Consultant Programme Policy

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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 is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

WFP strives to be a leader in environmental sustainability within the UN system. In pursuit of this goal, WFP adopted a new Environmental policy in February 2017, and an Environmental and Social Sustainability Framework (ESSF). The Policy commits the organization to avoiding unintended harm to the environment, its beneficiaries, or any other affected populations as a result of our operations and programmes, and to maximize environmental benefits. The ESSF contains 3 tools: a set of environmental and social standards, risk screening of activity design and mitigation/ management plans (safeguards), and an environmental management system (EMS) consistent with the international standard ISO 14001. Collectively, these three elements are known as WFP's Environmental and Social Sustainability Framework (ESSF).

The ESS Advisor will perform on one or more of the following tasks: (i) provide technical support to country offices and partners in applying safeguards measures and tools to their programmes (both during formulation and implementation phases); (ii) train WFP’ staff and partners on the compliance and application of the WFP’s and donors’ related safeguards; (iii) support the development of technical, guidance and training material for the implementation of the ESSF, including technical guidance on mitigation measures by also liaising with other WFP’s units; (iv) ensure compliance with corporate reporting requirements and donors’ requirements on the ESSF and safeguards; and (v) support the integration of strategic environmental and social safeguards assessments within country strategic plans.

The advisor will report to the Coordinator Climate Finance and Safeguards in PRGR in Rome. The ESS Advisor will closely coordinate with other members of the GHQ ESS team.

It is expected that the ESS Advisor will be travelling to country offices on their demand, to support the implementation of the ESS where required and to support onboarding of new ESS field advisors as needed.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Technical support to country offices: Support the application of the WFP, donor and government standards (as applicable) on environmental & social safeguards tools (including risk screening) to programmatic activities at CO level; Support the application of the safeguards’ requirements in new proposals to donors (including proposals to the Adaptation Fund, Green Climate Fund, IFIs); Check the extent to which alternative screening tools used by country offices are aligned with WFP’s standards/tools; Provide advice to COs during an emergency response, to promote adherence to WFP’s environmental and social standards; Support the elaboration and review of Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) when required; Revise Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) of high-risk projects when required; Support the formulation of environmental and social safeguards assessments in the Country Strategic Plans (CSPs).  

• Capacity building and training: Promote awareness of WFP's potential environmental and social impacts and of the safeguards framework as a tool for systematically managing those impacts; Train country office staff on the application of, and compliance with the Environmental and Social Safeguards requirements by delivering online webinars and/or in-country training sessions; Collect and share best practices from within the region to promote ongoing engagement and improvement

• Strategic direction and guidance to country offices: Seek opportunities to link WFP safeguards to national safeguard regulations and capacities; Support country offices to comply with national environmental regulations; Seek opportunities to access regional and country- specific funding sources to increase the involvement of local stakeholders.
• Monitoring: Monitor country office engagement in the implementation of environmental &social safeguards; Ensure that country offices identify and record risks in a corporate digital platform and relevant performance dashboards and scorecards; Support country offices in reporting on the application of the WFP Safeguards in the Annual Country Reports.
• Act as a field coordinator for the global ESS portfolio: provide technical support for field-based ESS regional advisors; Manage a repository/documentation of ESS implementation at COs; join interview panels for ESS specialists' recruitments; Participate in onboarding of ESS field advisors; join coordination calls with the ESS GHQ team on a regular basis.
• Any other tasks, as required. 

DELIVERABLES  

• Improve the capacity-building at Country Office’s level by providing training, guidance and technical support;

• Provide ESS support to Country Offices developing new country strategies, programs and proposals and ensure that donor requirements in relation to ESS are adequately addressed and budgeted for;

• Elaborate and revise Environmental & Social Management Plans (ESMPs) where required, and support Environmental & Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) for high-risk projects when/if required;

• Support COs in reporting on the application of WFP’s safeguards for both specific projects and for CSP activity implementation;

• Perform other ESS-related duties as required.    

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education - An advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in one of the following areas: Environmental Studies, Environmental Management, Engineering, Agriculture, SocialScience, International Studies, Human Rights, or a related field;

Additional education in a complementary field (e.g. additional education in socialscience when the first degree was in environmental science - or vice versa) would be an advantage;

Experience

At least six (6) years of post-graduate experience in areas related to: environmental and social sustainability, environmental and social safeguards, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), or corporate sustainability for national and/or international environmental and social safeguards frameworks and regulations;

Experience in developing and delivering training;

Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in fieldpositions, would be an advantage;

Work experience with the UN, particularly with WFP or WFP’s donors, would be anadvantage;

Knowledge and Skills

In-depth understanding of environmental and social sustainability and how theylink with food security and humanitarian operations (including previousexperience on Environmental and Social Impact Assessments and Management Plans elaboration and implementation);

Excellent training skills or public speaking skills;

-Proven ability to work and coordinate and communicate across multiple teamsand with offices in remote locations.

Languages
Excellent written and spoken English (level C) is a requirement; working knowledge of a second official UN language is an advantage.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.

• We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.

• At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

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.