Programme Policy Officer - Social Protection NOC at the United Nations World Food Programme (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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Policy Officer - Social Protection NOC

Requisition ID: 295926
Location: Abuja

Background And Purpose Of The Assignment

• 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.
• As the COVID-19 pandemic puts at risk not only the lives and livelihoods of many people across the globe, it also threatens to undermine decades of progress towards the SDGs. In response to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, many governments are currently adapting and/or putting in place new social protection schemes.
• 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.

Job Purpose

• To deliver against the above, the Country Office is seeking a Social Protection Programme Policy Officer (NOC) to support in designing and managing its social protection programmes.
• The incumbent will operate under the direct supervision of the Team Lead – CSPC at the Program Unit.
• 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;
• Contribute to formulation 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 social protection programmes of moderate size or complexity that effectively meet food security and nutrition needs;
• Assist government counterparts 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.
• Enhance WFP’s leadership status in different forums pertinent to social protection.
• Manage operational research and evidence building on issues relevant to social protection.
• Manage 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.
• Contribute to resource mobilization efforts for 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 moderate 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 team of high performers.
• Other as required.

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.

Functional Capabilities
Capability Name / Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level

Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance:

• Displays ability to identify the main hunger problem at the national or subnational level to design and implement context-specific programmes that integrate complex analysis and the full range of food assistance tools.

Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Voucher):

• Demonstrates the ability to design, implement, monitor and provide oversight over effective and efficient programmes deploying different transfer modalities.

Broad Knowledge of Specialized areas (i.e. Nutrition, VAM, etc.):

• Demonstrates the ability to interpret basic data in the context of WFP specialised fields to contribute to technical programme design, implementation and monitoring.

Emergency Programming:

• Displays ability to translate understanding of programme principles in emergencies and protracted conflict situations into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches

Strategic Policy Engagement w/ Government:

• Develops thorough recommendations using multiple inputs (e.g., government counsel, research, own experience) to strengthen national or subnational entities and government owned food and nutrition security programmes.

Standard Minimum Qualifications
Education / Experience:

• Advanced University degree in Agriculture, Economics, Public Policy, Public Administration, International Development, International Relations, Sociology, or other fields relevant to social protection, or a First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
• 5 or more years of professional experience relevant to social protection, preferably contributing to food security and/or nutrition.

Language:

• Fluency in English language (written and communication).

Desired Experiences For Entry Into The Role

• 5 or more years of professional experience relevant to social protection, preferably contributing to food security and/or nutrition objectives:
• Has experience working across the policy cycle;
• Has 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 leading a team.

Knowledge & Skills:

• 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.

Terms And Conditions

• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Only Nigerian nationals or holders of valid residence and work permits are eligible to apply for this position. (For G level positions, for NO level position candidates must be Nigerian Nationals)
• Applications are to be submitted and received online and in English language only.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  Canvassing is strictly prohibited. Canvassing of any sort will lead to automatic disqualification of the concerned applicant.

Application Closing Date
1st February, 2023 by 11:59pm (Nigerian Time).

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online