Programme Policy Officer P4 (Social Protection), Burkina Faso (828375) At World Food Programme

Are you a Programme Policy Professional interested in further developing your professional experience while contributing to ending global hunger? Are you passionate about helping those in need? Would you like to join a global organisation investing in its people?

If so, an exciting & fulfilling career awaits you!!! Join our diverse and passionate team that works on varied and international projects directly contributing to saving & changing millions of lives around the globe.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, 1 August, 2023 (11:59 PM CEST).

WHO WE ARE

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), a highly prestigious, reputable & world’s largest humanitarian organization, operates in more than 120 countries and territories, bringing life-saving assistance in emergencies, building pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change and supporting sustainable and resilient livelihoods for a world with zero hunger.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do, and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high-performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP’s values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org/ and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

WHY JOIN US?

WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse and multicultural working environment
WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of trainings, accreditation, coaching, mentorship and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities
A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe
We offer attractive compensation package (please refer to Terms and Conditions section)

ORGANIZATIONAL AND COUNTRY CONTEXT

The Burkina Faso country office has been engaged in the social protection sector for more than two years, forging a strategic partnership with key government agencies such as SP-CNPS, SP-CONASUR, RSU, as well as the World Bank. WFP is an active member of the National Social Protection Working led by the World Bank with whom WFP has a memorandum of Understanding dedicated to Social Protection actions dedicated to strengthening Government Institutions.

WFP also played the role of Technical advisor for MOH, CONASUR, SONAGESS to support their capacity to addressing food insecurity. In this ‘enabling’ role, WFP availed its technical strengths, analytical and operational capacities to help governments response options chronic food insecurity and emerging crisis.

With generous support from BMZ/KFW, UNICEF and WFP embarked on a joint programme to support the Governments of Mali, Mauritania and Niger, to provide critical social assistance support in the short and medium term, in response to COVID-19 while contributing to strengthening national social protection systems in the medium to longer term. In these countries, social protection systems are embryonic and stretched. Through this programme, both agencies aim to provide immediate support for countries to respond to the massive needs generated by the pandemic, as well as help to strengthen overall national capacities to adapt and build more shock-responsive, nutrition- and child-sensitive social protection systems moving forward. This joint project (so-called ‘JP SP in the Sahel’) is now being expanded to Burkina Faso as well as Chad.

This position is intended to ensure dedicated expertise on social protection, with a view to enhancing the WFP Burkina Faso Country Office’s capacity in supporting the Government to strengthen the national social protection system, in line with WFP’s Country Strategic Plan and the Government of Burkina Faso’s National Social Protection Strategy.

THE ROLE

Social protection is an increasingly popular strategy for governments to reduce extreme poverty, hunger and inequality. Virtually every country in the world has at least one social protection scheme in place, and 2.5 million people are already covered by some type of social protection programme.

As a global leader in fighting hunger and malnutrition worldwide, often in very difficult contexts, the World Food Programme (WFP) is increasingly called upon by governments to support national social protection systems. In 2019, WFP partnered with governments in 75 countries to support their national social protection systems, making support to social protection an integral part of WFP’s activities in most of the countries where it operates.

Through its triple role as a technical advisor, service provider and complementary actor, WFP is supporting these efforts, as it works with governments to extend the coverage, comprehensiveness, adequacy and quality of national social protection systems, with the aim to ensure that all people have access, throughout their lives, to strong national social protection systems that safeguard and foster their ability to meet their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs, and to reduce and address the risks and shocks they face.

To deliver against the above, the Country Office is seeking a Social Protection Programme Policy Officer (P4) to design and manage its portfolio of social protection activities. The incumbent will operate under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme. The incumbent will be responsible for carrying out the following tasks and responsibilities:

