Programme Policy Officer (Head of Field Office), NOB - Garissa and other duty stations

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

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.

These jobs are found in Headquarters (HQ), Regional Bureaux (RBs) or Country Offices (COs) and job holders report to a more senior Programme Policy Officer.
Job holders operate with a high degree of independence, manage more junior staff to ensure that programme and policy objectives are achieved in full. They are usually involved in a wide variety of programme and policy activities and analytical work, some of which may be of a considerable complexity. At this level job holders are expected to contribute to performance improvement.

Through the five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP), 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 and semi-arid lands of Kenya are resilient, efficient and inclusive, enabling people to access and consume food that is safe and nutritious.

The purpose of this post is to lead a cross-functional team in a small field office, and to provide technical expertise to the county government(s) to address food systems challenges, in line with WFP’s CSP.

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 blocs;
• 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

• Advanced University degree in Agriculture, Agriculture Economics, Environmental Science, Range Management, Land and Water Management, Disaster Risk Management and/or Climate Change, Environment, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies  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.

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.

• Working experience with UN agencies or other International Development Organizations
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of national socio-economic and political issues and the complexity and range of WFP programmes to plan and oversee implementation;
• Demonstrated ability to work with government with the required diplomacy and tactical skills to handle complex situations;
• Demonstrated work experience in projects related to enhancing rural livelihoods, community resilience to climatic shocks, or institutional capacity strengthening, in partnership with the community, county governments, and other partners;
• Strong analytical, communication and interpersonal skills, including training and facilitation skills and demonstrated experience in conceptual analysis, planning and organizational skills.
• Experience in preparing budgets and funding proposals.

• 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 receiving applications is 17 August 2020

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.