Programme Policy Officer, Fixed Term, NOD- Addis Ababa

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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.

Job Title:              National Development Advisor for Government and International Financial Institutions (IFIs) Engagement

Contract Type:            Fixed Term

Grade:                          NO- D

Duty Station:                Addis Ababa

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

Ending hunger and malnutrition requires addressing their root causes in close collaboration with national governments, development partners and the private sector. Such development engagement requires understanding and working with key Government agencies, particularly Ministries of Finance and Planning who often manage and coordinate national development planning, and with relevant line ministries in line with national priorities and WFP’s programme of work in the country.

As WFP expands its interactions with International Financial Institutions (IFIs), including regional, sub-regional and bilateral development banks, it is becoming increasingly clear that capacity gaps in WFP Country Offices and coordination challenges across the three levels of the organization need to be addressed if the growing engagement with IFIs is to be translated into significant and sustainable contributions to national development financing priorities. This would require a systematic approach to capacity building and support that would address challenges that have precluded optimal engagement at the country level, including resource mobilization for WFP’s Changing Lives agenda.

JOB PURPOSE

Supporting the WFP Country Director and working closely with Country Office Management, the National Development Advisor for Government and IFI Engagement (National Development Advisor) will report directly to the Country Director and will be responsible for supporting the Country Office’s engagement with government and IFIs in the country.

The position is key in enabling the country office to explore new approaches for WFP’s strategic engagement with Government and International Financial Institutions in human capital development, sustainable infrastructure, and rural transformation as envisioned in the country office CSP 2020-2025.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and support implementation of WFP’s strategic partnerships with Government, IFIs and other key development actors.
• Inform and support engagement with new and potential partners on the strategy, design, relevance and impact of programs that can be supported by WFP to advance national development priorities.
• Support Country Office Management in sustaining and delivering on Government and IFI engagements, as applicable.
• Liaise with government agencies in support of projects and operational activities that strengthen government capacities.

Brand Management and Positioning

• Support the management of WFP brand among key external stakeholders as a UN agency with a dual humanitarian and development mandate and a trusted development partner for the government and IFIs.
• In close contact with relevant colleagues from the Country Office, support the development of WFP’s value proposition and specific offerings in the areas of rural transformation, sustainable infrastructure and human capital development, and contribute to the process of project design, where necessary.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal: Reports to the Country Director. Works closely with the Country Office Management and Program and Partnerships Teams and liaises and supports regular coordination with the Head of Partnerships at the Regional Bureau and a relevant focal point in Strategic Partnerships.

External: Facilitates engagement with the Government, including relevant ministries and agencies, and key development actors, including IFIs, in close coordination with the Country Director.

DESIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Demonstrable experience with international development issues and significant experience in developing relationships and managing strategic partnerships with governments and development partners, particularly IFIs.
• Proven record of accomplishment in new partnership building, brokering relationships with partners, and engagement at a senior level.
• Director level government experience, preferably from a Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning or a line Ministry with significant interaction with IFIs, and the ability to interact effectively with staff at the Ministerial level and at the IFI Management level.
• Experience in project design processes and coordination with internal and external stakeholders, including governments and IFIs is desired.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in Political Science, Public Administration, International Development, Development Economics or other relevant fields, or First University degree with 2  additional years of related work experience.

Experience: Eight (8) or more years of relevant demonstratable work experience.

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English. Knowledge of the local language is added advantage.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.
•  Be a force for positive change: Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Is able to identify, support and encourage focused on-the-job learning opportunities to address gaps between current skillsets and needed future skillsets for WFP.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios)

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries.
•  Focus on getting results: Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.
•  Be Decisive: Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning
•  Build strong external partnerships: Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships 
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

28 February 2021

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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.