Programme Associate (E-Vouchers) at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to end global hunger. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Associate (E-Vouchers) G6

Requisition # 57422
Location: Maiduguri

Organizational Context
In north-east Nigeria, WFP is scaling up its program to assist up to 2 million people. While the bulk of the expansion in the newly liberated areas will be done initially through in-kind assistance, in urban areas there will be a month on month increase of cash-based transfers (CBT) to beneficiaries where market assessments have indicated the feasibility of non-in-kind assistance.

As per the 2017 Operational Plan, WFP will continue to significantly increase the number of beneficiaries receiving CBT in lieu of in kind in areas with functioning markets. However, the current mobile money mechanism is facing scale up constraints.

Consequently, the WFP Nigeria CO has decided to invest in additional CBT delivery mechanisms where possible. Multiple assessments (VAM, SC, Protection, IT, Finance) have indicated that a closed-loop electronic value voucher is feasible and appropriate for the expansion of CBT assistance. This mechanism would also address reporting and reconciliation requirements. Risks related to this approach and longer term implications (with eventually a gradual shift to unrestricted cash and financial inclusion through open loop cards) need to be clearly articulated, and a ‘continuation plan’ needs to be established and implemented to ensure sustainability and scale up.

Key Acountabilites (not all-inclusive)
Within delegated authority and in close coordination with Programme, Finance and Supply Chain, the Programme Associate - CBT will be responsible for the following key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Provide project management and general office support including facilitating implementation and monitoring of CBT programmes and activities in Maiduguri following WFP’s policies and procedures;
• Perform accurate, timely recording / compilation of data and support analysis and preparation of reports (e.g. programme status, performance) in order to support operational decision-making.
• Assist monitoring the implementation of plans for timely implementation of CBT activities;
• Liaise with other WFP units especially M&E, Supply Chain, Programme and Security as well as project cooperating partners (CPs) and undertake project visits to ensure that progress is made in the achievement of project objectives;
• Work and exchange information with internal counterparts to support effective collaboration, implementation and monitoring of ongoing project activities;
• Update and maintain the operational tracking tools regularly;
• Prepare periodic reports on the progress of CBT operational projects and related plans;
• Ensure compliance with WFP’s policies, criteria and procedures with respect to CBT activities;
• Support the capacity building of WFP staff, cooperating partners and retailers;
• Ensure CBT activities are implemented according to plan as outlined in the CBT concept notes and supporting documents;
• Perform WINGs entries related to CBT and manage funding in collaboration with the Resource Management team;
• Perform other related duties as required.

4Ps Core Organisational Capabilities
Purpose:

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Coaches team in the most effective ways to communicate WFP’s Strategic Objectives to WFP team and partners in the field.
• Be a force for positive change: Implements new methods or tools to improve team’s work processes and productivity.
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Maps team’s activities and tasks to specific successes in beneficiary communities to showcase positive impact.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Explains to teammates how each unit contributes to the overall WFP mission.

People:

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Identifies skill development opportunities such as training modules or on-the-job experiences for self, colleagues and direct reports.
• Create an inclusive culture: Facilitates team building activities to build rapport in own unit.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Facilitates the pairing of junior colleagues with coaches within own team.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Proactively anticipates potential challenges and develops mitigation plans to ensure that team meets goals and targets.

Performance:

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Identifies opportunities to be creative in own work and to help team be more innovative and accurate in their respective tasks and areas of work.
• Focus on getting results: Monitors team’s deliverables and provides feedback to ensure outcomes are delivered consistently and accurately.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Provides accurate guidance to team on expected responsibilities and tasks, whilst also upholding own commitment to the team.
• Be Decisive: Sets an example and provides guidance to junior team members on when to escalate issues when faced with challenging issues in the workplace or in the field.

Partnership:

• Connect and share across WFP units: Facilitates partnerships with other WFP units to accomplish missions in the field.
• Build strong external partnerships: Sets an example and provides guidance to team on how to build relationships with external partners.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Articulates to colleagues or direct reports the value of contributing to other WFP teams and agency partnerships in fulfilling WFP’s goals and objectives.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Organizes, monitors, and prioritizes own and team’s efforts to ensure that they will fulfil the needs of internal and external partners.

Functional Capabilities
Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance:

• Demonstrates ability to identify key variables and contextual factors that affect food assistance problems and programmes throughout the lifecycle to inform quality programme design or re-design.

Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Voucher):

• Demonstrates ability to implement, under guidance, food assistance programmes deploying the full range of transfer modalities with an understanding of basic principles guiding modality selection and implementation.

Broad Knowledge of Specialized areas (i.e. Nutrition, VAM, etc.):

• Understands basic technical concepts and data and their relevance to food assistance programmes.

Emergency Programming:

• Displays capacity to provide inputs into the development, implementation and realignment of high quality emergency programmes.

Strategic Policy Engagement W/ Government:

• Understands and applies basic principles of engagement with government counterparts at the national or local level.

Standard Minimum Qualifications
Education:

• Completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary certificate in the related functional area

Language:

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

Experience:

• At least 5 (five) years of experience in programme with technical teams (Nutrition, VAM…).

Desired Experiences for Entry into the Role:

• Punctual, proactive, motivated and detail-oriented
• Good Planning skills
• Good numerical skills
• Computer literate
• Able to operate effectively and efficiently in a high-pressure and fast-paced department in which often involves rapid change
• Strong communication skills and willingness to follow-up with individuals and departments in order to achieve goals
• Able to operate with compassion and impartiality and demonstrate a high level of sensitivity and respect towards beneficiaries of all ages, locations and ethnic backgrounds
• Able to live and operate in field locations with very basic infrastructure and amenities.

Terms and Conditions

• Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Only candidates who are short-listed will be contacted
• Applications must be submitted online (use English language)
• Nationality and Residency: The applicant should be either a Nigerian national or have a valid Nigeria Residence/ work permit at the time of application.

Application Closing Date
5th July, 2017.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online