Safety Nets – Programme Policy Officer At World Food Programme

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ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. 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.

Applications from qualified women are highly appreciated and encouraged

Position : Programme Policy Officer – Safety Nets

Type of contract : Consultant

Length of contract : 11 months

Duty station : Port-au-Prince : HAITI

Date of issuance : 09 January 2023

Closing date : 22 January 2023

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Haiti’s Human Development Index (HDI) in 2019 was ranked 169 out of 189 countries. Extreme poverty and poverty rates are high and their causes are multidimensional. This poverty manifests itself in high illiteracy rates, low life expectancy (63.29 years in 2017), high infant mortality, and significant gender inequalities, among other factors. A large majority of the population lacks access to basic services such as clean water, electricity, sanitation and health coverage.
Moreover, Haiti is vulnerable to natural disasters. It is considered the fifth most vulnerable country to natural disasters. The country has suffered in less than ten years more than four major disasters from which it is still struggling to recover: the earthquake of 2010, Tropical Storm Isaac and Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. The country is therefore exposed to earthquakes, the passage of hurricanes and also to waves of drought related to the El Nino phenomenon (2018).
Beyond these factors, food insecurity is driven by the poor performance of the agricultural sector combined with heavy dependence on food imports (more than half of the food products on the market), particularly for rice (83%). Commodity prices are largely influenced by logistical challenges, high production costs, precarious market structures and high inflation rates in recent years.

According to the latest IPC analysis (September 2022 – February 2023) published in October, approximately one in two households in Haiti is acutely food insecure, with more than 1.7 million people in the emergency phase (IPC4). This is an increase of about 500,000 people in IPC4 compared to the previous analysis. Similarly, 19,000 people are in IPC Phase 5 (Disaster), which is a first for Haiti, and for the Americas since the IPC began.

These worrying results are largely related to the political crisis installed in the country since July 2018, which has dragged it into an economic and social crisis. The various episodes of “peylok” have disrupted the markets, leading to instability in the availability of basic products and, above all, to inflationary episodes. The fluctuation of the currency has accentuated this inflation, impacting the monetary access of households to basic products.
In addition, there is an agro-climatic crisis with significant pockets of drought in the country, which has caused a significant decrease in agricultural production.
Moreover, the crisis related to COVID-19 at the global level and the declaration of a health emergency by the Government in March 2020 has led to more people becoming food insecure, with an impact on markets, the movement of people and the livelihoods of vulnerable households, among others.

Faced with the deteriorating food security situation in the country, the WFP Haiti office is developing several activities including emergency, social safety net and resilience responses.

More specifically, WFP participates actively in strengthening the Haitian government’s social protection systems. Indeed, in 2020 the Government approved the National Policy for Social Protection and Promotion (PNPPS) with the support of WFP and also launched in May 2021 a new 5-year programme called PSARA, which aims to set up a new social protection net financed by the World Bank (WB) through the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MAST). The MAST has entrusted the implementation of this project to the WFP for the first three years of its execution, with a gradual handover strategy to the MAST during the period.
Furthermore, WFP in Haiti is planning an expansion of safety nets in metropolitan area of Port au Prince, and more in general within the country. WFP is seeking a Program Policy Officer to support the implementation of theses Safety Nets.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the direct supervision of the Safety Nets Activity Manager (AM2), the Program Officer will support the implementation of WFP’s social safety net activities, particularly within the framework of the PSARA project activities, contributing to the strengthening of MAST’s capacity. Among other things, the person will:

1. Ensure the planning of cash transfer activities for social safety nets (Activity 2) in coordination with the General Project Coordinator (AM2) and the UGP/MAST including targeting, registration, distribution, monitoring.
2. Propose planning tools and coordination with the different units related to cash transfers such as CBT-Program, Finance, Field Office to enable effective and efficient implementation of cash transfers.
3. Support in the formalization of the Field Level Agreement (FLA) with WFP implementing partners for PSARA operations and in their management throughout the implementation ensuring that quality standards in the operation are respected.
4. Support in the analysis of partner proposals based on objective criteria to facilitate decision making at the Partner Proposal Review Committees and thus ensure consistency in final partnership decisions under PSARA.
5. Support AM 2 to ensure the operational and financial monitoring of agreements with implementing partners under PSARA for the smooth running of operations in the field by identifying implementation risks and proposing relevant solutions for their mitigation, in coordination with the program assistants.
6. Conduct relevant field visits to analyze the effective implementation of activities, identify opportunities for improvement and subsequently propose relevant measures to ensure better implementation of activities and compliance with quality standards.
7. Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely program reports that allow for informed decision making and consistency of information presented to management and various donors.
8. Facilitate the technical support of WFP Experts in cross-cutting themes (Gender and Inclusion, SBCC, Nutrition, Institutionalization) in the implementation of activities
9. Ensure the involvement, accompaniment and coaching of the Klere Chimen Unit of the UGP in the implementation of activities, especially in cash transfers, in the preparation of planning and monitoring tools, in coordination with other WFP units and cooperating partners.
10. Contribute to ensuring the institutionalization of the program at the central and departmental levels by strengthening the capacity of the UGP/MAST to implement cash transfers within the framework of social safety nets by providing training/coaching on the design, implementation and evaluation of cash transfer programs.
11. Ensure coordination between program stakeholders at the central and departmental levels, also through frequent missions to Field Office.
12. Carry out, at the request of his/her supervisor, all other tasks aimed at the smooth running of activities.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

University degree at the Master’s level in international cooperation, political science, social science or another field related to international development assistance or humanitarian affairs.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

1. The staff contributes to the provision of cash assistance to vulnerable households within the framework of safety nets activities by promoting the quality and value standards of the World Food Programme.
2. The staff successfully contribute to the institutionalisation of PSARA programme.
3. The staff successfully coordinate and cooperate with colleagues involved in the implementation of the project.
4. Staff successfully develops, implemented and executed the Field Level Agreements under their responsibility.
5. Staff conducts coordination meetings with other units necessary for the implementation of activities such as M&E, Security, Finance among others.
6. Staff support the IM of PSARA and participate in the drafting of reports to donors or as part of accountability reporting to local authorities
7. Staff implements planning tools that facilitate monitoring of activities and enhance internal and external coordination mechanisms.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

Experience:

At least three (3) years of professional experience in emergency humanitarian project management/coordination, particularly in the food security sector
At least two (2) professional experiences that have involved inter-institutional coordination with different humanitarian actors (international organizations, NGOs…), government institutions, civil society organizations.
At least one (1) year of professional experience in a country/countries where living conditions are difficult.

Knowledge & Skills:

– Knowledge of cash transfer and/or capacity strengthening programs desirable
– Strong motivation to carry out the required responsibilities
– Ability to work in a team with national and international staff (multicultural environment)

Languages:

– Very good knowledge of French (written, spoken read)
– Good knowledge of English (written, spoken, read)
– Knowledge of Creole is an asset

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Closing date for all applications: 22 January 2023

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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.