Programme Policy Officer (Partnerships) at 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 (Partnerships)

Requisition ID: 830221
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Short Term-SC

Organizational Context

• In recent years, Northeast Nigeria has been grappling with a complex and devastating humanitarian crisis. The BAY (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) region has become a hotbed of violence, displacement, and despair.
• This humanitarian context is characterized by a multitude of interconnected factors that have led to widespread suffering and a desperate need for assistance.
• The extremist group Boko Haram emerged in 2009 and has unleashed a wave of violence, targeting civilians, schools, and infrastructure. Their attacks have led to the displacement of millions of people, forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in camps or host communities.
• Furthermore, the conflict has severely disrupted the livelihoods of the population, exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition. As farmers have been unable to tend to their fields and markets have been destroyed, the availability of food has dramatically decreased.
• This, coupled with climatic variabilities, has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, with about 4.3 million people currently facing acute food insecurity (IPC 3 and above as per CH of March 2023).
• The affected populations face multiple challenges including lack of basic services such as health care, education, adequate shelter, etc.
• Addressing this humanitarian crisis requires a multi-faceted approach that goes beyond immediate emergency response. It is crucial to address the root causes of the conflict, promote peacebuilding initiatives, and ensure the protection of civilians.
• Additionally, efforts must be made to towards durable solutions. The situation demands a comprehensive and sustained response. It requires strong coordination between humanitarian and development partners , the government and military actors.
• Access to affected populations in conflict-affected areas, particularly in hard-to-reach locations, poses a significant challenge due to insecurity.
• Borno State Government promotes a sustainable solution to the situation of IDPs in the State. Discussions are ongoing on how UN and other partners could support these initiatives ensuring that proposed solutions are sustainable and protect the people we serve.
• Fighting Hunger Worldwide. 
• However, institutional challenges, such as differing mandates, bureaucratic processes, and limited capacity, often impede effective coordination and hinder timely and efficient response efforts.

Job Purpose

• To deliver against the above, Nigeria Country Office is seeking an experienced national Partnership Officer (NOC) to act as a primary reference point between WFP and Borno State Government institutions.
• Under direct supervision of the Head of Area Office, the incumbent will operate in close collaboration with all Head of Units/Subject matter experts (SMEs) as relevant.

Key Accountabilities (Not All-Inclusive)
Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for carrying out the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Foster, strengthen and promote collaboration between Borno State Government and WFP through enhanced coordination, communication and capacity strengthening.
• Provide technical support and expert advice to the Government teams in the areas of food security, nutrition and other relevant programmatic areas for better advocacy in resource mobilization and utilization, and service delivery;
• Identify capacity gaps within government institutions and facilitate relevant training programs. Enhance the understanding of humanitarian principles and coordination mechanisms among government officials, fostering a more effective and coordinated response to ensure a cohesive approach;
• Advocate for increased government engagement and support for humanitarian efforts. Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with relevant government departments, ministries, and agencies to enhance collaboration;
• Proactively identify and highlight opportunities and propose the course of action to nurture a wide range of aspects of common interest;
• Facilitate dialogue between the Government and WFP on issues pertaining the partnerships through preparation of briefing materials and joint field visits;
• Using socio-political insights, prepare an engagement strategy and provide guidance on strategic alignment of WFP work with Government priorities and emerging issues to achieve impact;
• Support convening of key stakeholders including the Government, Donors, UN Agencies, and Private sector to build coalition and synergies on critical matters of common interest (i.e. capacity strengthening, climate change, food security and nutrition, etc.) using existing coordination mechanisms;
• Monitor the implementation of joint initiatives, ensuring compliance with agreed frameworks and guidelines. Prepare periodic reports on progress, challenges, and recommendations to inform decision-making processes;
• Participate in key meetings with relevant stakeholders including civil military coordination;
• Any other task 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

Standard Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Advanced University Degree in Political Science, International Development, International Relations, Communications, Sociology, Social Research Methods or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience:

• 8 or more years of relevant professional experience related to national development programmes, policies, strategies or plans and institutional structures, preferably in relation to food security and/or nutrition and revolving around national capacity strengthening and/or programme and knowledge management;
• Deepened experience in technical coordination and operational support to state governments;
• Has a good understanding of government and corporate strategies and priorities and gained experience in developing multi-stakeholder partnerships;
• Has gained significance experience in exploring new opportunities and providing inputs to design and develop solutions with prospective partners;
• Has developed long-term partner relationships and expanded engagements across geographies and sector;
• Strong analytic, communication and interpersonal skills, including training and facilitation skills and demonstrated experience in conceptual analysis, planning and organizational skills.

Languages:

• Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of Kanuri and/or Hausa languages.

Desired Experiences for Entry into the Role
Technical Skills & Knowledge:

• Solid understanding of Agenda 2030 and of SDG2 and SDG17 and respective targets and how the work of WFP can contribute to achieving them;
• Knowledge of current thinking and development in country capacity development and effective knowledge transfer models, concepts and principles relevant to humanitarian/emergency contexts;
• Solid knowledge of WFP’s mandate, Country Strategic Planning process, intervention modalities, programme and project lifecycle tools, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation desirable;
• Solid knowledge of key national and regional contexts and issues is essential;
• Demonstrated data collection and analytical writing skills, including ability to analyse and consolidate quantitative and qualitative information to understand national capacities across a wide range of policy and programme areas and identify gap and needs, as well as WFP’s entry points;
• Good operational, analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written outputs and ability to present English and/or in the language of the region;
• Moderate to proficient computer literacy

Soft Skills:

• Excellent ability to develop and maintain networks with a variety of stakeholders
• Strong facilitation skills for strategic/analytical workshops and group discussions
• Strong analytical, problem solving, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to convey an informed and professional demeanour toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.

Application Closing Date
19th November, 2023.