Programme Policy Officer

BACKGROUND:

WFP Lao PDR is currently Implementing country strategic plan (CSP 2022-2026) supporting vulnerable community groups to improve their lives through enhanced food security, improved nutrition and building resilience to cope up with climate related shocks.

School-based programme has been a key focus for WFP Laos Country Office since it established an office in 2002 and Strategic Outcome 1 (SO 1- school feeding) remains the largest outcome area under the CSP 2022-2026.

• Since 2010, WFP has been providing financial and technical assistance to the Government to establish, develop and strengthen a National School Lunch Programme (NSLP), ensuring that pre-primary and primary school students in the Government’s priority districts receive school meals. While the CO continues to manage direct implementation of the programme in 700+ schools, WFP’s capacity strengthening / technical assistance work towards the Government and communities continues to grow.
• The Programme Policy Officer (PPO) will be responsible for monitoring & evaluation, data management, and planning and implementation of evidence generation activities under SO1 programme, providing technical and operational guidance. The PPO will be working closely with WFP Research, Assessment & Mapping (RAM) unit and other SO s in the CO to make effective collaboration to ensure smooth implementation of the activities under SO 1. The PPO will be responsible for providing updated data and information for SO 1 team for reporting and programme designing and reviewing purposes.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

• The Programme Policy Officer will operate under the School Based Programme Coordinator and will work close collaboration with SO 1 team, WFP field offices involved in the project implementation as well as with the Government stakeholders at different level.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Key responsibilities will include:

• Provide technical guidance to develop project management support to the school feeding programme to ensure that the various activities are performed within the established targets, policies and strategy, implementation guidelines, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Responsible to coordinate with WFP field offices for effective implementation of SLP projects including food assistance and HGSF activities.
• Provide support to SLP implementing partners to strengthen multisectoral collaboration and coordination at the provincial, districts, community, and school levels.
• Coordinate with Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES, Inclusive Education Promotion Centre (IEPC) , Provincial Education and Sports Service (PESS), District Education and Sports Bureau (DESB), and other relevant ministries and government institutions to perform SLP related activities in a timely and effective manner.
• Identify capacity gaps in the SLP operational areas, prepare and facilitate, and deliver trainings in collaboration with the CO school feeding unit to build the capacity of implementing sectors at district, school, and community level.
• Coordinate data collection and analysis related to SLP and highlight issues ensuring deliverables adhere to corporate standards and quality control.
• Identify challenges and opportunities, analyse the situation, and proactively respond to a range of operational queries and problems related to SLP in the operational area of responsibility.
• Plan, monitor and coordinate the effective implementation of WFP McGovern Dole and HGSF project activities, and bring the issues and recommendations to WFP Field Office, school feeding unit and the government agencies for timely and corrective actions.
• Coordinate with the technical teams in the ministries of Education, Agriculture, and Health to ensure effective implementation of WFP supported SLP programmes.
• Maintain good relationship with the Government counterpart in the national and sub-national level and facilitate and proactively lead SLP monitoring in collaboration with WFP FO staff.
• Manage WFP District Community Facilitators (DCFs) providing them technical and operation guidance.
• Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on school feeding activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
• Support school feeding studies and assessments, surveys and research activities and ensure effective knowledge management.
• Liaise with the internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration with stakeholders and community participation in all SLP activities to build local ownership and programme sustainability.
• Work closely with WFP Research, Assessment, and Monitoring (RAM) team to regularly monitor, update and track data related to SLP issues, commodity movements, following the timely delivery of commodities and distributions to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
• Provide operational support to the districts and schools in preparing plans, project implementation, facilitating food procurement process and ensure the delivery of food commodities and provision of Non-Food Items on time.
• Work with the national and subnational level authorities in the Ministry of Agriculture (MAF) to enhance the capacity of smallholder farmers to produce and supply nutritious and quality fresh foods under HGSF.
• Work with SO 1 Information and Data Management Officer to prepare and compile detailed monthly and quarterly school feeding reports describing project activities, disaggregated by age and gender, and ensure timely submission to SO1 team.
• Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries.
• Contribute to resource mobilisation efforts in support to SLP implementation.
• Support the roll out of the SABER action plan related activities.
• Perform additional duties, as required by the Supervisor.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Advanced University degree in Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences International Affairs, Economics, or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
• At least six (6) year experience working with NGOs, School Feeding, nutrition programming, rural development, agriculture, or development fields. Or three (3) year experience in the sectors described and a master’s degree.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Proven track record in delivering community level development programmes, focused on school feeding and agriculture.
• Strong inter and intrapersonal communication skills.
• Good analytical, facilitation, negotiation skills.
• Ability to work in a team, establish effective working relations with persons of different cultural backgrounds.
• Experience in working with Government counterparts and familiar with public administration.
• Experience in policy consultations and development and/or project management.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, persuade, influence adapt communication styles to different situations and individuals.
• Gained experience in providing input into designing projects and operations.
• Experience in community development, and civic engagement under UN projects would be an added advantage.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, flexibility, adaptability and ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing, and ability to tactfully negotiate.
• Having experience with leading the project implementation in one or more of WFP’s programme areas (e.g., food security, nutrition, agriculture, education or similar) ideally with a government partnership, institutional development and/or systems strengthening.
• Understanding of WFP’s operations in Lao PDR.

LANGUAGE:

• Fluent working knowledge (Written and Verbal) of Lao and English language (Level C) is essential. Knowledge of additional local languages will be an asset

Source: https://wd3.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/wfp/job_openings/job/Vientiane-Laos-The-Peoples-Dem/Programme-Policy-Officer–HGSF–SO1-_JR103272