Job offer: Programme Policy Officer – Nutrition (WFP)

Jobs Opportunities: Consultant – Programme Policy Officer (Nutrition) – United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Yaoundé

Application Deadline: 6 October 2024, 23:59 (GMT+01:00 West Africa Standard Time, Douala)

Embrace a Diverse and Inclusive Future with WFP

At the World Food Programme (WFP), we celebrate diversity and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, social or cultural background, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other characteristic. WFP is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunities and welcomes everyone to join our mission.

About the World Food Programme (WFP)

As the largest humanitarian organization in the world, WFP saves lives in times of crisis and supports long-term development through food assistance. Our mission is to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity, particularly for communities affected by conflict, natural disasters, and the impacts of climate change.

At WFP, people are our most important asset. We aim to build a workforce that is diverse, committed, and high-performing, ensuring a healthy and inclusive work culture. Our values—Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion—drive everything we do. Together with our partners, we work tirelessly to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people we serve.

For more information about WFP, visit our official website: wfp.org. You can also stay updated with our latest news by following us on YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Why Join WFP?

• Nobel Peace Prize Winner 2020: WFP is globally recognized for its role in advancing peace and combating hunger.
• Inclusive and Multicultural Environment: At WFP, you will thrive in a highly diverse and multicultural workplace.
• Investing in Your Growth: WFP is deeply invested in the professional and personal development of its employees, offering a wide range of training, mentorship, accreditation, and coaching programs. Additionally, there are numerous internal mobility opportunities to grow within the organization.
• Global Career Opportunities: A career at WFP provides the unique opportunity to work across multiple country, regional, and global offices alongside passionate colleagues committed to delivering humanitarian aid to millions of people worldwide.
• Attractive Compensation Package: WFP offers a competitive compensation package, detailed in the Terms and Conditions section of the job announcement.

Key Responsibilities (Not All-Inclusive)

• Coordinate Nutrition Programs: Lead and oversee nutrition initiatives, ensuring alignment with global best practices and principles of nutrition integration.
• Collaborate with Programme Teams: Work closely with staff and partners to embed nutrition strategies across various programs, including school feeding, emergency response, smallholder farmer support, and climate resilience initiatives.
• Facilitate Strategic Development: Guide the creation and execution of strategies that foster cross-sectoral collaboration across different program areas to maximize impact.
• Provide Technical Support: Offer field-based leadership, including site visits, training sessions, and capacity-building activities, to strengthen programme teams and enhance their effectiveness.
• Enhance Collaboration: Organize regular meetings and knowledge-sharing sessions to promote teamwork and continuous learning within and across program teams.
• Develop Advocacy Materials: Contribute to the preparation of advocacy content, including reports, policy briefs, and communication materials, to support the organization’s objectives.
• Support Food Fortification Efforts: Collaborate with other sectors to advance the food fortification program, improving the nutritional quality of food supplies.
• Promote Innovation: Drive innovative approaches to food and nutrition security, including initiatives such as cash transfers, to improve community resilience and nutrition outcomes.
• Strengthen National Nutrition Structures: Collaborate with multi-sectoral committees and stakeholders to enhance national coordination structures for nutrition, contributing to policy development and the implementation of guidelines.
• Represent the Organization: Act as the organization’s representative in nutrition coordination meetings and forums, advocating for nutrition-focused policies and programs.
• Support National Initiatives: Assist in strengthening national nutrition initiatives, particularly through the development of relevant policies, guidelines, and platforms that promote better nutrition practices.
• Enhance Leadership in Nutrition: Strengthen the organization’s leadership role in nutrition and foster private sector engagement through the SUN Business Network, encouraging increased investment in nutrition.
• Build Staff Capacity: Provide support for the capacity-building of staff to ensure the effective implementation of nutrition programs and enhance program outcomes.
• Strengthen Operational Partnerships: Promote strong multi-sectoral responses to nutrition challenges by supporting inter-agency collaboration in both emergency and non-emergency contexts.
• Deliver Accurate Reporting: Prepare accurate, timely reports and insights that contribute to the knowledge base, guiding decision-making for the organization and its stakeholders.
• Enhance SBCC Efforts: Support Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) strategies to improve nutrition outcomes at the individual and household levels.
• Develop Nutrition Messages: Contribute to the creation of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive SBCC materials that align with the organization’s goals.
• Mobilize Communities: Encourage community participation and the involvement of key influencers to support long-term shifts toward positive health and nutrition behaviors.
• Support Screening and Management: Lead efforts to ensure active screening, identification, and management of nutrition beneficiaries across various programs.
• Ensure Harmonization: Oversee the coordination and harmonization of SBCC and nutrition-sensitive activities, ensuring consistency and effectiveness across programs.
• Provide Technical Advice: Offer guidance to country and field offices on nutrition integration and SBCC strategies, particularly in emergency situations.
• Lead COHA Study in Cameroon: Provide technical leadership in conducting the Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) study in Cameroon, contributing valuable insights to shape future programming.
  1. Coordinate the National Implementing Team (NIT): Lead the NIT and technical working groups to ensure broad multi-sectoral participation in the execution of the COHA study.
  2. Disseminate COHA Findings: Ensure that the results of the COHA study are effectively shared at workshops, meetings, and policy-level events to maximize their impact.
  3. Contribute to Nutrition Studies: Participate in other nutrition-related studies to enrich the knowledge base and enhance WFP’s contribution to the most vulnerable populations.
  4. Promote Human Capital Development: Drive a coordinated and integrated approach to human capital development, focusing on how it impacts nutrition, cognitive development, health, and overall productivity.
  5. Facilitate Cross-Sector Collaboration: Work with partners and sectors involved in human capital development, emphasizing the link between proper nutrition and increased productivity.
  6. Integrate Nutrition Across Programs: Ensure nutrition integration in programs such as school feeding, emergency response, smallholder farmer support, climate resilience, and food security to guarantee a smooth alignment of activities.
  7. Collaborate with Smallholder Farmer Programs: Work alongside the resilience and smallholder farmer teams to promote food and nutrition security, aiming to increase the productivity of smallholder farmers.
  8. Facilitate Nutrition Education: Promote nutrition education through an integrated approach within school feeding, resilience, and smallholder farmer programs to enhance overall program outcomes.
  9. Support Social Protection Advocacy: Assist the social protection team in advocating for increased funding and investment in nutrition to better serve vulnerable populations.
• Lead PULCCA Activities: Coordinate and supervise PULCCA activities, ensuring they are implemented in line with the project plan and objectives.
• Ensure Integrated Implementation: Guarantee a holistic approach to all components of the PULCCA project, ensuring seamless execution.
• Prepare Reports and Maintain Records: Prepare regular reports for donors, stakeholders, and project partners and maintain accurate documentation of project activities and outcomes.
• Engage the Community: Foster community engagement to ensure their participation and feedback in the planning and implementation of projects, promoting a collaborative approach.
• Field Support and Program Integration
  1. Coordinate Field Program Activities: Support and coordinate field-level program activities to ensure they are executed efficiently and aligned with organizational goals.
  2. Foster Cross-Sector Collaboration in the Field: Organize and lead cross-sectoral meetings at the field level to strengthen collaboration and coordination between different sectors and departments.
  3. Ensure Effective Communication: Liaise with field teams, partners, and stakeholders to ensure effective communication and coordination of activities.
  4. Monitor Program Progress: Oversee the progress of programs in the field and support the preparation of reports and updates for both internal and external stakeholders.
  5. Strengthen Partner Operations: Coordinate with the cooperating partner coordinator to enhance the operational delivery and efficiency of cooperating partners.
  6. Target Beneficiary Support: Contribute to and support the targeting of beneficiaries for food and nutrition programs to ensure the right populations are being served.
  7. Conduct Field Visits: Regularly visit program sites to monitor quality of implementation and ensure adherence to established standards.
  8. Ensure Joint Monitoring: Oversee joint monitoring of food and nutrition assistance programs and ensure timely reporting to stakeholders.
  9. Identify and Mitigate Risks: Identify potential risks and challenges in field operations and work with the program team to develop mitigation strategies.

