Programme Policy Officer (Social Protection Coordinator), P4

Position description

To deliver against the above commitments, the Moldova Country Office is seeking a Programme Policy Officer (Social Protection Coordinator) LFT P4 to manage its social protection programmes and coordination with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in line with the RESTART reforms. The incumbent will operate under the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Act as the Country Office social protection focal point and coordinator, ensuring a clear and strong connection between the Country Office, Regional Bureau in Cairo (RBC), Headquarters (HQ) and other Country Offices as useful (e.g. Armenia, Ukraine.):
  • Translate WFP corporate and regional policies and strategies pertinent to social protection into country-level practices;
  • Enhance WFP’s leadership status in different forums pertinent to social protection in Moldova;
  • Serve as WFP’s representative on technical Working Groups led by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP), including the Digitalization Working Group, Performance Management Working Group, and other key working groups established for the roll out and implementation of the RESTART reforms;
  • Participate in meetings with the MLSP to discuss the roll out and implementation of the RESTART reforms and WFP’s contributions and support within the parameters of the Interim Country Strategic Plan (ICSP);
  • Build capacity of different teams within the Programme Unit to understand the linkages between various thematic areas (Cash-Based Transfers, Vulnerability Assessment Mapping, Monitoring and Evaluation) and social protection within the Moldova Country Office context and the parameters of the Interim Country Strategic Plan;
  • Ensure optimal knowledge management on the WFP Moldova Social Protection offer across relevant offices, partners, and donors (including Armenia and Ukraine, UN-collaboration around social protection in support of host-government sectoral reforms, as well as EU-related donors and countries, incl. DG NEAR).
• Take a leading role within the Moldova Country Office to define and set strategic direction in social protection engagement with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP) under the Government of Moldova:
  • Advise the Moldova Country Office in defining and further clarifying how to take forward the office’s Social Protection programming as outlined in the Interim Country Strategic Plan (ICSP);
  • In collaboration with other counterparts, lead on the implementation of the Country Office’s activities in social protection, specifically activities related to hot meals for vulnerable refugees, cash assistance for refugees and vulnerable;
  • Moldovans, digitalization activities related to social protection, and capacity strengthening for the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection on social protection systems and programmes;
  • Take the lead in developing the strategic direction and positioning of the Country Office’s engagement in social protection and overall country social protection strategy, in line with the ICSP;
  • Contribute to the implementation of the Interim Country Strategic Plan (ICSP) in line with WFP’s corporate and regional policies and strategies on social protection, as well as Executive Board decisions and other relevant guidance;
  • Assist government counterparts identify and analyze policy problems and provide – or mobilize – support and technical expertise for the design and delivery of suitable social protection solutions;
  • Inform Country Office strategic and technical programme development, fostering integration of the work of relevant technical teams (VAM, cash-based transfers, emergency preparedness and response planning, school feeding, nutrition, TEC…) and liaising with relevant CO, Regional Bureau and Headquarters focal points as required;
  • Provide guidance to MLSP in adopting the cash assured payments framework developed by WFP for the Governments.
• Provide technical support to Moldova Country Office on social protection and capacity strengthening:
  • Provide technical advice to the Government on a wide range of programme and policy issues related to social protection and safety nets, including assessment and analysis, the choice of objectives, activities, transfer modalities, the use of social protection management information systems;
  • Lead the Country Office’s efforts to integrate the work of relevant technical teams (VAM, cash-based transfers, emergency preparedness and response planning, TEC, etc…) with regards to adaptive and shock-responsive social protection in support to food and nutrition security, demonstrating an understanding particularly of cash transfer programmes;
  • Lead the Country Office’s efforts to develop programme proposals for resource mobilization in line with the ICSP;
  • Strengthen the capacity building of Country Office staff and government counterparts to develop a community of practice.
• Take the lead on partnership development activities with UN agencies, International Financial Institutions, and other development partners:
  • Maintain and develop the Country Office’s partnerships with UN agencies around the areas of social protection and support the implementation of the interagency MOU with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and bilateral workplans with the respective agencies;
  • Participate in interagency coordination meetings and contribute to UN internal interagency working groups on the various thematic areas related to the social protection support the UN is providing to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection;
  • Liaise and build relationships with counterparts in IFIs, including the World Bank, to identify opportunities for collaboration in the region, and liaise with other Programme Units and Partnerships as required;
  • Strengthen the Country Office’s partnership development with Government, the World Bank and other IFIs and development partners, including the refining and revision the social protection strategy and roadmap of engagement towards that and articulation of opportunities for collaboration in social protection and beyond;
  • Represent WFP in policy dialogue on social protection with key actors;
  • Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men;
  • Other tasks as required and assigned by the supervisor or the senior management.

QUALIFICATIONS & KEY REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Policy, Public Administration, International Development, Sociology, or other fields relevant to social protection, or a First University Degree with additional years of related work experience.

Experience:

• At least 8 or more years of professional experience relevant to social protection, preferably contributing to food security and/or nutrition objectives.

Language:

• Fluency (level C) in English language;
• Professional proficiency in Romanian (including Moldovan dialect) or Russian preferred but not required.

MORE ABOUT YOU

• Experience working in the Eastern Europe region, Caucasus and/or Moldova;
• Experience working alongside government partners in strengthening national protection systems;
• UN or donor experience, especially with WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, or UNDP is an asset;
• Strong team working skills to work cross-functionally with teams across Programme, including CBT, VAM, and M&E;
• A sound understanding of policymaking processes and the ability to distil operationally relevant recommendations and lessons for governments;
• Understanding of Agenda 2030 and respective targets – particularly SDG1, SDG2 and SDG17 – and how the work of WFP can contribute to achieving them;
• Understanding of WFP’s mandate, Country Strategic Planning process, intervention modalities, programme and project lifecycle tools, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation desirable;
• Knowledge of current thinking and developments in the field of social protection and public policy;
• Knowledge of current thinking and developments in country capacity strengthening and effective knowledge transfer models, concepts and principles;
• Knowledge of key national and regional contexts and issues.

Application instructions

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