Partnerships Officer SC-9 At World Food Programme

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, color, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or 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.

The World Food Programme opened its office in Barbados covering the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean in mid-2018 and covers 22 countries and territories. With an emphasis on strengthening capacities in the region to better cope with the climate crisis and other shocks, the 2022-26 Caribbean Multi-Country Strategic Plan (MCSP) focuses on strengthening social protection, disaster management and food systems at the national and regional levels. This has included a focus on innovative solutions involving disaster risk financing as well as a strong focus on digitalization and data. At the same time, the MCSP recognizes that existing vulnerabilities require that WFP also needs to be ready to provide more direct support in times of emergencies and as such includes provisions for direct assistance to affected populations through cash, vouchers or in-kind food transfers as well as logistics services to facilitate national government, regional actors and international partners immediate responses to shocks. When activated to respond to emergencies, the MCSP also aims to strengthen capacities throughout.

The MCO has grown significantly since it was opened and currently includes a fiscal presence in seven countries and has developed strong partnerships with national governments, regional entities, development partners, international financial institutions and other UN entities among others.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Since its establishment, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been entrusted with a dual mandate: to meet emergency and protracted relief food needs (saving lives) and to support economic and social development (changing lives). To contribute to national development agendas in an impactful way, WFP innovates to tackle the root causes of hunger and malnutrition and builds resilience both at a community and system level. The organization works with multiple stakeholders, aiming to build strong partnerships with national governments, and development partners, including International Financial Institutions (IFIs), and the private sector.

Effective design and implementation of development programmes requires:

. Robust engagement and investment in relationships with governmental authorities (local, subnational and national);

. Robust engagement and investment in relationships with other development actors, including International Financial Institutions;

. Expertise in public policy and public administration and contextual knowledge of how respective Governments and ministries operate.

Supporting the WFP Caribbean Multi-Country Office (MCO) Senior Partnerships Officer and working closely with the Country Director and MCO Management, the National Partnerships Officer will help position WFP strategically as a key development partner amongst the Caribbean regional and national stakeholders and will play a critical role in engagement with International Financial Institutions and in identifying development financing to maximize the impact of WFP’s development programmes.

The Officer will facilitate WFP’s contribution to the design of key policies and programmes in the country and will mobilize resources for WFP programmes contributing to the country’s development agenda.

JOB PURPOSE

To contribute to the development of new and existing partnerships with government organizations in order to advocate the work of WFP, and raise and mobilize resources to support WFP programmes.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Strategic Advice and Analysis

1. Support WFP engagement with National Government counterparts and International Financial Institutions, including through scoping and mapping the national and regional priorities (including national capacity gaps, budget allocations and fiscal space) and, drafting tailored strategies and value propositions, and process support.

2. Provide strategic direction and advisory services to the Country Director, Senior Partnerships Officer and Country Office Management in terms of strengthening WFP’s relationship with the Government and positioning WFP as a key actor in the development space.

3. Provide tailored support to Regional Bureaux and Country Offices to support follow up on strategic and funding opportunities to advance countries’ development agendas and support achievement of relevant goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals, and other relevant platforms, within the framework of national Zero Hunger Strategic Reviews, WFP’s Country Strategic Plans, and South-South and Triangular Cooperation;

4. Proactively scan the country development landscape and support exploration of viable opportunities and new approaches for WFP’s strategic engagement in the development space with the Government and other development actors, such as IFIs, particularly in the areas of WFP engagement in the Caribbean.

5. Closely follow relevant external developments and processes involving the Government and IFIs (e.g. national budgetary processes, approval of key strategic documents, and loan negotiations) and support the development of the Country Director’s/Office’s position on these matters.

6. Analyse the national development, budgeting and spending priorities to determine how WFP could support the Government with furthering its priorities and closing the funding gap.

7. Provide technical advice or mobilise technical expertise, to support the development of agreements with national governments which support government efforts in the achievement of the SDGs.

8. Support the design and negotiation of large/complex partnership proposals, joint strategies and/or MOUs in line with corporate norms, processes and external regulations.

9. Contribute to complex negotiations on strategic partnership agreements in line with WFP’s corporate norms, processes and external regulations, in order to reach advantageous outcomes for WFP, with government and other development actors, including IFIs.

