Programme Policy Officer- Project Implementation Coordinator

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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Lao PDR is characterized by high levels of stunting (33%), wasting (10.7%) and micronutrient deficiencies in children and women of reproductive age. Overweight and obesity have significantly increased in the past decade, echoing global and regional trends, and is a growing concern particularly among adult women. Thus, Laos can be characterized as experiencing the triple burden of malnutrition. Nutrition remains a high priority in the national development agenda. 

Since January 2022, WFP has been implementing a Country Strategic Plan 2022-2026 which is formulated around the achievement of four strategic outcomes. Through Strategic Outcome 2, WFP aims to improve the nutritional status of key population groups. This includes promoting changes in people’s behavior through the introduction of complementary, nutritious foods; diversification of diets; improving infant and young child feeding practices; and enhancing communities’ ownership of initiatives such as school feeding. WFP aims to improve the nutritional status of vulnerable people throughout their life cycle, as well as increase their resilience to seasonal and long-term shocks and stresses. 

Several Nutrition sensitive projects funded by various donors are being implemented jointly with the government structures, particularly with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF). The projects promote nutrition sensitive agriculture and encourages local communities to improve their planning capacities and nutrition outcomes and diversify their agriculture practices through among others, Farmer Nutrition Schools and the distribution of grants.

JOB PURPOSE

The International Consultant will support the nutrition team and activities within Strategic Outcome 2 of the WFP Country Strategic Plan (CSP, 2022-2026) and report to Head of Nutrition in Country Office. He/she will particularly be responsible of the coordination and support to the management of the WFP implemented projects under the Nutrition Portfolio, as well as supervise the team of the project managers involved in the project implementation.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Overall management of the projects implemented under the SO2 nutrition portfolio.
• Provide technical guidance to the national programme officers managing projects under his(her) supervision, ensuring a coordinated approach with other programmes in line with WFP standards and procedures.
• Develop and coordinate data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.
• Liaise with other team members in Nutrition Unit and other colleagues in the country office, seek for the technical support on specialized areas such as nutrition, SBC, CBT etc. when required to ensure the quality of implementation activities.
• Lead the projects implementation assessment for each project as well the tracking the expenditures under various grants to ensure smooth implementation of the projects.
• 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.
• Liaise with internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects, and highlight potential risks to project delivery.
• Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries.
• Advice and support the development of functional training in areas of expertise to enhance the capacity of WFP staff and partners to design and deliver effective programmes.
• Maintain communication with the Partnership Officer as well as donors and government partners to ensure timely reporting according to the donor and government requirements.
• Lead, motivate and develop a team of staff to enable high performance.
• Perform other tasks as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education:  Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.
• University degree or specialized courses in Nutrition/Health, Agriculture are an asset.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Understanding of WFP’s operations in the developing world or those of similar humanitarian organizations.
• Understanding of the nutrition-sensitive programme management processes is highly desirable.
• An experience in managing the nutrition sensitive agriculture project will be considered a plus.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• At least four ( 04) years of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience implementing humanitarian, and/or development programmes.
• Proven and demonstrable project management and coordination skills.
• Action management skills and ability to take decisions.
• Effective interpersonal communication and coordination skills.
• Teamwork and partnership in multicultural environment.
• Analytical skills

Source: https://career5.successfactors.eu//career?career_ns=job_listing&company=C0000168410P&navBarLevel=JOB_SEARCH&rcm_site_locale=en_GB&career_job_req_id=833032