Programme Policy Officer P4 (Country Strategic Planning Support) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide. We are seeking to fill the position of Programme Policy Officer at the P4 level, based at our Headquarters in Rome, Italy.
Under the general supervision and guidance of the Policy and Programme Division, the Programme Policy Officer will be responsible for the following key duties
- Coordinate the facilitation of a Strategic Review and the development of Country Strategic Plans in selected countries (including middle income countries).
- Provide guidance and assistance to Country Offices and Regional Bureaux in Strategic Review and Country Strategic Plan processes, inclusive of resourcing and technical capacity strengthening strategies.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of a network/community of practice made up of Country Strategic Planning focal points in Regional Bureaux to be the first line of technical support for Country Offices.
- Strengthen the capacity of Country Strategic Planning focal points in Regional Bureaux, through training and promotion of knowledge and information management.
- Monitor WFP Country Office consistency and alignment in operations with their stated Country Strategic Plan, through the Programme Review Process (PRP).
- Track WFP Country Strategic Plan preparation processes, including alignment with key (internal and external) strategic timelines, and work with the OSZ division as well as Regional Bureaux to flag sequencing and alignment challenges and opportunities.
- Provide technical support and guidance to Regional Bureaux and Country Offices, in collaboration with relevant HQ units, regarding the new approach.
- Facilitate migration from Country Strategy to the consolidated Country Strategic Plan approach
- Support the review of options for restructuring WFP's project categories under the portfolio approach to country strategic and operational planning paying special attention to operational applicability, coherent project design, and a streamlined approval process.
- Contribute to the design and facilitation of internal and external consultations, to inform the design of the portfolio approach to country strategic and operational planning. External consultations would gather information about best practices of other agencies, as well as gathering opinions on how the Country Strategic Plan approach can best enhance alignment/partnership processes at country level. These consultations will inform: o the process to be followed at country level; o the format that the Strategic Review final reports and Country Strategic Plan documents should take; and
- Support corporate efforts towards presenting Country Strategic Plans as the sole key governance tool at the country level, including developing and testing the tools to do so.
- Identify and select countries to be additionally targeted to prototype the Country Strategic Planning approach.
- Support the roll-out of new country strategic plans through prototyping of the new approach in a selected number of countries in close coordination between relevant Headquarter Divisions, Regional Bureaux and across pilot countries.
- Develop and manage mechanisms to identify best practices and lessons learned from the prototype countries in order to further refine the new approach.
- Facilitate coordination of cross-functional work streams required to operationalize the new approach to country strategic and operational planning, including development of the country operational plan; review and realignment of performance management arrangements; design of the country portfolio budget; and determination of the legal, resource mobilization and evaluation implications of the portfolio approach.
- Support in engagement with the WFP Executive Board, in close consultation with the Resource Management and Partnership, Governance and Advocacy Departments.
- Perform all other duties, as required.
Qualifications & Experience Required
Education
- Advanced academic degree in one or more of the following disciplines: political sciences, economics, agriculture, international affairs, social sciences, development studies, or a field relevant to international development or humanitarian assistance. Experience:
- At least eight years (of which at least 3 international) of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in public sector management, development projects, emergency assistance and/or institutional strengthening. Specific experience in strategy formulation, programme management, and project planning in a large multicultural institutional both in the field and headquarters an asset.
- Previous work experience with the United Nations system is an asset; in particular with respect to inter-agency coordination on the field.
Technical Skills & Knowledge
- Experience in engaging with local and national governments on technical and strategic planning initiatives.
Competencies
- Demonstrated ability to strengthen and manage partnerships with a wide variety of stakeholders and subject matter experts.
Language
- Fluency in oral and written English with an intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP's working languages).
Application Procedures
Go to: http://i-recruitment.wfp.org/vacancies/15-0018089
Step 1: Register and create your online CV.
Step 2: Click on 'Description' to read the position requirements and 'Apply' to submit your application.
NOTE
You must complete Step 1 and 2 in order for your application to be considered for this vacancy.
Qualified 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.
REF: 15-0018089 Fighting Hunger Worldwide www.wfp.org
