Website World Food Programme (WFP)
Career Opportunities: Programme Policy Officer (Infrastructure Specialist) (829126)
WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.
WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and 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.
BACKGROUND
The Government of Nepal and the British Embassy, Kathmandu signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 16 March 2023 for the implementation of the Local Infrastructure Support Programme (LISP) in Nepal. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will provide up to £90 million grant support to Nepal under LISP and the local governments of Nepal will invest up to £40 million to co-finance the capital and resilience component in the programme during the period of 2023 to 2029. It is anticipated that LISP will be a three-phased programme:) a design, learning and preparatory pilot phase until July 2023 and LISP transition/initial implementation phase to avoid the gap between the main implementation and pilot phases, (b) a first phase of full implementation starting in Nepal financial year 24/25 with preparatory work/scaling-up starting in 2023/24, and (c) a second phase of implementation after mid-term review. Out of £90 million, up to £45 million will be allocated for phases (a) and (b), and further up to £45 million will be allocated for phase (c).
The FCDO is currently in the process of procurement of the technical service provider for the main delivery of the LISP. Hence, according to the phase-based scaling-up approach mentioned in the approved LISP Project Design Document (PDD), the LISP in-depth scaling-up in the 15 Local Governments of Karnali Province has been planned (August 2023 to July 2024). The LISP Pilot and transition/initial implementation is being delivered by United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) as a TA service provider including the management of TA and incentive grants in the form of co-financing to the Local Governments (LGs). The LISP transition/initial implementation aims to enrich the learning and innovation of the LISP Pilot to support inclusive planning and delivery of resilient local infrastructure and green recovery job creation and to test incentive mechanisms for better performance, capacity building of local governments and the use of government monitoring and financing instruments.
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
The job holder will work directly under the guidance/supervision of the Deputy Head of Programme and Team Leader of the Local Infrastructure Support Programme (LISP) – transition phase and will report to Infrastructure Advisor in British Embassy Kathmandu (BEK), Nepal. The incumbent will work closely with the LISP Technical Assistance (TA), Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) a focal ministry for the LISP. The Programme Policy Officer (Infrastructure Specialist) will be an important member of the multi-disciplinary core team in LISP TA for overseeing the delivery of the initial implementation of the LISP.
JOB PURPOSE
This position is primarily to work with BEK under LISP Transition/Initial Implementation based in WFP under WFP’s administrative and human resource rules, regulations and working arrangement. The Programme Policy Officer (Infrastructure Specialist) shall be responsible for coordination with GoN for LISP Transition/Initial Implementation, monitoring infrastructure planning, design and delivery works in LISP transition/initial implementation and field-level data and learnings. He/she will mainly focus on a) Advising for the detailed design and implementation of LISP with support from BEK Infrastructure Adviser and LISP Transition Team Leader, b) Coordination and collaboration with relevant Government of Nepal institutions for LISP and local infrastructure sector and c) Strengthening BEK’s capability to monitor and verify LISP’s tangible and quality results.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Position Title: Programme Policy Officer (Infrastructure Specialist)
Contract Type: Service Contract (SC)
Level: SC-9 (Equiv. to NOB)
Contract Duration: 12 months (With possible renewal)
Duty Station: Kathmandu, Nepal
Vacancy Number: 829126
WFP offers a competitive benefits package including salary, social security, leave plus a medical insurance (Medical Insurance Death and Disability Plan (MIDD) | WFPgo).
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
A. Supporting implementation of LISP Transition/Initial Implementation:
- Ensuring high-quality overall monitoring of LISP transition through frequent field visits, infrastructure works quality verification tools and independent reporting to BEK.
- On behalf of BEK, advise LISP transition/initial implementation TA team to ensure progress in LISP’s capacity support, innovation, evaluation, and learning (IEL), performance-based capital and resilience funding components.
- Support LISP Programme Responsible Owner (PRO) and Infrastructure Advisor to prepare for the annual review and learnings for LISP Transition and monitor actions on the review’s recommendations,
- Support the LISP Transition TA team to carry out local infrastructure sector assessment in Nepal and provide technical assistance to MoFAGA/GoN led local infrastructure national policy based on sector assessment and stakeholder consultations.
Support BEK in designing Infrastructure Independent Verification for LISP main implementation. - Work with BEK Advisors especially related to climate change adaptation, social development and disaster resilience for LISP transition delivery.
- Support LISP Transition stakeholders for applying learning from the LISP Pilot and transition//initial implementation and relevant evidence from the ongoing and past policy and programme supports in Nepal and elsewhere and ensure innovation/adaptation in LISP Transition happens.
- Lead consolidation and handover of learnings and evidence deliveries by LISP Transition Team to LISP main implementation supplier after FCDO’s procurement of the supplier.
B. Coordination and collaboration with relevant Government of Nepal institutions for LISP and local infrastructure sector:
- Support BEK for coordinating with federal, provincial, and local governments for LISP Transition/ Initial implementation.
- Support LISP Team in BEK for coordinating and communicating with LISP Steering Committee, Technical Coordination Committee, Provincial Coordination Committee and other governance and technical arrangements for LISP, working closely with LISP Transition Team Leader (WFP).
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
iEducation: Advanced University (Masters) degree or equivalent in Civil Engineering or First University degree (Bachelor) in the above area with additional years of related work experiences and/or trainings/courses and holding Nepal Engineering Council license/ Accreditation or equivalent recognized by an appropriate international regulatory authority. Higher University degree (Doctorate in Civil Engineering) with skills/trainings in translating policy and strategy into practice would be highly beneficial.
Language: Excellent proficiency in both oral and written English and Nepali languages.
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE
- At least three years of relevant professional experience after an advanced university degree is required, out of which at least two years’ experience in the local infrastructure sector in Nepal- preferably in remote rural areas of Nepal.
- Strong experience in working with federal, provincial and local governments of Nepal in the infrastructure sector.
- Strong understanding of climate and disaster resilience of infrastructure
- Understanding of the political context including federalisation in Nepal, including intergovernmental relationships
- Understanding of and local infrastructure financing in Nepal (financial aid, performance-based capital and resilience financing, private sector financing etc.)
- Knowledge based on experience in infrastructure planning and decision-making, especially for co-development and integrated development of a wide range of local infrastructure deliveries.
- Proven ability to analyse, use and convey complex information to support improved programme delivery and policy development.
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
- Knowledge and application of engineering principles and practises in local and provincial infrastructure in Nepal
- Knowledge and application of infrastructure governance and anti-corruption mechanism,
- Knowledge and application of evidence, innovation, learning and evaluation.
- Knowledge of the project management cycle, assurance frameworks, counter-fraud and anti-corruption project controls
- Ability to write clear and concise technical documents in short deadlines, with multi-tasking skills.
- Ability to perform well in cross-disciplinary teams.
- Excellent spoken and written Nepali and English
- Strong written, presentation and oral communication skills
- Must be familiar with MS office;
- Driving skills with valid license is an advantage.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK: COMMON STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR
- Leads by example with Integrity
- Drives results and Delivers on commitments
- Fosters inclusive and collaborative teamwork.
- Applies strategic thinking
- Builds and maintains 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 only to be used for any disability related accessibility requirements and not for sending the application itself. Due to the volume of applications, any applications or CVs sent through this email address will not be considered a formal application and will not receive a reply from WFP.
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: 4 September 2023