WFP recruits a Programme Policy Officer (Head of Field Office)- NOA, Wajir /Kenya(105866)

World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Our mission is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every single day, we work 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.

Interested in a career where you can help achieve Zero Hunger? Are you passionate about working with county governments to find sustainable hunger solutions that will change the lives of thousands of people living in the arid counties of Kenya? If yes, then this position is for you.

Through the five-year Country Strategic Plan, WFP in Kenya continues its shift from service delivery to capacity strengthening of national and county institutions to implement sustainable hunger solutions. Furthermore, WFP aims to ensure that food systems in the arid counties of Kenya are resilient, efficient and inclusive, enabling people to access and consume food that is safe, nutritious and affordable.

The primary role of this position is to support the County Governments of Wajir and Mandera in promoting resilient livelihoods for vulnerable pastoralists and agro-pastoralists and linking them to markets for their produce. The incumbent will have strong expertise in identifying systemic issues affecting food security in remote locations, from production to consumption, and seeking solutions to solving the problems.

Planning and Implementation :

• Lead, plan and manage WFP programmes within the areas of assignment to ensure technical quality, effective and efficient delivery of food assistance and that daily operational issues are timely resolved to prevent losses, delays or reputational risks ;
• Provide technical assistance to county governments in areas of climate resilient crop and livestock production for the most important value chains in the county(ies), identifying constraints, market-based solutions, and incentives to integrate micro, small and medium enterprises (food producers, processors or traders) into market systems in the county and within the established regional economic bloc s;
• Coordinate targeting of vulnerable communities, adoption of new technologies or approaches on sustainable, inclusive resilient food systems. Identify communities ready to transition from support and select new expansion areas in consultation the relevant county departments ;
• Working with county governments, monitor implementation progress, identifying issues and formulating solutions to address them ;
• In collaboration with the county government, support county capacity needs mapping, formulation and implementation of capacity strengthening interventions. This may include technical and policy support to school meals, nutrition, livelihoods and markets, disaster risk reduction/climate change adaptation (DRR/CCA) ;
• Facilitate capacity building for county staff to increase the quality of services provided to communities (producer groups, traders and consumers) .

Partnerships, Coordination and Resource Mobilisation :

• Manage and monitor performance of partners or contractors, and verify monthly invoices before submitting to Nairobi ;
• Ensure WFP’s effective representation in the relevant coordination forums at county level ;
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships at county level, and identify synergistic opportunities for collaborations, including the civil society and private sector for locally-driven and market-driven solutions ;
• Contribute to preparation of funding proposals, ensuring funding is utilised according to the donor requirements/earmarking conditions; and advocate for increased investments on food security and nutrition related issues by the county government(s) ;
• Plan and manage donor missions to the areas of operations ;
• Liaise with technical and functional areas in Nairobi to support effective programme delivery .

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting :

• In coordination with the M&E unit, government and partners, ensure project monitoring data is collected and verified, support for project reviews, outcome monitoring, baselines and evaluations given ;
• Generate, manage and share information and knowledge to support improvement in programme design, and learning ;
• Ensure regular reports summarizing key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned, are prepared and shared on timely basis.

Team leadership and office management :

• Effectively manage the Field Office to ensure the continued development of a cohesive and high performing team by planning, organizing, guiding, distributing, and coordinating the flow of work, as well as support capacity building of WFP staff ;
• Ensure that allocated resources are utilised efficiently and are in line with agreed plans, with any deviations reported to and justified with the Nairobi country office ;
• Make recommendations concerning employment, performance, and other personnel actions, ensuring staff perform their functions with the highest standards of integrity as required by the Charter of the United Nations and in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service, the WFP Code of Conduct .

• Advanced University degree in Agriculture, Agriculture Economics, Environmental Science, Range Management, Land and Water Management, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional five years of related work experiences and/or training/courses ;
• At least 5 years of post-graduate of demonstrated experience and deepened technical knowledge in the design and implementation of resilience building programmes, market linkages of small-scale traders/producers, including in-depth knowledge of the theory, practice and/or trends in the food systems approach, particularly crops/livestock production in the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya ;
• Deepened experience in technical coordination and operational support to county governments ;
• Demonstrated ability to work with government with the required diplomacy and tactical skills to handle complex situations ;
• Demonstrated work experience in project related to enhancing rural livelihoods or community resilience to climatic shocks in partnership with the community, county governments, and other partners ;
• Strong analytic, communication and interpersonal skills, including training and facilitation skills and demonstrated experience in conceptual analysis, planning and organizational skills.

Desired experiences for entry into the role :

• Working experience with UN agencies or other International Development Organizations or with national or county governments in Kenya ;
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of national socio-economic and political issues and the complexity and range of WFP programmes to plan and oversee implementation ;
• Conversant with sustainable development goals relevant to food systems and how they affect food security and nutrition.
• In-depth understanding of WFP programmes, supply chain and budgeting principles, and ability to translate that into relevant, effective and context-specific approaches ;
• Experience in writing funding and project proposals ;
• Ability to drive a four-wheel light vehicle within the field office boundaries, as may be required from time to time.

Purpose :

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People : 

• Look for ways to strengthen people’s skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance :

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
•  Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
•  Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership :

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
•  Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

• WFP is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge fees from applicants at any stage of the recruitment process. Only short listed applicants will be contacted ;
• Qualified female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply ;
• For any queries write to Nairobi.queryhr@wfp.org .

Deadline for application: 4 July 2019.

Those who applied for the re-advertisement in March need not re-apply as all applications will be considered together.