Programme Policy Officer – Emergency Preparedness and Response, SC8 (NOA Equivalent) at World Food Programme (WFP)

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the Deputy Head of Unit, the incumbent will support WFP’s emergency preparedness and response work, and be responsible for the following:

Response

• Monitor the performance of emergency response, including by maintaining a performance monitoring dashboard for the main emergency operations in the region, and escalate issues of underperformance for resolution.
• Refugee Economic Self-Reliance: Support Country Offices with the rollout of programmes that support economic self-reliance of refugees (and their hosting communities). This includes technical advice and strategic guidance with a focus on supporting programmes/transition models from relief food assistance to economic self-reliance.

Preparedness

• Monitor food security and nutrition risks and hazards, including by maintaining a risks monitoring tracker (elections, climatic hazards, conflict dynamics, health crises, etc) for the region to inform preparedness and response actions and prioritisation.
• Monitor CO readiness for risks in the above-mentioned tracker.
• Support RBN Country Offices with the implementation and rollout of the Emergency Preparedness Checklist (EPC) in close coordination with the Preparedness lead.
• Support the Preparedness lead in ensuring coordination between EPR and AA on preparedness and response activities.

Reporting

• Lead the writing of a quarterly Forced Displacement brief, summarising displacement trends in the region accompanied by WFP’s response.
• Support the Budget and Programming Unit in developing a quarterly Refugee Report to UNHCR, emphasizing ration levels and pipeline.
• Lead or contribute to other reports and analysis relating to EPR in the East Africa Region; including Situation Reports, fundraising documents, and talking points/briefs for senior management.

Knowledge Management and Culture Change

• Support the implementation of the RBN Knowledge Management Strategy (EPR Unit Focal Person). This includes EPR contributions to the Project Cycle Management (PCM) unit’s knowledge management initiatives, and compiling EPR reports.
• Facilitate dissemination of EPR lessons learned and best practices regionally.
• Plan, coordinate and help facilitate EPR regional workshops, annual performance planning, and other events or trainings, as needed.
• Support onboarding of new EPR staff (EPR Unit Focal Person).
• Support RBN workplace culture (EPR Unit Culture Change Champion).

Other

• Contribute to EPR support to Country Offices to plan and design emergency response programmes (typically related to CSP Strategic Outcome 1), with a likely emphasis on General Food Assistance programmes (in-kind, cash-based transfers, vouchers, wet feeding/hot meals, etc).
• As required, provide technical advice for the planning, formulation, and implementation of food assistance strategies by WFP, Cooperating Partners and host governments.
• As required, represent the EPR Unit in both internal and external fora relating to emergencies and humanitarian coordination.
• Contribute to EPR support to WFP Country Offices to strengthen capacities in EPR. This includes supporting training for WFP as well as partners including National Disaster Management Agencies in areas related to Disaster Risk Management. Support other capacity strengthening initiatives as required such as Simulation Exercises.
• Deploy directly, sometimes for extended periods, to Country Offices as required to support implementation of WFP humanitarian operations (for preparedness or response).
• Other tasks as assigned by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

• A Master’s degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, humanitarian/disaster management, development studies, public policy and management or other related fields, or a first university degree with additional years of relevant work experience and/or training/courses.

Languages :

• Fluency (level C) in English language essential. Arabic and/or French advantageous.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in humanitarian or emergency programme management or implementation.
• Demonstrated experience working in close partnership with Government and key stakeholders in the field of disaster risk management or humanitarian action.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong technical understanding of humanitarian programmes and/or disaster risk management.
• Experience in coordinating humanitarian or disaster management operations.
• Proven ability to provide input into policy discussions in the areas of disaster risk management, and/or humanitarian action.
• An ability and interest to engage with different technical teams and programmes to promote programmatic integration across multiple technical sectors.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to deal patiently and tactfully with people of different national and cultural backgrounds and to build strong partnerships.
• Strong communication skills.