UN World Food Programme Policy Officer - Capacity Strengthening Jobs in Nigeria

UN World Food Programme Policy Officer - Capacity Strengthening Jobs in Nigeria

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 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.

Through the adoption in 2015 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) nations are increasingly taking the lead in sustainably improving the wellbeing of their populations and building their own capacities to design and deliver effective anti-hunger solutions.

To fulfil its mission to end global hunger, and to support national governments in doing this, WFP provides nations with direct capacity to respond to hunger—when such capacity is missing or inadequate—or increasingly, facilitates national capacity to end hunger and improve food security by supporting national food security and nutrition systems and services.

Standard Minimum Qualifications

Education: Advanced University degree in International Development, International Relations, Anthropology, Sociology, Social Research Methods or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience: or more years of relevant postgraduate professional experience related to food security and/or nutrition and revolving around national capacity strengthening and/or programme and knowledge management.

Language: Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language, if different.

Organizational Context

Since around 2019 to 2020 which corresponds to the middle of the WFP NGCO CSP 2018 to 2022, there has been an increasing demand from national stakeholders for capacity strengthening support from WFP.

As a result, there is a need for greater coordination in and across specific sectors (EPR, nutrition, education, SAMS, social protection, supply chain) where WFP has a comparative advantage, to ensure the organisation delivers well-planned, integrated capacity strengthening support to its stakeholders.

The increasing role of WFP in the Zero Hunger initiatives in Nigeria (Zero Hunger Forum and Zero Hunger roundtable) has also blossomed and guiding the national efforts towards achieving zero hunger, the tasks which will need to be pursued more strongly in the CSP 2.0 – 2023 to 2027.

Country Capacity Strengthening (CCS) according to WFP

WFP recognizes strong and sustained national capacities are critical to addressing the multiple causes of hunger and responding to the food security and nutrition needs of vulnerable populations over the long-term.

Through its extensive and deep field presence, WFP brings a solid understanding of context, beneficiary needs and local conditions, and regular contact with a wide range of actors who are key in the design and implementation of anti-hunger initiatives.

Agenda 2030 provides WFP with an opportunity to leverage this knowledge and expand its role from one of operational partner of choice to one of strategic capacity enabling partner.

WFP embraces a Whole of Society approach to zero hunger which means it engages with – and supports capacity strengthening of – a range of state and non-state actors, as relevant to context to support the country capacities required to achieve national SDG2 food security and nutrition objectives and targets, as well as relevant SDG17 objectives.

The incumbent will be responsible for carrying out the following tasks and responsibilities:

Key Accountabilities (not all-inclusive)

Contribute towards the development of a wide variety of country capacity strengthening projects, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance.

Provide project management support to specific and defined country capacity strengthening programmes and projects of considerable size/complexity, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes that complies with WFP standards and procedures.

Develop and coordinate CCS data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.

Research and analyse a range of policy and operational issues to inform the development of country capacity strengthening policies, programmes and activities.

Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on CCS 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 CCS projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery.

Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working leading to improved CCS packages.

Support the capacity strengthening of WFP staff, partners and national government to recognise and address CCS needs, e.g. by providing inputs into specific CCS materials.

Other as required.

Desired Experiences for Entry Into the Role

• 3 or more years of relevant postgraduate professional experience related to national development programmes, policies, strategies or plans and institutional structures, preferably in relation to food security and/or nutrition and revolving around national capacity strengthening and/or programme and knowledge management;

• Has deepened technical knowledge of CCS in different domains through exposure to technical teams;

• Has taken leadership of implementing CCS programmes;

• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions, on or related to CCS;

• Has experience carrying out methodical thematic research and analytical work;

• Has experience in establishing contacts and liaising with partner organisations/companies.

Technical Skills & Knowledge:

• Solid understanding of Agenda 2030 and of SDG2 and SDG17 and respective targets and how the work of WFP can contribute to achieving them

• Knowledge of current thinking and development in country capacity development and effective knowledge transfer models, concepts and principles relevant to humanitarian/emergency contexts

• Familiarity with WFP’s mandate, Country Strategic Planning process, intervention modalities, programme and project lifecycle tools, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation desirable.

• Solid knowledge of key national and regional contexts and issues;

• Demonstrated data collection and analytical writing skills, including ability to analyse and consolidate quantitative and qualitative information to understand national capacities across a wide range of policy and programme areas and identify gap and needs, as well as WFP’s entry points.

• Good operational, analytical and problem-solving skills;

• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written outputs and ability to present English and/or in the language of the region.

Soft Skills:

• Excellent ability to develop and maintain networks with a variety of stakeholders

• Strong facilitation skills for strategic/analytical workshops and group discussions

• Strong analytical, problem solving, communication, and interpersonal skills

• Ability to convey an informed and professional demeanour toward internal and external partners and stakeholders

• Flexibility to adapt individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from colleagues and internal/external changes

• Ability to participate in open dialogue and value diverse opinions, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment

• Willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work;

• Ability to work independently in a timely and organised manner

• Ability to work in a team and multi-task as needed.

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; UN World Food Programme Policy Officer - Capacity Strengthening Jobs in Nigeria

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