Programme Policy Officer (Nutrition Operations)

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been present in Pakistan since 1968 with the focus of work evolving from providing humanitarian assistance to positioning itself as a partner of choice for supporting the Government’s development priorities. Under the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 WFP continues to support national development priorities by complementing 

government efforts to improve food and nutrition security while also playing an integral role in emergency preparedness and humanitarian response. 

In recent years, WFP has strengthened its partnership with the Government of Pakistan to address the high levels of chronic malnutrition through a lifecycle approach through activities being implemented across the country. In each provincial office WFP has a national staff who is responsible for all nutrition activities of WFP being implemented in that province. With this in mind, WFP is planning to hire a Programme Policy Officer – Nutrition in the WFP Country Office in Islamabad.

JOB PURPOSE

The Job holder will operate with a high degree of independence to ensure that the national nutrition programme objectives are achieved across the country. They will be involved in a wide variety of planning and operational activities and analytical work, some of which may be of a considerable complexity. At this level job holders are expected to contribute to performance improvement of their unit and partners and to liaise with the teams across provinces and with additional guidance from senior colleagues in the WFP Country Office in Islamabad.

To lead planning, coordination, and operations of programme activities in the areas of nutrition that effectively support WFP’s work to prevent malnutrition across the country.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):

• Support overall operations and strengthening of a nationwide stunting prevention programme including services for stunting prevention, Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), and adolescent girls’ nutrition.
• Prepare plans for programme implementation including expected numbers of beneficiaries, food requirements; supply chain planning including procurement of food and non-food items and technical services for a country-wide stunting prevention programme, aligned with agreement with donor while ensuring the activities comply with WFP standards and procedures.
• Prepare and provide updates and inputs on the program data based on regular analysis, ensure timely course correction, aligned with agreed donor requirements.
• Participate in technical discussions around evidence generation, monitoring, and evaluation of the programme for quality implementation and to help streamline the flow of information from province to the Country Office.
• Lead and supervise the development/ technical revision of project documents including operational manuals, training guidelines package, beneficiary registration tools, programme data flow, IEC material and awareness videos etc.
• Ensure program visibility and programme branding across the country in coordination with Government.
• Identify gaps and needs through data review and trend analysis and advise timely course corrections in programme to be on track, identify future needs in terms on food, funds and supplies along with beneficiaries’ forecasts.
• Ensure the revisions of budget and resources allocation for implementation and capacity strengthening activities wherever required for the successful implementation and upscale of the nutrition programme.
• Prepare a range of documents such as TOR and Scope of Work for the programme communication, hiring of staff in country and provincial office/ISUs, consultancies services etc.
• Coordinate with Government co-partners for the smooth implementation of integrated CMAM through facilitation centres.
• Ensure timely establishment of Long-term agreements for non-food items and staffing services for the nutrition progamme.
• Build the capacity of the junior staff at WFP on programme implementation and protocols.
• Support in building the capacity of WFP staff, partners including governments partners on nutrition programmes, to enable them to prepare for and respond to nutrition issues.
• Establish or strengthen a coordination mechanism within WFP and with donor and external stakeholders in programme, to contribute in discussions, exchange experiences, advocate and position WFP and identify areas of joint-collaboration, and partnerships with Government and development partners.
• Coordinate and steer provincial teams for keeping track of activities under Annual Work Plans/FLAs established with cooperating partners/Government.
• Maintain operational partnerships through various agreements and governance documents for programme implementation and exploring opportunities for implementing collaborative approaches and initiatives that improves the nutrition situation in the country.
• Support the Programme and Partnerships Units to collect, interpret and use relevant performance information and for donor and Annual Country Reports. Incorporate gender perspectives in all areas of work to ensure equal participation of women.
• Any other responsibilities as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Advance University degree in any one of these disciplines: Project Management, Business Economics/ Business Administration, Public Health/Nutrition Or first level university degree with 2 years of additional related work experience

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional level work experience working in the field of nutrition programme development and implementation of nutrition programmes including stunting prevention, wasting management and other relevant nutrition initiatives, supporting governance and policy platforms and nutrition conditional cash transfer programming for improving nutrition.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Has deep technical knowledge on nutrition programming and global best practices.
• Has ability to take leadership role in implementation of nutrition sensitive and specific programmes and can take independent decisions, work with diverse teams and as demonstrated abilities implement/support medium to large scale operations.
• Can participate and provide into policy level discussions and decision makings.
• Willingness to travel and work under difficult conditions.
• Language: Fluency in English and Urdu language and any additional local language

Source: https://wd3.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/wfp/job_openings/job/Islamabad-Pakistan-The-Islamic-Rep/Programme-Policy-Officer–Nutrition-Operations-_JR105200