UN World Food Programme Programme Policy Officer - School Meals - Jobs in Kenya
UN World Food Programme Programme Policy Officer - School Meals - Jobs in Kenya
Organizational BackgroundThe 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.
Somalia has one of the world’s lowest overall education enrolment rates with 32 percent children enrolled in primary education and 26 percent in secondary education.
There are multiple reasons for this situation, including poverty, food insecurity, hunger, lack of adequate learning facilities, shortage of teachers (especially female teachers), safety, gender discriminating norms and practices, and the lack of relevant learning and teaching resources.
School meals can play a significant role in promoting food security, nutrition and education goals. As the largest humanitarian provider of school feeding worldwide, the WFP, along with governments and partners, supports education, reduces malnutrition, and promotes development, especially during times of crises and emergencies.
At the same time WFP is working to make school feeding ‘nutrition-sensitive’ — that is, ensuring that menus are designed with nutrition in mind, and provide not just calories but also the nutrients needed by growing bodies and brains.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Programme Policy Officer will work directly under the Nutritionist and overall supervision of deputy head of programme, will be responsible to handle the school-based programmes (school feeding) portfolio.
The incumbent will be responsible for the below duties:
Contribute towards the development and quality improvement of the School Health and Nutrition (School Meals Programme) plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider WFP and national programme policies and mentorship;
Provide project management support to home grown school feeding programme (HGSFP) in close coordination with the government, like minded partners ensuring complementarity to the multiple components of the (HGSFP) specifically on food systems strengthening, WASH and social behavioral change communication (SBCC) for kids and the communities;
Contribute to develop and coordinate data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that detailed quality standards are maintained;
Review and analyze a range of policy and operational issues to advise the development of policies, programmes, guidelines, and activities;
Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on programmes and activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to partners;
Collaborate
closely with internal WFP units and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, supervise ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery;
Represent WFP at national and sub-national meetings to contribute in technical discussions, exchange experiences, advocate for nutrition interventions and identify areas of potential collaborations;
Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships leading to improved food assistance packages;
Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to prepare for and respond to food assistance needs, e.g. through providing inputs into training materials gearing towards sustainability and national ownership;
Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries;
Other duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
Advanced University degree in Education, International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree in the above fields with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
Experience
At least three years of experience in education and one year in school feeding related programme.
Good knowledge and working experience with the government or various other sectors including policy and strategy level engagement.
UN and/or WFP experience would be an added advantage.
Successful track record in advocacy, networking, and inter-agency collaboration and management.
Language
Proficiency in English both oral and written language.
Knowledge of Somali language will be an asset.
Knowledge & Skills
Strong organizational skills and ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Ability to travel and work in difficult environment: the incumbent will conduct field visits for technical assistance 50% of the time.
Strong communication skills, both orally and in writing.
Understanding of donor policies, strategies, and programme priorities.
General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures governing administration is highly desirable.
Proficient knowledge and skill in excel and data analysis.
How to Apply
For more information and job application details, see; UN World Food Programme Programme Policy Officer - School Meals - Jobs in Kenya
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