Programme Policy Officer

Career Opportunities: Programme Policy Officer (Food Security and Nutrition Policy Analyst)P2 (833242)

WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been working in Nepal since 1963, supporting the Government to achieve greater food security among vulnerable communities and build resilience to disasters. WFP is strengthening government capacity and providing support to food security, nutrition, as well as emergency preparedness and response, in support of the country’s goals to achieve Zero Hunger and to graduate from the least developed country to a lower middle-income status by 2026. WFP’s work in Nepal primarily targets the most food insecure, those in the hard-to-reach areas. Since 2024, WFP started implementation of its five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for 2024-2028 to support the Government of Nepal to address food insecurity, reduce malnutrition and build the resilience of vulnerable populations.

With the launch of the new CSP (2024-2028), WFP aims to intensify its shift towards the prioritization of development-oriented activities, with a strong focus on resilience building as well as country capacity-strengthening measures through technical assistance and strengthening of national capacity, systems, and programmes to address food security and nutrition needs, improve livelihoods, and build resilience in the face of shocks and climate change. As such, WFP seeks to continue increasing its engagement with government Ministries and development partners including International Financial Institutions (IFIs). WFP plans to accelerate the transition of its work from direct implementation to the provision of technical assistance to the Government aimed at strengthening programmes and systems to address. The CSP has outcomes designed to complement one another and putting strong emphasis on strengthening the capacity of government institutions to achieve SDGs 2 and 17 and contributing to SDGs 1, 4 and 13. The long-standing engagement and institutional partnerships between the National Planning Commission, line ministries and technical departments and WFP is crucial to strengthen the food security, nutrition- and sustainable food systems focus areas aimed at transforming Nepal’s food system and making it sustainable, resilient, equitable and inclusive.

WFP’s Country Capacity Strengthening support:
WFP works in more than 120 countries around the world saving lives and changing lives. WFP’s focus on strengthening country capacities is based on the recognition that national systems are a critical vehicle for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) on ending hunger and supporting governments and stakeholders across the whole of society leading to tremendous opportunities for scale, impact, and sustainability of results.

For WFP, Country Capacity Strengthening (CCS) is defined as “activities structured around engagement with national and subnational stakeholder institutions and organizations with the intention of improving the sustainable functioning of systems and programmes that support populations with regard to their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs”.  It has defined five pathways – policy and legislation, institutional effectiveness and accountability, strategic planning and financing, programme design and delivery and engagement of non-governmental actors. WFP Nepal plans to continue to provide need-based, context specific country capacity strengthening support to the Government of Nepal to strengthen the national systems and programmes based on these five CCS pathways.

JOB PURPOSE

The National Planning Commission (NPC) is the apex advisory body of the Government of Nepal formulating policies and strategies related to food systems, social protection, and multi-sectoral nutrition plan (MSNP-III). NPC has been coordinating the multi-sectoral policies and programmes in collaboration with the different line ministries and government institutions at all three tiers of the Government including monitoring and evaluating development policy, plans and programs. WFP plans to continue its strategic partnership with NPC working closely with the National Nutrition and Food Security Secretariat (NNFSS) and other relevant directorates. WFP is therefore looking to recruit an experienced Programme Policy Officer to be based at NPC and supporting the National Nutrition and Food Security Secretariat (NNFSS) with focus on providing technical assistance in food systems, nutrition and social protection.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Position Title: Programme Policy Officer (Food Security and Nutrition Policy Analyst)
Contract Type: Fixed Term (FT)
Level: NOB
Contract Duration: 12 months (renewable)
Duty Station: Kathmandu, National Planning Commission (NPC)
Vacancy Number: 833242
Date of Publication: 05.06.2024

WFP offers a competitive benefits package including salary plus a medical insurance https://newgo.wfp.org/services/medical-insurance-coverage-scheme-mics-cigna