Stakeholder Engagement

10. Working with the Senior Partnerships Officer develop and co-lead the implementation of WFP’s partnerships with Government and key development actors, including IFIs, academia, regional organisations and other UN agencies working on development issues.

11. Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key stakeholders as relevant.

12. Inform and support the Country Office management as well as its technical teams on the engagement with key partners on the strategy, design, relevance and impact of programmes that can be supported by WFP to advance national development priorities.

13. Support country and technical focal points to liaise with government agencies in support of projects and operational activities that strengthen government capacities.

14. Provide advice on WFP’s representation and messaging in various national instances/committees /working groups (on humanitarian/development issues).

15. Engage with national institutions, universities and think-tanks to establish WFP as a thought leader in the Caribbean in the development arena.

Brand Management and Positioning

16. Support the management of WFP’s brand among key external stakeholders as a UN agency with a dual humanitarian and development mandate and a trusted development partner.

17. In close contact with relevant colleagues from the Country Office, support the development of WFP’s value proposition and specific offerings in the areas of rural transformation, sustainable infrastructure and human capital development, and contribute to the process of project design, where necessary.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal: Reports to the Senior Partnerships Officer. Works closely with the Country Office Management and Programme and Partnerships Teams and liaises with the Head of Partnerships at the Regional Bureau and a relevant focal point in the Strategic Partnerships team.

External: Facilitates engagement with the Government, including relevant ministries and agencies, key development actors, including IFIs, and academia in close coordination with the Country Director, Senior Partnership Officer and MCO management.

KEY DELIVERABLES

1. On-going strategic advice leading to game-changing support from WFP to the government and increased funding for WFP’s work contributing directly to the MCO countries’ development portfolio.

2. Government and development actor (including IFIs) engagement strategy including stakeholder mapping for WFP at prioritized country level.

3. Lead the implementation of the above-mentioned partnerships strategy both by supporting the country office management and also by building and maintaining partnerships directly as relevant.

4. Joint concept notes with the national government on areas of joint engagement.

5. Advocacy documents and position papers on WFP’s development work.

6. Regular stakeholder meetings and technical workshops, where relevant.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in Political Science, International Development, Development Economics, Marketing Communications or another relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience: Three years of relevant professional work experience in partnership roles or related areas.

Language: Fluency (level C) in the English language.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

Has knowledge of the work and programmes of international financial institutions.

Has a basic understanding of government and corporate strategies and priorities and experience in developing multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Has explored new partnership opportunities, provided inputs into developing solutions with prospective partners and explored new areas to scale-up existing activities.

Has designed and managed all resource mobilization processes and resource strategies, negotiated contract terms and provided resourcing advice to seniors.

Has gained experience in using technology and digital tools for data collection, analysis and shared data-based insights to add value to all partnerships.

Has supported the creation of external communications and briefing materials.

Has provided advanced technical support and identify opportunities for service delivery excellence to strengthen partnerships.

Has motivated team spirit and contributed to a gender-balanced, inclusive and sound working environment.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Who Can Apply?

This position is open to nationals of Barbados and CARICOM member states and associate members. CARICOM Nationals applying for a National position outside of their home country bear sole responsibility for required actions or expenses related to relocation, accommodation, repatriation, and any other living expenses, etc. A CARICOM Skilled National Certificate is a pre-requisite of employment for successful candidates who are not from the country for which the position is advertised.

Employment Particulars

• Type of position: Short Term-Full Time
• Type of Contact: Service Contract Level 9 (SC-9)
• Duration on Contract: 12 months with the possibility of extension, based on organisational requirements.
• Duty Station: Barbados
• Travel Requirements: The WFP Caribbean Office cover the 22 English and Dutch speaking Caribbean countries. The selected candidate may be required to travel from time to time, both regionally and internationally, to support missions, emergency responses, training etc. As such, medical clearance is required.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

The application should be submitted by June 30, 2022, 23:59 Easter Daylight Time. Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be considered and only short-listed qualified candidates will receive an acknowledgement.

Link:

https://career5.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=164812&company=C0000168410P