WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Job Title: Programme Policy Officer – School Based Projects

Grade: CST II

Type of contract: Regular International Consultancy

Duration : 6 months

Duty Station: Colombo, Sri Lanka

Vacancy Number : 830834

Date of Publication:22.12.2023

Deadline of Application: 05.01.2024

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following website for detailed information on working with WFP: http://www.wfp.org

Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

JOB PURPOSE

The Country Office (CO) is seeking an experienced international Consultant to oversee the school based project activities. This will entail strong programme/project cycle management skills, analytical skills, experience in design and execution of school based interventions with main stakeholders (government, UN agencies, NGOs, communities and beneficiaries). In addition to programme management, the Consultant will contribute to the development of the overall resource mobilization strategy for school based programmes beyond 2025. Consultant will represent WFP at technical coordination fora at the national level, and when required the field levels. Building partnerships with key ministries, UN agencies and other development actors at all levels is a critical function. Support for resource mobilization efforts will be essential to the scale-up agenda, requiring the Consultant to contribute to the development of funding proposals and donor reports in collaboration with the partnership officer.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Develop, in consultation with the Head of Nutrition and School Based Programmes, a singular, harmonized school-based programme strategy for the Country Office, for the CSP 02 incorporating elements based on country capacity assessments, needs that have been identified and taking potential donor and other stakeholder interests into account;
2. Guide all school-based project activities to ensure a singular strategy and message to Government and other stakeholders;
3. Oversee the overall implementation of all school based project activities, including the home-grown school feeding and fortification of rice for the NSMP, with relevant officers, the Programme Policy Officer Nutrition at Country Office, field level staff and with the support of Regional Bureau school based programme unit;
4. Oversee the roll-out of the country capacity strengthening activities in the context of national school meal programme identified by the Country office;
5. Prepare and update annual work plan and contribute to preparing the Country Capacity Strengthening plans to achieve the targets, along with the budget details to ensure implementation of funded activities as per plan;
6. Develop and maintain strategic partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives to support advocacy work;
7. Enhance WFP’s leadership status in different forums on subjects related to school feeding and nutrition and other related issues through direct participation, briefings, information products and other material;
8. Liaise with internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery;
9. Organise quarterly review meetings with partners, prepare/update the work plan and undertake performance review, as required and provide feedback;
10. Support arranging the exchange visits of Government officials to facilitate learning;
11. Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on programmes and activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders;
12. Manage operational research and evidence building, including decentralized evaluations, on issues relevant to school feeding and contribute in undertaking assessments, and preparing ToRs to support the CCS including the development of national school meal programme strategy;
13. Manage preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical reports, publications, and a variety of information products or proposals for internal or external use, especially in collaboration with headquarters;
14. Oversee tracking utilization of resources in close collaboration with the Budget and Programming and Country Office Resource Management Committee to ensure the best use of assigned financial resources for achievement of set objectives for the school based programmes;
15. Undertake additional activities, as require

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
• Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Education, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance

Experience:
• A minimum of 7 years of progressive professional experience, including a minimum of 5 years in managing social development activities/programmes/projects, preferably on school nutrition or feeding projects with experience working in a developing country context
• Proven expertise in preparing high quality analytical reviews, especially at the programme and policy levels; excellent report writing and communication skills; experience preparing and tracking budgets, excellent interpersonal skills to engage with various stakeholders; and advanced facilitation skills

Desirable criteria:

• Has experience working in school feeding or school based programmes;
• Has experience preparing and tracking budgets;
• Has gained direct experience of different programme approaches;
• Has worked with government partners and gained policy experience;
• Has led teams in strategic discussions;

Languages:

• Proficiency in both oral and written communication skills in English.

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 (SDG 2) 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. WFP has been present in Sri Lanka since 1968 providing assistance to the country in emergency situations and conducting protracted recovery interventions in the aftermath of man-made disasters such as the 27-year conflict and recurrent natural disasters (droughts and floods/landslides). The country’s on-going economic crisis — the worst in decades – has triggered a spike in the cost of living, along with lost jobs and reduced incomes. Coupled with the lingering effects of COVID-19 and impacts of climate change, the country is experiencing a concerningly high level of food insecurity. These challenges threaten to reverse years of development gains, undermining the country’s ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Even before the ongoing crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lankan women and children had very high rates of malnutrition: 17 percent of children under 5 were too short for their age (stunted) and 15 percent were too thin for their height (wasted), a figure which is considered ‘very high’ in WHO classifications. The current economic crisis will likely aggravate this further. WFP commenced its second-generation five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for the period 2023 – 2027 (CSP 2018-2022) which aims to address immediate food and nutrition needs while building medium to long-term solutions through four strategic outcomes.

All WFP Employees are expected to demonstrate the competencies and standards of behaviour aligned with our core values and defined in the WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK, namely:

Leading by example with integrity,

Driving results and delivering on commitments,

Fostering inclusive and collaborative teamwork,

Applying strategic thinking,

Building and maintaining sustainable partnership.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The mission of WFP is to end global hunger. 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.
In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. Present in nearly
80 countries, the organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to nutritious food and contribute to the lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas. In Sri Lanka. a lower-middle-income country, WFP is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in tandem with sister UN Agencies and the government, and in particular, SDG 2, Zero Hunger.
Despite sound health indicators in Sri Lanka, in comparison to its South Asian neighbours, maternal, new born and child malnutrition continue to pose major challenges for the country, which is characterized by a high level of acute malnutrition, mild to moderate level of chronic malnutrition and widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Further compounding the issue is the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity, as the country undergoes a dramatic nutritional transition influenced by economic growth, urbanization and shifts in the quality and quantity of diets.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Friday, 05 January 2024

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.

Request for Disability related Reasonable Accommodations:

It is important to WFP to create an accessible and inclusive workplace for everyone. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection and hiring process, please direct your request and inquiries to the Diversity and Inclusion team on: global.inclusion@wfp.org, cc’ing gimhani.kariyawasam@wfp.org. A member of the reasonable accommodation team will contact you to confidentially discuss your needs.

This email is only to be used for any disability related accessibility requirements, and not for sending the application itself. Due to volume of applications, any applications or CVs sent through this email address will not be considered as a formal application and will not receive a reply from WFP.

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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.