  Required Qualifications and Experience for the Role:

  1. Technical Expertise: Demonstrated depth of technical knowledge through active engagement with specialized technical teams.
  2. Leadership Skills: Proven experience in leading and implementing key programs, showcasing strong project management capabilities.
  3. Strategic Input: Actively contributed to policy discussions and decision-making processes, shaping organizational strategies.

  Standard Minimum Academic Qualifications:

  1. Education:
     • Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or a related field to international development assistance (with at least 3 years of experience); or
     • First University degree with additional 5 years of relevant work experience and/or related trainings/courses.
  2. Languages:
     • Full proficiency (Level C) in English.
     • Intermediate proficiency (Level B) in a second official UN language, such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, or Portuguese (a working language of WFP).

  Terms & Conditions:

  1. Position Title: Consultant Programme Policy – Nutrition
  2. Contract Type: CST (Consultancy Service Contract)
  3. Grade: CST I
  4. Duration: 11 months
  5. Duty Station: Yaoundé, Cameroon

  WFP Leadership Framework:

  The WFP Leadership Framework sets clear behavioral standards for how we collaborate to achieve our mission effectively. It serves as a guide to foster accountability and excellence in leadership across all levels.

  Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

  At WFP, we are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment processes are designed to be accessible and welcoming to candidates from all backgrounds.

  If you require any reasonable accommodations or have concerns about accessibility during the application process, please reach out to us confidentially at [email protected]. Our DEI team is committed to supporting your full participation in our recruitment journey.

• No Fee Disclaimer

  The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the application or recruitment process. This includes fees for applications, processing, training, interviews, or testing. If you encounter any request for payment, please disregard it. Be cautious, as emblems, logos, names, and addresses can be easily copied or misused. Exercise care when sharing your personal information online.

  Important Reminders Before Submitting Your Application

  1. Ensure that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes details such as:
     • Employment history
     • Academic qualifications
     • Language skills
     • UN Grade (if applicable)

1. Once your profile is fully updated, proceed to apply and submit your application.
2. Upload a professional CV in English.
3. Please note: At this stage, you are only required to submit your CV and Cover Letter.
4. Additional documents (e.g., passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates) may be requested later in the process.
5. If you experience any difficulties with your application submission, please contact us at [email protected].
6. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
7. All applications must be submitted online at: https://wd3.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/wfp/job_openings/details/Consultant–Programme-Policy-Officer-Nutrition_JR104648?locationCountry=b579d21545a140c49418f0a3451a3160