Consultant Programme Policy

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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• 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).

JOB TITLE: Knowledge Management Officer – Social Protection
TYPE OF CONTRACT: CST II
UNIT/DIVISION: Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa (RBD) -Programme Support Unit
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Dakar, Senegal
DURATION: 11 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
As a global leader in fighting hunger and malnutrition worldwide, often in very difficult contexts, the World Food Programme (WFP) is increasingly called upon by governments to help implement or strengthen their social protection systems. As WFP embraces an approach of working through and strengthening national systems, WFP can truly aspire to help countries make measurable contributions to the Zero Hunger goal (SDG2) as well as the reduction of poverty and the expansion of social protection floors.
In 2020, WFP partnered with governments in 78 countries to support their national social protection systems, in particular to support the COVID-19 response, making support to social protection an integral part of WFP's activities in most of the countries where it operates.
Through its triple role providing technical advice, delivering on behalf of governments and providing complementary programmes, WFP is supporting national social protection systems, as it works with governments to extend the coverage, comprehensiveness, adequacy and quality of national social protection systems, with the aim to ensure that all people have access, throughout their lives, to strong national social protection systems that safeguard and foster their ability to meet their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs, and to reduce and address the risks and shocks they face.
Regional context:
RBD provides strategic guidance, policy/technical support and direction to WFP operations and activities in 19 countries. Several Country offices have already started to feature support to national social protection systems in their strategies, programmes and initiatives, and there are good examples of such engagements conducted in very different contexts and settings. To support these efforts, RBD is strengthening its capacity and strategic engagement in the sector, bringing together and leveraging WFP's expertise and experience.
With generous support from BMZ/KFW, UNICEF and WFP are implementing a joint programme to support the Governments of Mali, Mauritania and Niger to provide critical social assistance support in the short and medium term, in response to COVID-19 while contributing to strengthening national social protection systems in the medium to longer term.
Through this programme, both agencies aim to provide immediate support for countries to respond to the massive needs generated by the pandemic, as well as help to strengthen overall national capacities to adapt and build more shock-responsive, nutrition- and child-sensitive social protection systems moving forward.

At regional level, the joint programme will create concrete evidence and lessons learned to inform and guide national dialogues on social protection programmes, policies, and systems in the three countries. It will also generate lessons and experiences that both agencies may carry forward in support of social protection in fragile and low-capacity contexts elsewhere in the region and beyond.

Job purpose:
WFP's Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa is seeking a Knowledge Management Officer - Social Protection to support the teams' work in strengthening engagement and capacity in social protection across the region. Specifically, the job holder will support the social protection section in all efforts related to knowledge management, reporting, and supporting the evidence and learning agenda, in particular through communications and advocacy.
The incumbent will operate under the direct supervision of the Regional Social Protection Advisor, under the overall guidance of the Senior Regional Programme Advisor, and will closely work with the other members of the social protection team. The incumbent will be responsible for carrying out the following tasks and responsibilities:

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Support the team in planning, organizing and documenting strategic and coordination efforts internally across the regional bureau and with HQ, as well as with external partners
2. Produce regular overview of social protection outputs and activities for programme tracking
3. Assist in the preparation of donor reports and advocacy notes
4. Support the WFP-UNICEF joint social protection programme management and coordination in tracking of activities to facilitate information-sharing between COs, RBD, and HQ. More specifically:
a. In close collaboration with COs, assist accurate and timely reporting on programmes and activities to meet specific reporting requirements of donors (e.g. annual and semi-annual reports for BMZ).
b. Contribute to maintaining and enhancing data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.
c. Support and participate in duty travel to COs and SOs, as required.
5. Contribute to the development and coordination of knowledge-based products, such as lessons learned and good practices from COs and RBD, and dissemination to internal and external partners to inform programme design and implementation, and promote sharing and learning between countries, programmes and partners.
6. Draft inputs for briefings, talking points or presentations to support donor engagement and inform decision-making and planning of WFP management.
7. Produce and support COs in developing external donor, advocacy and communication products on WFP's enabling work in social protection. Support and lead as needed, the implementation of the social protection advocacy strategy.
8. Perform other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Advanced University degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, International Development, International Relations, Sociology, or other fields relevant to social protection.
Experience:
5 years of professional experience relevant to social protection, preferably contributing to food security and/or nutrition objectives. Experience supporting knowledge management, communication and advocacy.
Experience working with the UN is an asset.
Knowledge & Skills:

• Understanding of Agenda 2030 and respective targets – particularly SDG1, SDG2 and SDG17 - and how the work of WFP can contribute to achieving them;

• Understanding of WFP's mandate

• Understanding of social protection and public policy;

• Problem solving skills.

• Good analytical skills.

• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written outputs.

• Ability to work as part of a team, participating in open dialogues and valuing diverse opinions of others, regardless of gender, culture, background, experience, or country assignment.

• Proficient computer literacy.
Languages:
Fluency (level C) in English and French.

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

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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 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.