ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Act as the country office social protection focal point, ensuring a clear and strong connection between the field operations, Regional Burau, and HQ.
• Translate corporate and regional policies and strategies pertinent to social protection into country- level practices;
• Formulate substantial parts of the Country Strategic Plan in line with WFP’s corporate and regional policies and strategies on social protection, as well as Executive Board decisions and other relevant guidance;
• Design and manage, including a complex, portfolio of social protection programmes that effectively meet food security and nutrition needs;
• Assist government’s stakeholders identify and analyze policy problems, and provide – or mobilize – support and technical expertise for the design and delivery of suitable social protection solutions;
• Establish and maintain strategic and operational partnerships for complementary and collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve social protection and support related advocacy work within all relevant audiences;
• Enhance WFP’s leadership status in different forums pertinent to social protection;
• Manage or oversee operational research and evidence building on issues relevant to social protection;
• Manage or oversee the preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical reports, publications, and a variety of knowledge products or proposals for internal or external use that position and strengthen the credibility of WFP as a partner in social protection;
• Advocate for resources for a broad portfolio of WFP social protection activities, including by articulating a business case for WFP’s contributions to social protection and exploring new potential resource channels;
• Ensure the best use of assigned financial resources for achievement of set social protection objectives within a significant budget;
• Advise and support the design of learning initiatives that enhance the capacity of WFP staff and partners to engage in social protection-relevant policy dialogues, programme design and delivery.
• Lead, motivate and develop a substantive team of high performers, if deemed relevant;
• Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work;
• Contribute to Country Office Emergency Preparedness by systematically assessing whether and how national social protection can contribute to an emergency response, whenever and if deemed relevant;
• Other as required.

Education:

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

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years professional experience relevant to social protection, preferably contributing to food security and/or nutrition objectives, including experiences with:

• government agencies and across the policy cycle;
• working across various programme types relevant to social protection (e.g. cash- transfer programmes, school feeding, public works / food assistance for assets, insurance programmes etc.);
• managing discussions with experts in other sectors of WFP expertise e.g., VAM, Nutrition, Supply Chain, Technology, etc.
• managing substantial components of a complex programme;
• leading a substantive team.
• working in WFP HQ and Regional Bureau, an asset.

Knowledge & Skills:

• 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, in country capacity strengthening and effective knowledge transfer models, concepts and principles;
• Knowledge of key national and regional contexts and issues;
• Problem solving and decision-making skills;
• Aptitude for supervising, guiding and empowering staff;
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders, conveying an informed and professional demeanour toward internal and external partners and stakeholders;
• Ability to analyse quantitative and qualitative information to understand current and future social protection needs and identify solutions;
• Learning agility, and appetite for exploring and experimenting with new ideas and approaches;
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written outputs and ability to present in English and the working language;
• Ability to work independently in a timely and organised manner;
• Ability to work as part of a team, participating in open dialogues and valuing diverse opinions of others, regardless of gender, culture, background, experience, or country assignment.
• Moderate to proficient computer literacy.

Languages:

Fluency (level C) with at least Intermediate knowledge (level B) in English.