Programme Policy Officer (Food Fortification)

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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.

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.

WFP has been present in Nepal since 1963 and provided assistance to the country in emergency response and protracted recovery interventions in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake and recurrent natural disasters (mainly floods and landslides). While the country has made considerable progress and remarkable achievements in socio-economic indicators, a significant gap remains in strengthening food security and nutrition given Nepal’s alarming levels of malnutrition, especially stunting, and wasting, achieving gender equality, and eliminating geographic and socio-economic disparities among the most marginalized groups and thereby leaving no one behind (LNOB).

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

In WFP Nepal, the currents Country Strategic Programme (CSP 2019-2023) establishes as strategic outcome that food-insecure people in targeted areas have improved nutrition throughout the key stages of their lives by 2025. The CSP’s Strategic Outcome 2 (SO2) establishes outputs for targeted populations, including: children aged 6-59 months, pregnant and lactating women and girls and school children, receive an integrated package of assistance to prevent malnutrition and improve diets; targeted populations in food-insecure areas receive nutrition-sensitive, shock-responsive and gender-transformative social services delivered through a strengthened national social protection framework; and people benefiting from the national social safety net programme receive post-harvest fortified rice.
Since 1996, food fortification has been on World Food Programme (WFP) Nepal ‘s agenda through the sourcing and provision of fortified blended nutritious foods such as the corn/wheat soya blend for distribution under the mother and child health and nutrition (MCHN) programme to prevent malnutrition. WFP also played a facilitating role in connecting and supporting government and private sector actors to fortify rice locally, as well as advocating for integration of fortification in national and policy.

The Programme Policy Officer will be placed under direct supervision of the Head of Programme and technical support and guidance being provided by the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific’s Food Fortification Advisor.

JOB PURPOSE

To provide both government and private sector strong support and coordination for rice fortification in a well-organized and sustainable manner. The officer will oversee all aspects of the rice fortification initiatives in line with WFP Nepal’s Country Strategic Plan and lead WFP’s efforts on rice fortification under the food-based safety nets programme.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Position Title: Programme Policy Officer (Food Fortification)
Contract Type: Service Contract (SC)
Level: SC-9 (Equiv. to NOB)
Contract Duration:12 months (With possible renewal)
Duty Station: Kathmandu, Nepal
Vacancy Number: 828150
Date of Publication: 5 July 2023
Deadline of Application: 18 July 2023

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Management and oversight

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme, the incumbent will provide oversight and guidance to the WFP Field Office (FO) staff based in Surkhet and other units working on fortified rice including undertaking regular reviews of status in the districts, ensuring alignment to timelines in the overall district plan on fortified rice.

Technical Assistance:

1. Provide technical support to review or develop, disseminate, and implement national rice/food fortification policies, strategies, guidelines, manuals, and standard operating procedures (SOP) through all relevant platforms in coordination with national government entities and private sector stakeholders and in line with national priorities and plans, such as the Multisector Nutrition Plan III.
2. Support the relevant line ministries and departments dealing with food-based safety nets in the organization of sensitization events on rice fortification for their staff.
3. Contribute towards the development of a systematic plan for capacity building of all rice millers in the state including providing guidance to the rice millers on procurement of blending equipment through on-site visits.
4. Facilitate and contribute to the development, dissemination and implementation of communication/advocacy plan and materials aimed at improving commitment, knowledge and understanding of decision makers, private sector, public sector, and people benefiting from rice/food fortification.
5. Provide technical assistance to Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MOFAGA) for the development, dissemination, and implementation of the National Fair Price Shop guideline.

Country office Support:

1. Support the implementation of the WFP Nepal country strategic plan by ensuring cross-cutting efforts such as nutrition-sensitivity, gender and diversity inclusion, protection and accountability, and linkages with other activities, including resilience and capacity development are integrated (as relevant) into all aspects of work.
2. Coordinate with field office and the Communicatio, Advocacy, and Marketing unit to develop success stories, fact sheets, information packets, social media posts, mass media pieces, and other advocacy and information sharing materials for a wide range of audiences as relates to fortification.
3. Support the nutrition team in developing relevant social and behaviour change communication activities targeting communities in relation to understanding the benefits of consuming fortified foods.
4. Oversee budget implementation and expenditure plans, tracking actual expenditures, and provide updates through the resource management committee forum, highlighting shortages and status of progress, and providing recommendations.
5. Represent WFP in various technical forums with key government officials involved in fortification at all the three tiers of government and the private sector.

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6. Liaise with other technical units for providing technical assistance and support the monitoring and evaluation of fortification related activities, providing technical analysis, interpretation, and information as required to support the assessment of impact towards improving affordability of safe, nutrient dense, healthy, and sustainable diets for all.

7.Support with activities relevant to internal WFP processes and procedures in accordance with all deadlines (such as potential partner proposals, field level agreements, and service provision processes and contracts; invoice/transfers clearances; corporate systems such as WINGS/COMET; monthly deliverables such as mission plans, country brief inputs and responding to official letters requesting support or information.).

8. Regular follow up with districts and preparation of periodic reports on the status of implementation of fortified rice.

9. Support the WFP in Identifying, building capacities, and establishing convergence between local academic & research institutes and the Government on fortified rice to enable provision of technical assistance and ensure sustainability and handover strategy.

10. Maintain, strengthen and develop new partnerships on food fortification with different stakeholders, including civil society, research institutions, private sector and development partners.

Coordination:

1. Represent WFP in various technical forums with key government officials involved in fortification at the central and subnational level, establishing and strengthening linkages as required: Ministry of Health and Population; Ministry of Industry Commerce and Supplies; Food Management and Trading Company Limited, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Development and Department of Food Technology Quality and Control.
2. Lead coordination among the WFP technical teams, UN agencies, international financial institutions, non-governmental organizations, development partners and private sector stakeholders to ensure synergies with WFP’s fortification efforts are incorporated in project implementation and to engage in joint or complementary initiatives where possible.
3. Serve as WFP’s fortification liaison to the Scaling Up Nutrition platform and facilitate the establishment of the Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network in relation to fortification.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in food science and technology, nutrition, agriculture, public health related field of study or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and /or training / courses.

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in Nepali and English languages.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• At least 3 years of post-graduate professional experience in food processing, nutrition and public health policy and programming.
• Has gained experience in supporting the government on implementing technical programs such as rice or food fortification, and others relevant to health and nutrition portfolios.
• Has implemented nutrition or food systems programmes and provided input into designing policy and operations.
• Strategic thinking: analyses and evaluates data and considers the impact of decisions; designs new and innovative ways of doing things.
• Has strong communication and information-gathering skills; ability to engage with various stakeholders with maturity and tact, proven diplomacy, and cultural sensitivity.
• Conversant with food quality and safety and food production standards.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent analytical, writing and communication skills.
• Good computer knowledge and skills and good knowledge on statistical software for nutrition analysis.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision and under strict deadlines.
• Ability to engage effectively with a wide range of colleagues and partners.
• Proactive, takes initiative, courteous, tactful, and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to handle additional tasks.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK: COMMON STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOURDEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Leads by example with Integrity
Drives results and Delivers on commitments
Fosters inclusive and collaborative teamwork.
Applies strategic thinking
Builds and maintains sustainable partnerships

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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.

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 nepal.hr@wfp.org. A member of the HR team responsible for reasonable accommodation 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 the volume of applications, any applications or CVs sent through this email address will not be considered a formal application and will not receive a reply from WFP. 

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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