Programme Policy Officer -Integrated Livelihoods Approach- NOA, Lilongwe
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POSITION DETAILS:
Job Title: Programme Policy Officer- Integrated Livelihoods Approach
No. of Position/s: 1 (One)
VA No.: 828208
Date of Issue: 28 July 2023 Deadline: 10 August 2023
Type of Contract: Fixed Term – NOA
Unit / Division: Programme
Duty Station: Lilongwe
Duration: 12 Months
ABOUT WFP
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. As the international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030, one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. Food and food-related assistance lie at the heart of the struggle to break the cycle of hunger and poverty. For its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict, WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
This position is based at the Country Office in Lilongwe under the direct supervision of the Programme Policy Activity Manager, and overall supervision of Head of Programme. Job holders operate with a high degree of independence, manage more junior staff to ensure that programme and policy objectives are achieved in full. They are usually involved in a wide variety of programme and policy activities and analytical work, some of which may be of a considerable complexity.
JOB PURPOSE
The WFP Malawi Country Strategic Plan seeks to achieve “Strategic outcome 4: Smallholder producers and vulnerable populations in Malawi (especially women) have enhanced resilience, through diversified livelihoods increased marketable surpluses and access to well-functioning food systems and efficient supply chains by 2030.”
In the framework of WFP Malawi Country Strategic Plan 2019-2023, WFP has supported 695,877 individuals (155,000 households) in the most chronically food-insecure areas across eight districts (Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Machinga, Mangochi, Nsanje, Phalombe and Zomba). The integrated resilience package (food assistance for assets (FFA), integrated risk management (village savings and loans groups, crop insurance and climate services) and smallholder agriculture market support integrate multiple strategic interventions designed to incrementally build the capacities of chronically vulnerable and food insecure families with a focus on resilience building, while brokering and leveraging social opportunities in the food system for better nutrition and income.
The purpose of the assignment is to support the government’s efforts by leading WFP Malawi’s integrated Livelihoods as outlined in the Country Strategic Plan (2019-23) approved by WFP’s Executive Board:
Activity 5: Provide resilience-building support, education and systems-strengthening services to smallholder farmers and value chain actors.
In realizing the Outcome and implementing Activity 5, WFP Malawi works with multiple government partners WFP and will operationalize the global shift to an integrated approach promoting resilient food systems transformation adopted to the Malawi context.
The livelihood approach seeks to graduate food- and nutrition insecure farmers from subsistence to surplus-producing livelihoods, where they can access well-functioning markets that support national food systems, all in line with the Government’s priorities and following a clear graduation resilience pathway. The Livelihoods programme leverages its existing, long-standing field presence, and partnership base to implement Food Assistance For Assets (FFA) , an Integrated Risk Management programme including Climate services and SAMS in an integrated approach thereby enhancing the capacity of targeted communities to improve their production and productivity. Small holders farmers also are supported to increase their financial skills, gain access to and control over resources, and generate economic opportunities and income through business establishment of Village Savings and Loan Schemes.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
The Livelihoods Programme Officer NOA will focus on the provision of technical support for the implementing and reporting of the selected livelihood activities in partnership with other functional areas to support the achievement of the strategic outcome 4 included in the Malawi CO – CSP. Under the direct supervision of the strategic outcome 4 Activity Manager, in close collaboration with the SAMs section and the 2 Livelihoods Programme Associates, the Livelihoods Programme Officer – shall perform the following duties:
1. Contribute to the development of the technical guidance for the following specific integrated livelihoods activities:
-Food Assistance for Assets (FFA)
-Integrated risk management (Insurance and VSLA)
-Crop insurance
-Environmental and clean climate efforts
-Climate services (PICSA and Climate information)
– microfinance, digitalization and innovation
2. Support the development of the integrated livelihood programme activities, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider nutrition sensitive guidance for livelihoods/resilience approaches.
3. Provide support to specific and defined livelihood activities, ensuring a co-ordinated approach with wider programmes/projects that complies with WFP standards and procedures.
4. Develop and co-ordinate with the M&E section the data gathering and monitoring/assessment systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained and all available data is used to make informed decisions.
5. Track and analyse data to provide input into reporting activities and contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting of the COs livelihood activities that enables informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
6. Liaise with implementing partners (internal and external) to ensure timely oversight of the ongoing projects, ensuring effective collaboration, timeliness and efficiency, and highlight potential risks to project delivery.
7. Support the identification of potential partners and partnership negotiations to ensure a collaborative and holistic approach through the 3PA and the analysis of PICSA findings to ensure the livelihood activities are in line with the specific needs of women men, youth and children within the food-insecure target group of WFPs operational area.
8. Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to adjust the different programme activities to maximize their opportunity for integration within and across the COs Strategic outcome and WFP Malawi’s CSP activities, for example by producing and review of training materials.
9. Support the strategic objective 4 Activity Manager in the development of a CO sourcing strategy for the 3 integrated livelihood activities.
10. Partner with suppliers and private sector organizations to understand and incorporate the industry best practices in commodity handling, value addition and procurement strategies for external entities.
11. Build relationships and collaborate cross functionally with counterparts in the key supply chain departments in country to promote an integrated supply chain approach to in-country food handling, aggregation and commodity trade.
12. Collaborate with WFP field staff and partners to take a proactive approach to reduce gender gaps while taking the responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women, men and youth
13. Ensure oversight for WFPs field teams and CP staff to ensuring appropriate development of standards and enable high performance.
14. Contribute to preparedness of technical recommendations and guidance and the management of commodity specific risks affecting food quality in close collaboration with the Bureau of standards.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK: COMMON STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOURLong Description
| Leads by Example with Integrity | Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments | Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative Teamwork | Applies Strategic Thinking | Builds and Maintains Sustainable Partnerships |
| Demonstrates and encourages others to uphold the WFP values, principles and standards | Identifies and aligns objectives to the required outcomes, holding self and/or others accountable for the delivery of results for maximum impact | Promotes inclusive teamwork and psychological safety by encouraging colleagues to collaborate by sharing ideas and openly raising issues | Communicates and fulfils WFP’s vision and operational outcomes to deliver meaningful solutions | Initiates and builds partnerships by identifying and promoting opportunities for mutual areas of interest and benefit |
| Values diversity using respectful and inclusive language, and encourages others to do the same | Delegates responsibly and provides appropriate support empowering others to deliver results | Supports development for others by giving timely and constructive feedback | Demonstrates curiosity, designs and implements new ways of doing things when relevant | Collaborates with partners to deliver common objectives by sharing information and cocreating innovative solutions with beneficiaries when appropriate |
| Stays focused and calm when under pressure, encourages others to do the same, and offers guidance and support to manage difficult situations | Responds readily to change in different contexts and adapts accordingly | Seeks out, trusts and listens attentively to diverse views to capture, learn, build and share new perspectives | Gathers data and different perspectives, shares knowledge and uses evidence to inform decision making | |
| Demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn and share knowledge, frequently seeking and acting on feedback, and pursuing opportunities to develop | Implements decisions, considering the risks and implications of actions for teams, projects and other initiatives |
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Bachelors of Science in Agricultural Economics, Environmental Science, Social Science and Master’s Degree in Agricultural or related fields, or First University Degree with at least 5 years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
Language: Fluency in English: understanding, writing, reading and speaking and the local language.
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE
• Has gained experience in implementing integrated livelihood/resilience activities
• Has provided input into designing livelihoods/resilience operations.
• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.
• Has experience in the development of livelihood technical related tools, guidelines and protocols.
• Has experience working on food assistance programs development projects.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
Applications opens: 28 July 2023
Application closes: 10 August 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.
