Programme Policy Officer – Economist/Food Systems
Phnom Penh
- Organization: WFP - World Food Programme
- Location: Phnom Penh
- Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
-
Occupational Groups:
- Legal - Broad
- Economics
- Political Affairs
- Nutrition
- Project and Programme Management
- Food Security, Livestock and Livelihoods
- Closing Date: 2024-11-06
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
6 November 2024-23:59-GMT+07:00 Indochina Time (Phnom Penh)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 World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.
To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.
WHY JOIN WFP?
WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT:
The Food Systems Programme Policy Officer (PPO) will provide key technical support to WFP and the Royal Government of Cambodia in revising Cambodia’s Food Systems Roadmap, designing a financing strategy for food environments and healthy diets, overseeing advocacy efforts for food systems transformation and advancing WFP’s food systems portfolio. This work is supported by an SDG grant to FAO and WFP and led by the Council for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD). Additionally, the Food Systems PPO will lead work with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) School Health Department to design and operationalize an initiative to improve the school food environment, with a focus on promoting healthy diets and preventing malnutrition. The Food Systems PPO will work to align these efforts with broader national goals on climate resilience, social behaviour change, and systems strengthening, contributing to WFP’s commitment to generating evidence, strengthening policies, and translating them into actionable programs.
The consultant will work closely with the WFP Food Systems and Nutrition team, SDG steering committee, and government counterparts to:
Advise and provide technical assistance to the Royal Government of Cambodia to revise Cambodia's Food Systems Roadmap and support the design of its Financing Strategy to align with updated national policies and global commitments, with an emphasis on climate resilience, healthy diets and food environments, and private sector engagement.
Support the development of the Food Systems and Nutrition Advocacy Strategy for CARD and sector Ministries to mobilize resources, promote food systems transformation, and engage stakeholders at national and sub-national levels.
Support WFP and MOEYS’ School Health Department to operationalize regulatory frameworks and design corresponding market-based interventions aimed at improving the quality of food and drinks sold in schools.
Position Title: Programme Policy Officer – Economist/Food Systems
Type of Contract: WFP Service Contract
Grade: SC-9 (equivalent to NOB)
Duty Station: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Duration: 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025
Reporting Line: This position reports directly to the Head of Food Systems and Nutrition
Date of Publication: 23 October 2024
Deadline of Application: 6 November 2024
This vacancy announcement is for Nationals from Cambodia Only.Terms and Conditions:
WFP offers a competitive benefits package including salary, social security, leave plus a medical insurance.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the supervision of the Head of Food Systems and Nutrition, the incumbent will:
- Contribute to the development of policy processes and programmes related to healthy and sustainable food systems, ensuring alignment with wider policy objectives and corporate guidance.
- Provide technical assistance and project management support as part of the SDG technical committee and as a member of the WFP food sytems team, ensuring a transparent and coordinated approach with wider programmes and partners that complies with WFP standards and procedures.
- Develop and coordinate data gathering and contribute to the design and strengthening of monitoring systems to measure progress against set targets.
- Research and analyse a range of food systems and nutrition policy and operational issues to inform the development of the Food Systems Roadmap, Financing Strategy, and operationalization of the regulatory framework and market-based approaches to improve school food environments.
- Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely drafts catered to different stakeholders to enable informed decision making and consistency of core messages presented to stakeholders and to design of the advocacy strategy.
- Liaise with internal and external counterparts, particularly Government and UN partners to ensure effective collaboration and provision of timely inputs
- Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships on food systems and nutrition.
- Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government related to food systems for healthy diets and nutrition to ensure all parties are well placed to provide constructive inputs.
- Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries.
SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS:
1. Revising the Food Systems Roadmap
Coordinate with the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), Ministry of Education Youth and Sports (MOEYS), Ministry of Health (MOH), WFP, FAO, UNICEF, and other key SDG fund stakeholders to update the Food Systems Roadmap for Sustainable Development 2030.
Leverage the UN Nutrition Network and other relevant platforms to garner technical inputs from partners and line Ministries.
Integrate climate resilience and sustainability into the roadmap, ensuring alignment with national strategies like the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP).
Facilitate national and sub-national consultations with government agencies, the private sector, and vulnerable groups to ensure inclusivity.
Draft a detailed action plan, identifying key interventions especially as related to improving food environments and encouraging demand for healthy diets, as well as roles, and responsibilities of involved ministries.
2. Designing the Food Systems Financing Strategy
Together with the SDG project team, support the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), IFIs, donors, and private sector stakeholders to design a financing strategy for major food systems gamechangers.
Support the SDG team to explore innovative financing mechanisms, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and blended finance approaches.
Support the costing of joint priorities for the National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition (NSFSN) 2024-2028, ensuring alignment with the financing strategy.
3. Leading Food Systems Advocacy Efforts
Oversee the partnership with an advocacy expert to develop an advocacy strategy to promote food systems transformation, targeting both national and sub-national stakeholders.
Create and disseminate advocacy tools, including policy briefs, presentations, and communication materials to mobilize support for the roadmap’s implementation.
Organize and participate in stakeholder consultations, ensuring the alignment of advocacy efforts with policy priorities.
4. Designing, Operationalizing and Implementing the School Food Environment Scope of Work
Based on an initial concept note developed on improving school food environments, further operationalize the concept for future resource mobilization for WFP, ensuring strong linkages with the food systems financing strategy.
Work closely with MoEYS’s School Health Department to operationalize and roll-out guidelines and processes to improve compliance with government regulatory instruments that restrict sales of unhealthy food on school grounds.
Lead the development and roll-out of a market-based approach to provide entrepreneurial support to school-based snack vendors, ensuring vendor livelihoods are not harmed by efforts to improve food quality in schools.
Ensure alignment with the broader social behavior change approach to promote healthy eating among students.
5. Providing Administrative Support to the Food Systems Team
Support the WFP Food Systems team to manage the SDG fund and report on progress.
Coordinate with partners engaged in the SDG fund, particularly FAO.
Manage partnership with CARD and other relevant government institutions.
Support WFP’s engagement with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)
Oversee the workplan, budget and partnership with MOEYS’ School Health Department.
Provide other administrative support to the Food Systems team, as required.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Education and experience:
An advanced university degree in economics, market systems development, agriculture, nutrition, food systems, social sciences or a related field with a minimum of 3 years of relevant postgraduate professional experience on food/nutrition is required and 5 years of relevant experience with an undergraduate degree.
Desired experience for entry into the role:
Prior experience working directly with government entities, UN agencies and/or non-governmental organizations and providing strategic support on issues relevant to development economics, food systems/nutrition is required.
Experience providing technical assistance and providing inputs on policies and decisions related to food systems, nutrition, and economic development required.
Demonstrated experience in workshop facilitation, report writing, proposal development and program cycle management is required;
Experience in managing programmes with increased level of responsibility desirable.
Experience utilizing computers, including word processing, spreadsheet and other standard software packages and systems required.
Demonstrated experience in conducting financial analysis for policies, programmes and strategies required.
Language: Fluency (level C) in English language and Khmer, oral and written.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:
The World Food Programme (WFP) Cambodia's Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for 2024-2028 focuses on supporting the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to prevent all forms of malnutrition and improve resilience through an integrated approach to nutrition, social protection (including homegrown school feeding), food systems, and disaster management.
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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
WFP is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at global.inclusion@wfp.org. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.
NO FEE DISCLAIMER
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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.