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Act as the country office social protection focal point, ensuring a clear and strong connection between the field operations, Regional Burau, and HQ.
Translate corporate and regional policies and strategies pertinent to social protection into country-level practices.
Formulate substantial parts of the Country Strategic Plan in line with WFP’s corporate and regional policies and strategies on social protection, as well as Executive Board decisions and other relevant guidance.
Design and manage a complex portfolio of social protection programmes that effectively meet food security and nutrition needs. This includes managing the implementation of the JP SP in the Sahel, ensuring coordination between the various involved units in the country-office, and compliance with donor reporting requirements.
Assist senior stakeholders of government identify and analyze policy problems and provide – or mobilize – support and technical expertise for the design and delivery of suitable social protection solutions.
Establish and maintain strategic and operational partnerships for complementary and collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve social protection and support related advocacy work within all relevant audiences. Partnership with the World Bank and UNICEF are particularly key to support the social protection agenda in the country.
Enhance WFP’s leadership status in different forums pertinent to social protection.
Manage or oversee operational research and evidence building on issues relevant to social protection.
Manage or oversee the preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical reports, publications, and a variety of knowledge products or proposals for internal or external use that position and strengthen the credibility of WFP as a partner in social protection.
Advocate for resources for a broad portfolio of WFP social protection activities, including by articulating a business case for WFP’s contributions to social protection and exploring new potential resource channels.
Ensure the best use of assigned financial resources for achievement of set social protection objectives within a significant budget.
Advise and support the design of learning initiatives that enhance the capacity of WFP staff and partners to engage in social protection-relevant policy dialogues, programme design and delivery.
Lead, motivate and develop a substantive team of high performers.
Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work.
Contribute to Country Office Emergency Preparedness by systematically assessing whether and how national social protection can contribute to an emergency response.
Other as required.

QUALIFICATIONS & KEY REQUIREMENTS

Education: You have

Advanced University degree, preferably in Public Policy, Public Administration, International Development, International Relations, Sociology, or other related fields, or a First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience: you have 8 or more years of postgraduate professional experience, preferably relevant to social protection, contributing to food security and/or nutrition objectives:

Has worked with government agencies and gained experience across the policy cycle
Has direct experience working across various programme types relevant to social protection (e.g., cash-transfer programmes, school feeding, public works / food assistance for assets, insurance programmes).
Has experience managing substantial components of a complex programme.
Has experience leading a substantive team.
Prior experience with WFP is an asset.
Prior experience in Western Africa is an asset.

Languages: You have

Fluency in English (spoken & written) is required.
At least an intermediate knowledge (level B) of French is required.

MORE ABOUT YOU

Understanding of Agenda 2030 and respective targets – particularly SDG1, SDG2 and SDG17 – and how the work of WFP can contribute to achieving them;
Understanding of WFP’s mandate, Country Strategic Planning process, intervention modalities, programme and project lifecycle tools, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation desirable.
Knowledge of current thinking and developments in the field of social protection and public policy;
Knowledge of current thinking and developments in country capacity strengthening and effective knowledge transfer models, concepts and principles;
Knowledge of key national and regional contexts and issues;
Problem solving and decision-making skills;
Aptitude for supervising, guiding and empowering staff.
Ability to develop and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders, conveying an informed and professional demeanour toward internal and external partners and stakeholders;
Ability to analyse quantitative and qualitative information to understand current and future social protection needs and identify solutions.
Learning agility, and appetite for exploring and experimenting with new ideas and approaches.
Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written outputs and ability to present in English and the working language.
Ability to work independently in a timely and organised manner;
Ability to work as part of a team, participating in open dialogues and valuing diverse opinions of others, regardless of gender, culture, background, experience, or country assignment.
Proficient computer literacy.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

These are the common standards of behaviour that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Leads by Example with Integrity – Lives the WFP values and shows humanity and integrity by role modelling care for others
Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments – Delivers on commitments and adapts readily to change
Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative Teamwork – Is inclusive and collaborative, and contributes to a culture of learning and personal growth
Applies Strategic Thinking – Demonstrates commitment to gather perspectives, analyse options and risks, and propose new ways of doing things
Builds and Maintains Sustainable Partnerships – Builds and nurtures external partnerships and collaborates with partners to deliver common objectives

Different expectations of behaviour are defined depending on your grade and role/responsibilities within WFP.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This is an International Professional position and candidates must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Mobility is and continues to be, a core contractual requirement in WFP. The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed term as well as a rotational contract with a probationary period of one year.
WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package in line with ICSC standards (http://icsc.un.org)_including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, visa, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance.
The selected candidate will be required to relocate to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso to take up this assignment.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable)
Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
Please contact us at wfprecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified