Food Cluster Coordinator, International Consultant-Level 1, Bahir Dar

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.

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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The conflict in the northern Ethiopia which started in November 2020 has resulted in an increase in number of food insecure people in both rural and urban communities in northern parts of the country. There are indications of disruptions of livelihood sources including on incomes and food sources. Food prices have increased in the affected regions, affecting access to nutrition rich food commodities by most vulnerable population groups. The Government of Ethiopia through National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC), the Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP) for Food Assistance in Ethiopia   and World Food Programme (WFP) are providing emergency food assistance to food insecure people in accessible woredas in the region. The food response is facing various response challenges including limited access to some of the woredas and this has contributed to delays in movement of food commodities to some distribution points. Partners are also working on coordination mechanisms to improve the food response, particularly on key issues that require attention of the clusters and partners including reviewing of monitoring mechanisms and beneficiary targeting processes. Partners are providing support to the Government on coordination of the humanitarian response, through the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC), which is led by the Government of Ethiopia. The food cluster coordination support at regional level will be working with regional Government and partners to ensure effective delivery and distribution of food to affected people.

JOB PURPOSE

The Food Cluster Coordinator (FCC) plays a vital role in ensuring timely, coherent, and effective coordination of the food security interventions by mobilizing stakeholders to respond in a coordinated and strategic manner to food needs in Amhara region. The Food Cluster Coordinator will lead the food response coordination along with partners and stakeholders involved in the humanitarian response in Amhara region, and focus on:

1. Supporting effective coordination of food response in Amhara region.
2. Informing strategic decisions of the Cluster Lead Agency (CLA), Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and regional Emergency Coordination Center (ECC).
3. Coordinating, Planning, and implementing Cluster strategies, including contingency planning and preparedness with food cluster partners
4. Participating to relevant inter-sectorial forum and work in close collaboration with relevant clusters (e.g. CCCM, Protection, Nutrition, etc)
5. Monitoring and Evaluating of cluster performance
6. Strengthening Advocacy efforts on Food security
7. Ensuring Accountability to affected people

The Food Cluster Coordinator will work impartially with all members of the cluster and represents the group, and not a specific agency. S/he will work closely with the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) or their designated official in the region as required.  The food cluster coordinator will work closely with the Country level coordination structures – the Food Cluster Coordinator and the Information Management Officers, by providing regular updates on food response, gaps and challenges that need advocacy at national level.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE)

• Contribute to preparation of Amhara region contingency and preparedness plans and lead the process for cluster through identification of needs, severity, geographical scope, and People in Need, with the support of the IMO and in consultation with the cluster partners.
• Establish and maintain appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms:  ensure inclusion of key partners at regional and sub-regional level, organize regular cluster meetings, as required.
• Establish and maintain Technical Working Groups in the region to support partners in key thematic areas (ex: cash, targeting, monitoring etc.) or key thematic emergencies,
• Ensure an inclusive governance structure for the cluster (including co-leadership of regional authorities where possible, NGO co-chairing, etc.)
• Ensure timely, inclusive, and regular information sharing and discussion with the cluster partners through various modalities including cluster meetings, email dissemination of cluster products (dashboards, maps, assessments, etc.).
• Ensure monitoring of the response implementation and reporting, including working with partners through a monitoring sub-working group.
• Facilitate / lead needs assessment & analysis, support in conducting surveys, secondary data review, and dissemination of available information (inventory / repository) to partners.
• Ensure that available information is analysed in a coordinated manner and utilised for decision-making at different levels (e.g. Displacement Tracking Matrix datasets),
• Ensure 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 cluster/inter-cluster needs assessments, analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring
• Ensure the use and application of common standards (e.g., SPHERE standards), and harmonization of programmatic responses (SOPs on modality of delivery, Minimum Expenditure Basket, minimum assistance package)
• Contribute to country level contingency planning and coordinate cluster/sector-wide emergency preparedness and response

• Participate in various coordination forums including Inter-cluster, technical working groups (e.g., Cash WG) and other relevant clusters, especially Nutrition, WASH, Health, and Protection
• Undertake advocacy and resource mobilization on behalf of the cluster partners in a neutral and impartial manner.
• HPF/Emergency pool fund allocations (where/if applicable): advocate for Food Cluster actors, and reviewing partners’  project proposal with  ad hoc committee.
• Actively track food cluster funding status for the dedicated response in Amhara.
• Identify capacity gaps and needs and provide training and capacity building opportunities to cluster partners
• Supervise the Information Management Officer and provide guidance to the co-chair and other Cluster team members and ensure a smooth and inclusive relationship of the Cluster team with all partners and WFP.
• Provide regular update to the food cluster coordination forums at national level on food security situation in Amhara, and food response and gaps as reported by partners.
• Ensure IM functions are undertaken regularly and timely by the IMO
• Report regularly to national food cluster and WFP on food response in the region.

DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS

• Food Security needs analysis and response plan.
• Food Cluster workplan with key deliverables.
• Collection of need assessment; surveys.
• Contingency plans and SOPs.
• Harmonised packages (e.g., MEB, food basket, livelihood response, Early Action, AAP).
• Multi-sector joint planning with other clusters.
• Advocacy notes and round table meetings minutes (with key actors such as donors, government).
• FC resource mobilization strategy and business case.
• Handover report with shared folder with documents at the end of the assignment

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• University degree in food security, agriculture, economics, humanitarian affairs ,or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in humanitarian response at a mid or senior level. Experience in food security related topics is mandatory and experience in the food security cluster coordination is highly desirable.
• Working knowledge of the English language.
• Willingness and ability to work in difficult environments, in often stressful time-critical situations
• Formal training in cluster coordination or previous cluster experience is strongly desirable.
• Experience of the country or region of deployment is desirable.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Strong Communication skills, meeting management and  organisation, presentation skills
• Building/maintaining Effective Relationships with relevant stakeholders including donors and government counterparts

• Knowledge Sharing
• Cultural and Gender awareness and sensitivity;

TECHNICAL SKILL

Essential Technical Skills:

• Ability to work and plan at strategic and operational levels.
• 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).
• Ability to express and summarise ideas orally and in writing in a diplomatic and inclusive manner
• Ability to organise workshops, meetings and to present outcomes in behalf of a group of stakeholders
• Assessment, Survey, and Monitoring and Evaluation

Other Skills that are considered desirable:

• Knowledge of and experience in using advanced Excel
• Control of working language in country of deployment.

4PS CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people’s skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
•  Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
•  Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
•  Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

19 October 2021 (Open to Non-Ethiopian Nationals)

. Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.