Programme Officer (Regional Coordinator, Mastercard Foundation Project) – Consultant Level II at World Food Programme (WFP)

Job Description

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The World Food Programme is the food assistance branch of the United Nations and the world’s largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger and promoting food security.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Eastern Africa holds many of the answers to addressing serious food security and climate challenges, offering additional opportunities for WFP to fight hunger by adopting a transformative approach to food systems engagement. The goal of this effort is to support the development of a food system that is promoting integrated approaches to local food systems transformation and build, sustainable, equitable, resilience for all. Considering the stresses on the regional food systems, exacerbated by climate change, the WFP Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa – Nairobi (RBN) is expanding its portfolio, structure, and resources to better meet the growing needs of its eight country offices. The Food Systems team is covering climate actions, resilience-building, and gender and economic empowerment. The unit provides technical support, guidance, and strategic direction in the region to develop and implement integrated food systems solutions. The Mastercard Foundation (the Foundation) programme, is implemented in 8 WFP countries, including three in the East Africa region (Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda – RBN) over a period of 5 years. Over the next 4 years, the partnership will focus on sectors of the economy and segments of the value chain where work opportunities are growing, equip young people with skills to enter these sectors and support small businesses and entrepreneurship to grow.

Mastercard Foundation Regional Advisor Role

The MCF-WFP Partnership has an internal three-tier coordination and technical support structure: i) a Programme Steering Committee (PSC); ii) a Programme Coordination Team (PCT), comprising both WFP Headquarters and the three Regional Bureaux in which the partnership is implemented; iii) the Programme working group at country level (COWG). The Regional Bureau East Africa, based in Nairobi, is hiring an international consultant to be the regional coordinator of the MCF-WFP partnership and member of the PCT at the Regional Bureau level.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the supervision of WFP’s Regional Head of Unit (Food Systems), the Advisor will provide technical and operational support as the regional focal point of the MCF programme. In addition, the Advisor will be the primary interface of the Programme Coordination Team (PCT) with the Country Offices (COs) implementing the MCF programme in the region and will join the monthly meetings of the Programme working group at country level (COWG). The position will also provide additional support to Country Offices in the areas of his/her technical expertise, and coordinate the technical support that can be provided to the country offices by the Regional Bureau’s concerned units (e.g. SAMS, food systems, gender, supply chain, etc.).

Specific Terms of Reference:

Coordinate the implementation of MCF initiatives at regional level, and ensure alignment of the programme activities to the existing relevant regional programmatic initiatives; Provide technical support to strengthen and improve country programmes in the region, preferably in the areas of youth and women’s empowerment (e.g provide advice on outreach strategies to marginalised groups; on identifying the main gender barriers /constraints to women participation and engagement in the agriculture sector and WFP operations, and in designing appropriate gender strategies, components, and indicators to respond to gender issues); Support Country Offices on Country Strategic Planning Budget Revisions when needed; Provide technical support also to other programme countries, based on his/her specific technical expertise;

ADDITIONAL KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Support the Country Offices with communication and advocacy, and develop an advocacy strategy to make strategic shifts at policy level through this project; Support Country Offices in the process of timely monitoring the results of the MCF programme , in the collection and reporting on data driven evidence, and liase with the bureau and PCT M&E function to ensure quality of the above; Review the biannual and annual narrative reports prepared by the COs; Compile technical feedback from countries into relevant products as per donor requests/requirements, in coordination with the PCT’s Knowledge Management function ; Support the generation of think pieces from project implementation to contribute to the body of knowledge on youth employment and women’s economic empowerment, in coordination with PCT’s Knowledge Management function; Contribute to the design of, and participate in, country and regional level learning events, including conferences, workshops on thematic areas and on the IFPRI and other institutions research projects

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education : Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Disaster Risk Reduction/ Management, Climate Change Adaptation, Environmental Science, physical science or equivalent work experience or a First University Degree with additional years of related work experience

Language : Fluent in English including(writing and speaking ) is required

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

At least 5 years of work experience in implementing activities and animating partnerships at country office level. Previous experience working with international organisations on food security/resilience/humanitarian actors.

Knowledge & Skills

Proven abilities to coordinate agriculture-related projects Knowledge of gender issues/inequality in development settings, and linkages with agriculture development and sound understanding of programming on women’s economic empowerment Solid analytical skills, including gender analysis, or labour market/ skills forecast Solid oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate through multiple mediums (e.g. policy, advocacy messaging, reporting, training) Team spirit and excellent interpersonal relations Knowledge of the UN system, including gender-related mandates is an asset