Officers and/or Assistants and works in close coordination with Specialists in Policy/Partnerships, in Research, Analysis and Monitoring, in Budget and Programming, in Supply Chain and in other support functions. The majority of WFP’s field level activities in Kyrgyz Republic being implemented in the south, the Outcome Manager ensures close liaison with the Head of the Sub-Office, who supervises programme staff based in Osh. For upstream policy, representational and resource mobilization efforts, Outcome Managers also interact and coordinate with Country Director and Deputy Country Director as needed.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

1. Contribute towards the development of a wide variety of projects, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance in the area of social protection, active labour markets and public works, as well as income-generating activities through food systems improvements, women economic empowerment and other innovative poverty alleviation measures, as well as emergency and crisis response and early recovery activities.
2. Provide project management support to specific and defined programmes and projects of considerable size/complexity, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes that complies with WFP standards and procedures.
3. Develop and coordinate data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.
4. Research and analyse a range of policy and operational issues to inform the development of policies, programmes and activities.
5. 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.
6. Liaise with internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery.
7. Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working leading to improved food assistance packages.
8. Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to prepare for and respond to food assistance needs, e.g. through providing inputs into training materials.
9. Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries.
10. Other as required.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS Strategic Outcome 1 and 2

1. In close consultation with the Regional Bureau and development partners who participated in the CODI and other social protection assessments, lead the WFP engagement in social protection system strengthening under Strategic Outcome 1.
2. Oversee and lead the programmatic implementation of emergency and crisis response and early recovery activities under dormant Strategic Outcome 2, including food and cash programs operationalized through national and international partners and channelled through national systems where applicable.
3. With the support of a value chain specialist advisor, designs and implements food systems strengthening measures by developing long-term partnerships with relevant stakeholders, creating linkages to other programmes and sustainability mechanisms.
4. Support programmatic efforts in mainstreaming digital financial inclusion measures and enhanced targeting of programmatic activities to address identified vulnerabilities, including driving systemic changes to address inclusion/exclusion errors and ensure inclusive and LNOB-sensitive programming.
5. Contribute to resource mobilization and donor and activity portfolio diversification for Strategic Outcomes 1 and 2.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• Has gained experience in implementing or overseeing technical programs related to food systems, agriculture, nutrition, social protection, using diverse modalities and methodologies related to food and cash assistance, technical assistance and capacity-strengthening and coordinating national partners.
• Has implemented programmes and provided input into designing operations related to emergency and crisis response and early recovery, in coordination with national or international partners, national or sub-national government entities.
• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.

Functional Capabilities (Knowledge & Skills):

• 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, Knowledge): Demonstrates ability to analyse and consolidate quantitative and qualitative information from different sources (e.g., market studies) to inform transfer modality selection and programme development.
• • Broad Knowledge of Specialized Areas: 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.

Experience: At least three (3) years of postgraduate professional experience in social protection, active labour markets and public works; or income-generating activities through food systems improvements, women economic empowerment and other innovative poverty alleviation measures; experience in emergency and crisis response and early recovery activities an asset.

Education: 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.

Language: Fluency (level C) in both oral and written communication in English and in at least one of the duty station’s languages (Russian or Kyrgyz).

Background

WFP’s vision is that people in the Kyrgyz Republic will have substantially increased access to national social protection systems that safeguard and foster their ability to meet their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs, and to manage the risks and shocks they face, with ample opportunity to graduate from poverty and contribute to sustainable food systems, national disaster risk management efforts and social cohesion.

WFP, the second largest UN agency in the Kyrgyz Republic, will support and promote the inclusion of people with diverse and often intersecting vulnerabilities and inequalities, by supporting nationally led social and civil protection systems and programmes (strengthening the government’s ability for anticipatory action and ensuring that no one is left behind) and by modelling new approaches within complementary WFP interventions (which can be adopted or transitioned), leveraging WFP’s global expertise in promoting healthy diets and sustainable food systems, climate risk management, warehousing, food safety, smallholder market access and innovations such as private sector-oriented solutions, micro-insurance and digital public goods.

Derived from the UN Cooperation Framework and national priorities, promoting participatory community engagement and nutrition-sensitive approaches, the 2nd generation Country Strategic Plan (2023-27) continues WFP’s human capital development, capacity building and productive asset creation activities to enhance the resilience and livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable, with a focus on food systems strengthening across three core pillars: (i) Social Protection; (ii) Climate Change Adaption, Disaster Risk Management & Emergency Preparedness; and (iii) Schools as platforms for healthy diets. In addition, a contingent emergency response outcome can be activated in case of need.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

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.

Request for Disability related Reasonable Accommodations:

It is important to WFP to create an accessible and inclusive workplace for everyone. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection and hiring process, please direct your request and inquiries to the Diversity and Inclusion team on: [email protected], cc’ing [email protected]. A member of the reasonable accommodation team will contact you to confidentially discuss your needs.

This email is only to be used for any disability related accessibility requirements, and not for sending the application itself. Due to volume of applications, any applications or CVs sent through this email address will not be considered as a formal application and will not receive a reply from WFP.

WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. 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, Joint 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.