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the WFP Nepal Head of Programme and technical supervision from the Director of NNFSS/Joint Secretary of NPC, the Programme Policy Officer will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Contribute towards a Capacity Needs Mapping (CNM) based on WFP’s five pathways to Country Capacity Strengthening (CCS) and with a particular focus on food systems, social protection, nutrition and resilience building in partnership with National Planning Commission (NPC).
2. Provide technical support to the National Nutrition and Food Security Secretariat (NNFSS) to coordinate with and provide technical guidance to line ministries and development partners for multisector coordination in nutrition and food security.
3. Provide support to organize, plan and document statutory meetings of the High-Level National Nutrition and Food Security Steering Committee (HLNNFSSC) and National Nutrition and Food Security Coordination Committee (NNFSCC).
4. Facilitate WFP’s engagement in the national policy formulation initiatives related to food security and nutrition, including supporting the implementation of the Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act as well as the Food Systems agenda at federal, provincial, and local levels.
5. Support NNFSS/NPC to coordinate with relevant line Ministries, departments and development partners for planning, resource management, effective implementation, execution and monitoring of multi-sectoral programmes and approaches including food systems, MSNP III and others.
6. Facilitate various thematic group meetings related to the design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of multi-sectoral policies, programmes, and systems.
7. Support the NPC in operational information management, documentation, recording and national reporting on the SDGs progress.
8. Facilitate NNFSS to coordinate with concerned UN agencies, donors, and development partners for leveraging resources for multisectoral programmes i.e., food systems, MSNP III and enhance WFP’s technical assistance role within the food security and nutrition integrated multisectoral programmes.
9. Support NNFSS/NPC to develop policy guidelines, a minimum standard package, implementation guidelines and other relevant operational frameworks for the management of food security and nutrition-integrated multisectoral programmes in consultation with multi-sector stakeholders.
10. Support NPC/Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Government Focal Point for SUN-related tasks including coordination of SUN Business Network, and coordination, communication, reporting, participation in SUN meetings and calls with SUN Secretariat, preparation of briefings and presentations, and SUN Joint Annual Assessment report.
11. Support WFP in its strategic engagement and partnerships with government, IFIs, private sector, civil society and the UN Country Team and promoting the South-South Triangular Cooperation among countries to enhance capacity and system strengthening for food and nutrition security and overall food systems in the country.
12. Participate and represent WFP in relevant dialogues and consultations with senior government officials and other key stakeholders to identify capacity strengthening needs and areas that require focused attention to advance the food security and nutrition (FSN) agenda.
13. Provide coordination, advocacy and technical support to WFP personnel in their Capacity Strengthening (CS) engagements with national and sub-national entities for the realization of agreed CCS outcomes.
14. Keep the WFP team fully abreast of government’s policies and strategies including regular updates on national and sub-national policies and planning landscape relevant to the Country Strategic Plan.
15. Perform other duties as required and assigned by their immediate supervisor.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Masters/Advanced university degree in a relevant discipline: nutrition/ public health, agriculture and rural development, food security or other relevant fields or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience: At least three years of relevant postgraduate professional experience (after an advanced University degree/after a Master’s degree) working closely with government, development partners, IFIs, private sector and civil society organizations (CSOs). More years of relevant postgraduate professional experience is desirable.

Language: Excellent proficiency in both oral and written English and Nepali languages

Knowledge & Skills:

1. Policy research, analysis, design, and implementation for the improvement of food security and nutrition.
2. Planning and coordinating teams in developing and implementing strategies that facilitate the realization of CS outcomes among national actors.
3. Guide and support teams in operationalizing CS strategies, leading to enhanced results.
4. Applying CS measurement approaches including log frame design, theories of change, baseline setting, strategic reporting, case study design and knowledge management.
5. Undertaking and facilitating capacity assessments for national stakeholders.
6. Managing multistakeholder consultative processes and leading organizational strategy development
7. Developing and nurturing multi-stakeholder partnerships.
8. Stakeholder management: Ability to lead and strategically plan, coordinate, guide and support internal and external stakeholders, facilitating interactions using participatory techniques and motivating teams while ensuring a gender-balanced, inclusive, and sound working environment.
9. Strategic partnerships: Has an excellent understanding of institutional capacity strengthening approaches for a different type of institutions and at different levels – including policy, coordination, and delivery.
10. Strategic Approach: Ability to think and lead strategically and embed WFP’s comparative advantages into capacity-strengthening initiatives.
11. Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills: able to contribute to a harmonious and inclusive working environment.
12. Analytical skills: Ability to gather and synthesize broad-based information for multi-stakeholder planning and decision-making.
13. Oral and written skills: Ability to produce and deliver (including formal presentations to high-level stakeholders) quality reports, case studies, proposals, policy briefs, etc.
14. Must be familiar with MS Office.
15. Nepali Typing skill is an asset.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK: COMMON STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR

All WFP Employees are expected to demonstrate the competencies and standards of behaviour aligned with our core values and defined in the WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK, namely:

Leading by example with integrity,
Driving results and delivering on commitments,
Fostering inclusive and collaborative teamwork,
Applying strategic thinking,
Building and maintaining sustainable partnerships

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Request for Disability related Reasonable Accommodations: 

It is important to WFP to create an accessible and inclusive workplace for everyone.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.  If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection and hiring process, please direct your request and inquiries to nepal.hr@wfp.org. A member of the HR team responsible for reasonable accommodation will contact you to confidentially discuss your needs.

This email is intended solely for addressing disability related accessibility requirements and should not be used to send applications. Therefore, any applications or CVs sent to this email address will not be considered formal applications and WFP will not respond for any query regarding this subject.

WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.

Deadline of Application: 18.06.2024