Programme Policy Officer (Activity 1 Manager ), NOC at World Food Programme (WFP)

JOB PURPOSE

The Programme Policy Officer (Activity 1 Manager) supports the delivery of multiple inter-related activities and partnerships through two large sub offices, ensuring coherence and quality of planning, design and implementation. WFP Kenya Activity 1 (Refugee Operations) under the Strategic Outcome 1 constitutes close to 50 percent of the Kenya Country Office portfolio and managing multiple integrated business processes is required for the effective and efficient implementation of Activity 1, as is representation to government, donors, partners and mobilizing and managing resources under multiple proposal and reporting cycles.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not All-inclusive)

The Activity Manager, in conjunction with the functional area managers, will focus on the planning, implementing and monitoring of Activity 1 programmes to facilitate the accomplishment of the relevant strategic outcomes included in the CSP. Responsibilities will include:

• Contribute to the formulation of the CSP and in translating the Strategic Outcomes from the CSP into activities that will achieve the expected results.
• Plan and design the activity programmes and implementation strategies for WFPs refugee operations, including planning outputs and resource requirements.
• Perform day to day management of activity programmes and processes under the leadership of the outcome manager.
• Provide normative guidance, technical and strategic oversight to sub offices for quality programme delivery. Coordinate with other functional units (supply chain and markets), programme technical support units (nutrition, monitoring and evaluation, vulnerability analysis and mapping, partnerships, beneficiary services gender and protection) and service units (finance, procurement, administration, security and human resources) to provide support to sub offices.
• Monitor activity outputs or services delivered to ensure they meet the Country Office’s planned strategic outcomes, and is to the appropriate quality, on time and within budget. Proactively monitor overall progress and initiate corrective actions as appropriate to resolve issues.
• With guidance from the Resource Management Officer and with delegation from the outcome manager, manage the activity programme’s budget, monitor the expenditures against outputs as the programme progresses and allocate food resources to sub offices ensuring these are used based on WFP and donor specifications.

Education

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Experience

• Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
• At least five years of postgraduate professional (managerial) experience in designing and implementing projects across the programme portfolio including retail and partnership networks, small and medium enterprise development.

Language
National Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language, if different.

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

Capability Name

Description Of The Behaviour Expected For The Proficiency Level

Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance
Displays ability to identify the main hunger problem at the national or subnational level to design and implement context-specific programmes that integrate complex analysis and the full range of food assistance tools.

• Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Voucher)
• Demonstrates the ability to design, implement, monitor and provide oversight over effective and efficient programmes deploying different transfer modalities.
• Broad Knowledge of Specialized areas (i.e. Nutrition, VAM, etc.)
• Demonstrates the ability to interpret basic data in the context of WFP specialised fields to contribute to technical programme design, implementation and monitoring.
• Emergency Programming
• Displays ability to translate understanding of programme principles in emergencies and protracted conflict situations into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches
• Strategic Policy Engagement w/ Government
• Develops thorough recommendations using multiple inputs (e.g., government counsel, research, own experience) to strengthen national or subnational entities and government owned food and nutrition security programmes..

Other Specific Job Requirements

• Has led a Sub Office or a small country/area office programme team or a component of a country office programme portfolio.
• Has engaged in policy discussions and provided input into policy decisions.
• Proven ability to take initiative, develop and execute demanding work plans.
• Ability to analyse and identify opportunities and challenges and develop and propose solutions to programmatic challenges.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain excellent working relations with colleagues and external partners and deal tactfully and patiently with different people.
• Experience in managing diverse interests and perspectives and build consensus.

Desired Experiences For Entry Into The Role

• Strong technical abilities in emergency operations and ability to influence strategic, policy and operational discussions.
• Proven capacity to conduct policy and programme analysis and to successfully engage in policy and programme dialogue.
• Good analytical skills, resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgement, tact, negotiating skills.
• High capacity for organization and coordination, as well as an ability to work with a high degree of independence in a team environment.
• Demonstrates the ability to incorporate technical information into policy and strategy formulation and into programme design and implementation, and to appropriately communicate it internally and externally.
• Experience leading teams in strategic discussions.
• Experience working in a multi-donor environment.
• A willingness to travel frequently, often to remote areas; ability to cope with situations, which may threaten health or safety; flexibility in accepting work assignments outside normal desk description.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• The World Food Programme DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
• WFP embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that celebrates diversity and inclusivity in all ways.
• All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications and merit.
• Applicants profile MUST match the C.V attached. Any discrepancies between the C.V and the profile will lead to automatic disqualification

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.