Programme Officer (Head of Resilience and Climate)- International Consultant P4 equivalent

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.

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

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

In 2020, WFP Ethiopia has launched its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2020-2025. While the bulk of operations of this five-year CSP will continue to address the immediate short-term needs of refugees, internally displaced persons and other food-insecure and undernourished people, the plan aims to gradually expand and intensify climate change adaptation, resilience building, and livelihood diversification initiatives also linked to the humanitarian–development–peace nexus. Climate change multiplies existing threats to food security, hunger and malnutrition. It intensifies the frequency and intensity of natural hazards, amplifies the scarcity of land and water, and makes increase in agricultural productivity even harder to achieve. It disproportionally impacts the most vulnerable people, the majority of whom live in fragile areas prone to climate hazards, ultimately putting millions of people at risk.

JOB PURPOSE

This position manages Activity 5 of the CSP, leading a team of 10 staff members, covering resilience building and climate change adaptation activities.  This Activity is one of the key pillars for Strategic Outcome 2: Vulnerable and food-insecure populations in targeted areas have increased resilience to shocks.

The purpose of this assignment is: to lead Activity 5 team at CO and provide guidance to staff members covering resilience and climate activities at various Sub Offices (SOs) of WFP; to coordinate all the initiatives falling under Activity 5; to design and operationalize resilience building and climate change adaptation projects; to coordinate with WFP Regional Bureau in Nairobi and HQ relevant units; and enhance WFP’s leadership in resilience building and climate change adaptation vis-a-vis donor community, the Government of Ethiopia and in various coordination forums.  The Activity 5 manager requires experience on climate change adaptation, resilience building, with strong leadership management and public relations skills as well as with the capacities of making WFP Ethiopia CO as a key actor on those thematic areas in the country.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE)

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme, the job holder will be responsible for the following:

• Design and operationalize Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Building (CCARB) projects
• Lead the delivery of a complex portfolio of programmes in the area of CCARB, ensuring that policy and programme operations are consistent with WFP policies, Executive Board decisions and other relevant guidance as well as resources are properly monitored.
• Enhance WFP’s leadership status vis-a-vis donor community, the Government of Ethiopia and in various development-oriented coordination forums.
• Advocate for resources to broaden climate change adaptation and resilience portfolio of WFP Ethiopia.
• Lead, motivate and develop a large and complex team of professionals at CO and SO level.
• Provide technical advice and/or mobilize technical expertise on a wide range of programme and policy issues including assessment and analysis, the choice of objectives, activities, transfer modalities and appropriate food products, the deployment and testing of innovative approaches and the development of strategies to support government efforts to strengthen sustainable food systems and reduce hunger and malnutrition within a climate change adaptation perspective.

• Assist senior stakeholders of governments and other partners in the planning, formulation and implementation of CCARB and food systems strategies and programmes to strengthen government, and communities, ownership at national and sub-national levels.
• Develop operational partnerships and maintain established strategic partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives.
• Manage and oversee operational research and evidence building on issues relevant to climate change adaptation and resilience building.
• Oversee preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical reports, publications, and a variety of information products or proposals for internal or external use.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Advanced university degree in African Rural Development, Climate Change Adaptation, Social science or other related subjects.

Experience:

At least 10 years post graduate relevant professional experience on management of large programmes, coordination of teams, food security, natural resources management, climate change adaptation, climate and disaster risk management. Experience with WFP and other relevant UN Agencies is required

Languages:

Fluency (level C) in English language required. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language is an added advantage

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Ability to work independently, to plan and organize his/her work, efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
• Excellent strategic thinking, conceptualization and analytical skills.
• Proven track-record of working on funding proposals (Global Environment Facility, Adaptation Fund, Green Climate Fund, EU) and mobilizing resources.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
• Strong interpersonal and coordination skills, ability to work in a team and to communicate clearly and diplomatically with a wide range of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• A strong understanding of rural development, resilience building and climate change adaptation theories and approaches.
• Proficiency in Windows, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook

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.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

19 October 2021 (Open to Non-Ethiopian Nationals)

. 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.