Programme Policy Officer (School Based Programmes)NOC at World Health Organization

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

In January 2020, WFP launched the Corporate School Feeding Strategy which lays out a new approach to how WFP will advocate globally, and partner with Governments and other stakeholders to address gaps in guaranteeing an integrated and multisectoral health and nutrition response for children in schools. In the Eastern Africa region, the strategy will be supported by a regional implementation plan, which is expected to define relevant, effective and context-specific measures to ensure WFP adapts its roles in school feeding to specific country situations.

JOB PURPOSE

The Programme Policy Officer, School-Based Programmes (SBP) will support the rollout of the corporate school feeding strategy in the region and provide strategic guidance, policy/technical direction and operational support/oversight to country offices in service delivery and capacity-strengthening processes of school health and nutrition.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Food Security, Public Health/Nutrition, Agriculture, Social Science or other fields relevant to International Development Assistance, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Working Experience: Five or more years of progressively responsible professional work experience in programmes or projects management related to school-based programmes, food security, nutrition, livelihood and education interventions in a bilateral, multilateral or non-governmental organization; proven capacity to conduct policy analysis and engage in policy dialogue; demonstrated effectiveness in bringing global strategies into regional/country context; proven experience in building partnerships and synergies among stakeholders, projects and regions; demonstrated experience in programme cycle management and technical assistance to communities and national governments; and practical experience in coordination with humanitarian and development partners on food security, education, nutrition, value chain development, knowledge management and advocacy.

Language: Fluency in both oral and written English.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrates ability to incorporate technical information into policy and strategy formulation and into programme design and implementation, and to appropriately communicate it internally and externally.
• Ability to translate policy and programme principles into relevant, effective and context-specific approaches.
• Good analytical skills, resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgement, tact, negotiating skills.
• Experience working in a multi-donor environment.
• Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• High capacity for organization and coordination, as well as an ability to work with a high degree of independence in a team environment.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

What you will do:

Working in the Nutrition, HIV and School-Based Programmes team, under the direct supervision of the Regional Nutrition Advisor, the Programme Policy Officer, School-Based Programmes will be responsible for the following duties:

• Contribute to the formulation of WFP-wide policies/strategies on SBP and support the translation of the policy/strategies into regional and country-level practices.
• Engage in consultations and technical discussions to contribute to shaping WFP’s corporate SBP agenda taking into account regional and continental perspectives, initiatives and commitments.
• Support WFP’s strategic engagement with host governments to design, formulate and/or implement government-led or nationally owned school health and nutrition programmes.
• Provide technical advice and mobilize technical expertise to support Country Offices in the planning, formulation and implementation of school-based programmes.
• Advice and support the development of functional training in school health and nutrition to enhance the capacity of WFP staff and partners to design and deliver effective school health and nutrition programmes.
• Review WFP project documents and reports from country offices that relate to school meals.
• In close collaboration with the M& E and the Knowledge Management team, contribute to the operational research, outcome monitoring and evidence-building on issues relevant to school meals, ensuring documentation of the same in relevant information products for both internal and external use.
• Support the COs in resource mobilization efforts for school-based programmes by supporting cost-benefit analysis processes and articulating the need for school health and nutrition in the countries.
• Establish and maintain operational partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives, and to strengthen information exchange and operational linkages between WFP (HQ/RB/CO), UN Agencies, the Government and other partners.
• Enhance WFP’s leadership status in fora relating to school-based programmes through direct participation, information products, or other materials.
• Perform other related duties as may be required.