Programme Policy Officer School Feeding Noa-Kenema

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WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been present in Sierra Leone since 1968. It supports the Government through a range of integrated life-saving and resilience-building activities.

One of the activities is serving as a key implementing partner of the National School Feeding Programme, under the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE). School Feeding programmes are used in many countries to incentivize education, improve health outcomes and serve as a social protection mechanism. WFP provides daily School Feeding in 5 districts across the country, covering over 1,000 schools and approximately 240,000 beneficiaries. To expand the benefits associated with School Feeding, in select schools, WFP is undertaking a Home-Grown School Feeding approach, based on local procurement from smallholder farmers.

While the position is based in Kenema and housed in WFP sub-office, it also requires supervision and implementation of School Feeding activities in Pujehun and Bonthe districts

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Sub-Office and overall guidance of Head of School Feeding, the incumbent will ensure effective and quality implementation of Home-Grown School Feeding in WFP-assisted schools in Karene district, specifically through the following activities.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Programme Implementation

• Provide overall project management support to the School Feeding programme to ensure various activities are performed within the established targets, implementation guidelines and SoPs.
• Regularly monitor, update and track data related to School Feeding programme issues, commodity pipelines, follow the timely delivery of commodities and distributions to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
• Provide intensive support to districts and schools in preparing plans, project implementation, facilitating food procurement process and ensure the delivery of food commodities and provision of Non-Food Items on time.
• Coach and support School Management Committees (SMCs), head teachers and community members to ensure the cash transferred to HGSF is being utilized for the intended purpose as per the agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and SOPs.
• Prepare and compile detailed monthly and quarterly School Feeding reports describing project activities, disaggregated by age and gender, and ensure timely submission to WFP SO and CO School Feeding unit.
• Ensure community participation in all School Feeding activities to assure local ownership. 
• Undertake data entry into COMET in a timely manner.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

Troubleshooting and Capacity Strengthening

• Act as a point of contact for resolution of a range of operational queries and problems related to School Feeding within the geographic area of responsibility.
• Escalate issues for resolution to SO, CO or the district level authorities for timely corrective action.
• Identify HGSF capacity gaps in the operational area and facilitate training sessions and knowledge management.

Coordination and Collaboration

• Serve as the focal point for strengthening district level coordination with cooperating partners, government counterparts, delivery partners, other School Feeding and complementary partners.
• Identify areas of collaboration and synergies with other actors for more effective HGSF programming at the districts, chiefdom, community and school levels.
• Maintain close working relationship with government counterparts in the districts.
• Work in close collaboration with WFP’s Asset Creation and other local actors to enhance the capacity of smallholder farmers to produce and supply nutritious and quality fresh foods (fresh vegetables, Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato) to HGSF.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Periodically collect and analyze data related to School Feeding programming through field visits and identify challenges and resolution mechanisms, either immediate, short or long term.
• Facilitate and proactively lead internal School Feeding programme monitoring in collaboration with government counterparts, and support donor visits.
• Perform additional duties, as required by the supervisor. 

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
•  Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
•  Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
•  Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: 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.

Experience: At least five years of relevant professional experience in programme design and implementation in School Feeding and/or cash-based activities or local procurement components

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

Proven capacity to provide implementation support to complex multi-faceted programs.

Ability to represent WFP at strategic engagements with partners.

Ability to think creatively, strategically and to work autonomously.

Strong networking skills

Ability to take initiative and be proactive.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Position open to Sierra Leone Nationals only

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. 

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP.

http://www.wfp.org  Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

13th February 2024

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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.