Consultant - Programme Policy (Resilience and Livelihood) at 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: Consultant - Programme Policy (Resilience and Livelihood)

Ref: JR112301
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Full Time

Background and Purpose of the Assignment

• The World Food Programme (WFP) Nigeria is currently implementing its second-generation Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for 2023 - 2027. Under Strategic Outcome 3, the CSP aims to enhance sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable populations and smallholder farmers through a food systems strengthening approach.
• As part of this effort, WFP Nigeria has developed a food systems strategy, "Out of Conflict into Solutions," which aligns with the Nigerian government’s priority agenda of boosting agriculture and achieving food security. 
• This strategy is also in line with the State Action Plans for Durable Solutions to displacement in Northeast Nigeria.
• Within this strategic framework, WFP Nigeria is implementing a joint project in partnership with UNICEF, funded by KfW / BMZ. This project focuses on improving nutrition, strengthening livelihoods, and fostering social cohesion. 
• The livelihoods component of the project presents a critical opportunity to invest in high-impact, area-based sustainable livelihood solutions for targeted communities in Northeast Nigeria.
• This consultancy aims to strengthen WFP quality and timely implementation of resilience and livelihoods programming in the target regions. 
• Specifically, the Programme Policy Officer (Resilience / Livelihoods expert) will provide operational and technical leadership and oversight for implementing of resilience and livelihoods programming to ensure quality programming delivery and long-term sustainability.  

Accountabilities /  Responsibilities

• Provide implementation supervisory support and technical guidance to programme staff involved in implementing the best practices of resilience and livelihood programs in the Area Office (AO) and Sub Office (SO) and strategies that align with broader organizational objectives and development goals.
• Support in developing and outlining the strategic direction of the resilience and livelihood portfolio for the AO including the planning and implementation of the integrated resilience and livelihood strategies that align with broader organizational objectives.
• Enhance WFP’s leadership status at AO level for the livelihoods, resilience, or engagement in humanitarian, transition, and development programming (Durable Solutions), through direct participation, briefings, information products and other materials.
• Liaise and collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders, including government counterparts, UN agencies, cooperating partners, and research institutions, to ensure the timely and effective implementation of livelihoods activities. Priority will be given to the time-sensitive KfW/BMZ-funded project. Responsibilities include coordinating and facilitating regular engagements, such as weekly check-ins, periodic review meetings, and joint field visits, to enhance alignment and operational efficiency.
• Support governments and other partners engagements and provide support and technical expertise for the planning, formulating, and implementing moderately complex livelihood and resilience programs to strengthen government and community ownership and effectiveness programs at field levels.
• Support the design and implementation of climate-smart agricultural practices, alternative livelihoods, natural resource management, and disaster risk reduction strategies.
• Ensure integration of cross-cutting themes such as gender equality, social cohesion, and conflict sensitivity in all interventions.
• Contribute to the AO & SO efforts in building up WFP’s capacity to deliver against the development plan. Particular attention will be given to setting up the technical expertise required for participatory planning, water harvesting, large-scale irrigation farming, and environmental and social asset creation in the three BAY states (Borno, Yobe, Adamawa).
• Contribute to the knowledge management processes (knowledge acquisition, storage, distribution, and use), including ensuring project visibility and implementing project awareness with the support of the project and communication teams.
• Establish and maintain operational partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that support livelihoods, build resilience and support advocacy work.
• Advise and support the development of functional training in areas of expertise to enhance the capacity of WFP staff and government partners to design and deliver effective resilience and livelihood programs.
• Lead, motivate and develop a staff team to enable high performance.

Qualifications & Experience

• University Master's / B.Sc Degree in Natural Resource Management, Forestry, Economics, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Agricultural engineering, or other field relevant to food security and livelihood, with a demonstrated focus/interest on rural livelihoods.
• 10 years of relevant work experience in Natural Resource Management, Integrated Watershed Planning, Dryland Agriculture and Rural Development, Social Protection and Food Security and Nutrition

Knowledge & Skills:

• Exposure to and experience with water works and infrastructure implementation, agriculture and livestock, watershed management, Natural Resource Management, Rural Development, Social Protection and planning, participatory approaches and community-led change projects, food security, nutrition programmes and safety nets desirable.
• Exposure to and experience with food security, nutrition programmes and safety nets are desirable.
• Proficiency in Windows and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and experience using geographic information systems are an advantage.
• Good analytical skills; resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgement, tact, and negotiating skills; ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing; ability to work in a team and establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to cope with situations which may threaten health or safety; flexibility in accepting work assignments outside standard desk description. Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Languages:

• Fluency (level B) in English language is required.

Deliverables at the End of the Contract:

• Effective project implementation and coordination within the CO, AO and SOs for early recovery, integrated resilience, and livelihood projects.
• Provide capacity strengthening support to AO teams and ensure the sustainability of scaling efforts.
• Assist the AO in timely implementing the resilience activities, including early recovery and climate-smart interventions.
• Developing project proposals, including technical aspects, activity selection, planning, timelines, budgeting, and reporting.
• Support the adoption of innovative, large scale and low-cost resilience-building and livelihood technologies, such as dryland management, moisture harvesting, soil conservation, water harvesting, large-scale irrigation, nurseries and community infrastructure.
• Contribute to advocacy, visibility development, and fundraising initiatives to scale up resilience and livelihood activities across the regions.
• Facilitate  WFP and Cooperating Partners (CP)  capacity strengthening on resilience and livelihood.
• Coherent capacitated WFP, CP and government counterparts able to deliver the resilience programming. 

Reporting:

• The role reports to the HOP (AO) and provides technical and operational oversight to the Resilience teams in the Area Office and Sub Office.

Why join WFP? 

• 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 training, 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 the 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 an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

Application Closing Date
19th May, 2025.

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