Programme Policy Officer (Programme Cycle & Cross Cutting Areas) LFT P4

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE

2023 marks the start of a second-generation Interim Country Strategic Plan (ICSP) for WFP in Yemen. It maintains an approach enabling WFP to flexibly respond to the changing political context while aligning to the growing donor narrative around the humanitarian– development–peace nexus (HDPN), ‘transition’ and the ‘centrality of protection’. Reflecting the need to evolve a response that delivers complementary humanitarian and resilience building activities, the ICSP commits WFP to greater focus on the cross-cutting thematic areas of humanitarian principles, gender sensitivity, conflict sensitivity, protection mainstreaming and accountability to affected people (AAP). Linked to this, it aims for WFP to begin to reduce the humanitarian caseload while carving out additional space for gender responsive resilience building activities and laying the basis for WFP to position itself in the social protection domain, at the same time improving its targeting and beneficiary management.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme, the Programme Policy Officer (PPO): Programme Cycle and Cross Cutting Thematic Areas will:

A. Programme Cycle/Corporate Programme Review Processes (PRP)

• In coordination with the Head of Programme, Senior Management Team and Regional Bureau, lead corporate programme review processes (PRP), including budget revisions, in accordance with WFP’s Policy on Country Strategic Plans an informed by the CCA and transitional UNSDCF priorities.

• Working with the Activity Managers, lead the planning and collation of evidence for the next ICSP, design of which is currently due to start in 2024.

B. Strategic Orientation

• Lead the design of WFP Yemen’s Social Protection Roadmap, clarify ambiguities with respect to WFP’s complex portfolio of humanitarian and development-oriented activities, ensuring the roadmap is consistent with WFP policies, Executive Board decisions, and other relevant guidance.

• Assess implications of, and make recommendations on, activity and field office strategies and other measures to advance WFP objectives in Yemen, ensuring that conflict sensitive planning, gender sensitivity and protection of affected people is its core.

• Contribute to Country Office risk analysis, prioritisation and retargeting planning in order to most effectively respond to humanitarian needs;

• Undertake any other special assignments requested by the Head of Programme.

C. Inter-agency engagement

• Support WFP’s inter-agency engagement related to the Yemen Economic Framework and Transitional UNSDCF.

• In liaison with the Programme Unit and RAM, enable WFP’s appropriate role in CCA workstreams and Transitional UNSDCF results groups.

• Participate in relevant clusters/sectoral meetings relating to cross-cutting thematic areas, such as the Protection Cluster and PSEA task team.

• Articulate and support the representation of WFP’s position at the nexus in Yemen and enhance WFP’s leadership status in different forums on subjects related to food security and the nexus and engagement in humanitarian, transition contexts;

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES – PART 2

D. Technical leadership on cross-cutting thematic areas.

• Ensure that WFP is delivering on key aspects of its commitment to people-centred approaches, conflict sensitivity, protection mainstreaming, AAP, humanitarian principles and gender equality and women’s empowerment.

• Take responsibility for incorporating gender in all areas of work, for inclusive, participatory and equitable programming that delivers gender equality results in food security and nutrition;

• Ensure the best use of assigned gender budget for the achievement of set objectives in the ICSP;

• Provide technical advice and/or mobilise technical expertise, on cross-cutting thematic areas including risk and gender analysis, the choice of objectives, activities, transfer modalities, ,

• Manage or oversee preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical reports, and information products for internal or external use relating to crosscutting thematic areas;

• Pilot WFP’s cross-cutting areas risk analysis in Yemen.

• Develop and implement a CO gender action plan and CO protection and AAP action plan that incorporates corporate requirements related to community engagement.

• Ensure training is undertaken to build the capacity of Programme Unit/Activity Managers and cooperating partners on cross-cutting areas.

• Act as the Country Office Focal Point for Data Protection, including Privacy Impact Assessments, and for PSEA. Support the PSEA consultant to undertake PSEA capacity assessments using the interagency PSEA assessment tool. Represent WFP in the PSEA interagency Taskforce.

• Develop operational partnerships and strategic partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives for mainstreaming of cross cutting thematic areas;

• Liaise with counterparts in HQ, the Regional Bureau and other Country Offices to exchange information and position Yemen CO work and emerging evidence as applicable.

E. Management responsibilities

• Provide direct line management support to the Gender Officer and PSEA consultant;

• Provide support to other staff working on cross-cutting thematic areas.

• Identify and develop national talent to further enhance gender, protection and CS mainstreaming.

• Lead, motivate and develop a competent and diverse team of gender and protection focal points in the Country Office as well as in the Area/Sub-Offices to improve programme quality.

Others as required

KEY DELIVERABLES

Budget revision and/or an action plan for the WFP’s next ICSP for the Yemen operation.

• Social Protection Roadmap

• Integrated gender, protection and conflict sensitivity analysis for programme activities.

• Updated Protection and Accountability Action Plan that incorporates corporate requirements related to community engagement

• Updated Gender Action Plan

• As required, programme related position papers/briefs that contribute to WFP’s strategic positioning in Yemen.

Skills

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University Degree and/or equivalent experience with emphasis in one or more of the following disciplines: political sciences, economics, agriculture, international affairs, social sciences, development studies or a field relevant to international development or humanitarian assistance.

Experience: At least 8 years post graduate, progressively responsible international and national experience in the fields of goal oriented/strategic planning, organizational change management, inter-agency coordination, programme re-orientation, policy development etc. Specific experience in strategy formulation, cross-cutting thematic areas, programme management and project planning in a large multicultural institution in the field or headquarters is an asset. Previous experience with WFP or the UN System required.

Knowledge & Skills: Ability to translate understanding of programme principles into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches; Excellent writing skills in English; Ability to explain WFP projects and operations to counterparts and to communicate with Government and partners clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; Good understanding of project lifecycle, humanitarian principles and tools, programmes and transfer modalities; General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures; General knowledge of the UN Development System Reform; Good analytical

and research skills; Good interpersonal skills, teamwork spirit and ability to work in multicultural settings.

Languages: Proficiency/level C of English is required. Additional UN language(s) would be an asset.