Programme Policy Officer - Cash Based Transfers at World Food Programme (WFP)

JOB PURPOSE

To provide support to policy and programme activities that effectively meet food assistance needs.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Support Area Offices in Somalia to plan and deliver transfers (in kind and cash-based) through the corporate SCOPE system, including business and technical support and guidance. Using distribution reports from the SCOPE system, support the distribution reporting team in accurate distribution reporting through the corporate COMET system.
2. Liaise with different WFP business units (Programme, Procurement, Administration, Finance, Logistics, ICT and Security) to ensure coordinated design and implementation of cash, voucher and in-kind food transfers. Act as secretariat to the Somalia Country Office Cash-based transfers (CBT) working group.
3. Review proposals from partners ensuring that the selected transfer modality is the most efficient and effective for meeting programme objectives. During implementation, monitor and report on cost-effectiveness of the intervention.
4. Coordinate transfer modality review in potential scale up areas, to include market surveys and feasibility assessments to assess the suitability of the markets to support CBTs.
5. Periodically review the method at which CBT to beneficiaries are determined and propose effective means of determining the value of transfers.
6. Review best practices of CBT implementation and identify avenues for strengthening and standardizing existing systems in accordance with WFP operational guidance. Scaling up appropriate technologies, whenever possible.
7. Contribute to the Somalia Country Office's resource mobilization effort by providing relevant information during proposal development. During and after compile implementation updates and activity reports.
8. Maintain regular relationship and follow up with the SCOPE Service Desk to support the issue resolution and change requests.
9. Monitor and regularly update management on the status of CBT resources.
10. Review monthly distribution plans for CBT and ensure the plans are aligned to approved food assistance activities and that the resources for the transfers are committed to Purchase Orders. Fine-tune Standard Operating Procedures, internal controls and procedures related to use of the SCOPE system for in-­kind and cash-based transfers in order to mainstream the use of SCOPE through WFP operations in Somalia.
11. Support the demonstration and roll-out of SCOPE to other external agencies/third ­parties interested in adopting the SCOPE system, in close coordination with the SCOPE Service Desk.
12. Day-to-day oversight of the Transfer team.
13. Participate in national level dialogue on appropriateness and standardization of transfer types, and represent WFP as required.
14. Contribute towards the development of a wide variety of projects, plans and processes, ensuring those are aligned to delivering assistance transfers through the SCOPE system.
15. Represent WFP in the inter-agency Cash Transfer Working Group for Somalia.
16. Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries.
17. Other as required.

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.

Language: International Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese.
 

WORKING EXPERIENCE FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• A minimum of 3 years relevant professional experience 
• Knowledge and experience in the use of electronic registry and transfer management system platforms. Experience in the use of the SCOPE system will be an added advantage.
• Knowledge and experience in cash-based interventions is required, experience in Somalia is highly desirable.
• Proven professional experience in the related fields with ability to work independently on technical matters with minimum supervision.
• Training and/or experience utilizing computers, including word processing, spreadsheet and other standard WFP software packages and systems. General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures governing administration.
• Demonstrated excellence in liaising with donors and establishing innovative partnerships.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English: ability to produce excellent quality document and reports and policy documents.
• Experience in resource management by providing relevant information during proposal development, delivery of assistance and provide inputs for donor reporting.
• Has deepened technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams.
• Has taken leadership of implementing programmes.
• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.