Programme Policy Officer (Resilience Advisor)

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).

JOB TITLE:
Programme Policy Officer (Resilience Advisor)
TYPE OF CONTRACT:
International Consultant (CST-II)
UNIT/DIVISION:
Programme/ Caribbean MCO
DUTY STATION (City, Country):
Home based
DURATION:
11 months (remote) / WAE (90 days)

Organisational Context:

In 2018, WFP re-established its presence in the Caribbean with an office in Barbados. The WFP Caribbean MultiCountry Office supports 22 countries and territories across the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. WFP Caribbean's capacity strengthening programme focuses on vulnerability analysis and mapping; end-to-end supply chain management; shock-responsive social protection; food systems strengthening; and climate risk financing.

In times of crisis, WFP works with partners to provide direct assistance when events surpass national and regional capacities by delivering food, cash or voucher assistance, or through emergency logistics or emergency service provision. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, facing heightened risks from extreme weather events and ecosystem impacts. Strengthening the resilience of ecosystems is pivotal in ensuring stable food supply and improving the ability to cope and withstand shocks and stressors while equitably protecting livelihoods of the Caribbean population.

The MCO is finalising its Multi-Country Strategic Plan which will guide operations for the next five years (2027-2031) comprising four strategic outcomes: 1) crisis response, 2) preparedness, 3) resilience, and 4) enabling systems. The resilience outcome intends to strengthen the resilience of people experiencing recurrent acute food insecurity in the areas most exposed to disasters and economic shocks.
Implementation of the plan will be in partnership with other stakeholders such as CARICOM, United Nations agencies and research institutions to complement governments’ efforts and enhance impact, sustainability and local ownership. Opportunities include supporting the rehabilitation of ecosystems services at macro, meso and micro levels as part of climate change adaptation efforts to improve resilient agriculture. This will be through implementation of integrated efforts aimed at improving food security, climate resilience, disaster risk finance, adaptive social protection systems. The work will also focus on building national/local capacities, aligning efforts with national and regional strategies and working in close partnership with relevant institutions and agencies.

Job Purpose:

The Programme Policy Officer Consultant for Resilience Advisor will support WFP Climate Resilience and Foods Systems efforts in the Caribbean. This role will support the Activity Manager in the strategic positioning of WFP’s resilience work in the region. The Resilience Advisor will lead the development and implementation of integrated resilience interventions comprising strategic engagement, programme design, technical assistance to Satellite Offices and coordination with partners for joint or complementary programmes.

He/She will work with colleagues to integrate the work on ecosystems rehabilitation with agrifood supply chain to strengthen the resilience of food systems to improve productivity, smallholder farmer access to markets, intra-regional trade and financial inclusion, and early recovery. The role will involve fostering linkages with other MCO programming related to adaptive social protection, supply chain and disaster risk financing. The role will also entail providing strategic and operational inputs to climate fund proposals and national and regional strategies, as well as fostering partnerships with governments, regional actors, and stakeholders to build climate resilience across the region.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.Support the development of the MCO’s resilience strategy and position it within the next MCSP (2027–2031), providing policy and operational guidance across the programme cycle, from design and implementation to monitoring evaluation.

2. Explore regional opportunities to develop an integrated resilience approach and strategy based on WFP’s comparative advantage in the region and realistic linkages with other programmatic areas such as food systems, school feeding, nutrition, disaster risk finance, emergency preparedness and early recovery, and social protection.

3.Support the development of integrated interventions utilising corporate frameworks and tools where appropriate such as the three-pronged approach (3PA) consisting of the Integrated Context Analysis (ICA), Seasonal Livelihood Programming (SLP) and Community-based Participatory Planning (CBPP) tools. Accordingly, provide the capacity strengthening support to governments and cooperating partners in the application of the tools.

4. Identify opportunities for sequenced and layered resilience programming that integrates disaster risk financing and productive safety nets to support sustainable livelihood outcomes.

5. Help elaborate an early recovery approach for the MCO, building of best practices in the region, and in consultation with key SOs.

6. Engage with national counterparts in priority countries and regional organizations such as CARICOM and OECS, contributing to policy debates and regional initiatives on ecosystems services rehabilitation and food systems transformation

7. Ensure strategic alignment of all activities with WFP’s corporate frameworks and regional/global agendas, maintaining coherence across programmes

8. Support to the Partnerships team on resource mobilization efforts, engaging IFIs, private sector actors, NGOs, development partners, and donors to advance the MCO’s resilience agenda

9. Supporting the MCO in the review and finalization of its resilience annual workplan and Output tracker.

10. Support the establishment and maintenance of operational partnerships with FAO, IICA, IFIs and relevant regional bodies to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve assistance packages and support advocacy work.

11. Support the enhancement of WFP's leadership status in forums relating to area of climate resilience through the development of briefing materials, information products and other materials.
12. Support the management of operational research and evidence building on issues relevant to climate resilience and food systems.
13. As needed, travel to Barbados and WFP Satellite Offices in the Caribbean for in-country mission to ensure that the work is grounded in the realities of the Caribbean Small Island Developing States.
14. As needed, support the MCO in exploring climate financing opportunities and contribute to the development of concept notes and proposals for these funds, including the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund as well as other multi/bilateral funding opportunities that may be identified at national, regional and/or global levels.

15. Other duties as required.

OTHER POST REQUIREMENTS:

• WFP provides emergency response support to the 22 English and Dutch-speaking countries in the Caribbean as needed. In this role, the incumbent may be required to:

• Support the Programme Unit's emergency response activities.

• Deploy to affected countries to assist with Programme operations as required.

• Work beyond regular working hours to support emergency response efforts.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced University degree in Agricultural Economics, Agriculture, Food Security, Rural Development, Environmental Science, Development Studies, 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 7 years of relevant professional experience in roles involving capacity strengthening, integrated resilience and adaptive social protection,

• Has experience working across the Program portfolio including on integrated resilience, food systems, climate services, smallholder agriculture market support and related topics

• Has experience working with UN agencies, governments and/or regional institutions

• Has experience in analyzing agri-food value chains

• Has experience designing and managing programmes

• Desired: Experience in small island developing states; experience in the Caribbean

Knowledge & Skills:

• In-depth understanding of disaster risk reduction, food systems, climate change adaptation, and resilience strategies
• Proven ability and experience in the development of interagency networks, partnerships and strategies
• Expertise in planning, prioritizing and managing resources
• Proven ability in the use of participatory planning approaches
• Excellent ability to coordinate across multiple units and organizations
• Ability to write clear and concise reports
• Experience inputting into climate fund proposals (e.g. GCF)

Languages:

Fluency (level C) in both oral and written communication in English.

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.