Consultant Programme (Resilience), CST Level 2 Banjul, The Gambia

***People with disabilities and qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply***

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

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.

Vacancy Announcement n°: JR-108364

Job Title: Consultant Programme (Resilience), CST 2 Banjul

✨ Contract type and Grade: International Consultancy CST II (not open to Gambians)

Duration: 11 months

✅ Unit / Division: Programme Unit

Duty Station: Banjul

⏰ Closing date: 1 January 2025

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT AND ONLY NON-GAMBIANS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY

BACKGROUND

The WFP Gambia Country Strategic Plan (CSP) is based on the strategic orientations of the Gambia’s National Development Plan 2023-2027 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2024-2028. The CSP envisages a continuation of WFP’s support for shock response, human capital development, climate resilience and technical assistance, mainly to strengthen the national social protection system.

WFP will leverage the successful and long-lasting partnerships with the Government and other national and international stakeholders to achieve four strategic outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Crisis-affected populations in the Gambia, including those affected by seasonal shocks, can meet their basic food and nutrition requirements during and in the aftermath of shocks.
• Outcome 2: Children, PBW/G, vulnerable populations, and people at risk of malnutrition in the Gambia benefit from better access to healthy diets and essential services to improve their health, nutritional, and educational status by 2028.
• Outcome 3: Communities whose livelihoods are at risk in the Gambia, including smallholder farmers and other nutrition-sensitive value-chain actors, have improved livelihood and increased resilience to climate change and other socio-economic shocks by 2028.
• Outcome 4: National systems, institutions, and actors have strengthened capacities to achieve zero hunger, tackle vulnerability and boost the human capital of The Gambia by 2028.

The CSP provides support in strategic areas prioritized by the Government and will endeavour to respond to identified gender inequality challenges. In addition to its contributions to SDGs 2 and 17, the CSP will enhance The Gambia’s capability to achieve SDGs 1, 3, 4, and 11. Implementation of the CSP will contribute to WFP strategic outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The Programme Policy Officer will manage the programme activities that strengthen resilience and recovery of livelihoods mainly in rural areas in the framework of WFP’s Country Strategic Plans (2024-2028).

B. ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director / Head of Programme and the overall supervision of the Country Director, the Programme Policy Officer (Resilience) will provide support to the livelihood support and asset creation activities including the special projects- Climate Adaptation Fund-supported Rural Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resilience Building project, The Gambia Agriculture and Food Security Project (GAFSp), and other Disaster risk reduction and climate resilience initiatives, in the strategic shift towards capacity strengthening of the government, providing technical guidance and for the effective implementation of the CSP priorities and strategies in this focus area.

Specifically, the Programme Policy Officer (Resilience) will:

• Lead the design, development and implementation of asset creation, livelihood and disaster risk mitigation activities plans and processes, promoting nutrition and gender sensitive activities.
• Oversee the efficient planning, allocation, and management of financial, human, and material resources to support the implementation of resilience activities, ensuring compliance with WFP policies, donor requirements, and budgetary constraints.
• Provide project management support to livelihood and asset creation projects and activities, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes / projects that complies with WFP standards and procedures.
• Support reporting activities and contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reports on livelihood and asset creation activities that enable informed decision making and ensure consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
• Support the identification of potential cooperating partners and stakeholders and liaise with them to identify opportunities for complementary and converging programmes to increase impact and efficiency.
• support the development of the value chain and support to small holder farmer strategy and any other strategy document development (integrated resilience programming, nexus and others as needed);
• Support the coordination of key joint resilience programme by ensuring the preparation of the meeting (including basis documentation: update of workplans, consolidation of analysis and planning documents, etc.), minutes of the meetings and follow up of actions with colleagues.
• Help prepare project documents and funding proposals as required for livelihood/asset creation and resilience building activities.
• Review of the M&E framework for the resilience approach and alignment of all donor reporting requirements and the information captured in COMET, etc.
• Assist the Head of Programme in ensuring that different CSP activities are implemented in line with the plan, ensuring quality and efficient performance.
• Facilitate capacity strengthening of government institutions, WFP staff, and implementing partners through targeted training, knowledge sharing, and technical support to enhance their ability to design, implement, and scale resilience-building initiatives effectively.
• Perform any other tasks as required.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Education:

Advanced University degree in Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or other field relevant to international development assistance.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of relevant work experience in Natural Resource Management, International Development, Rural Development, and Food Security and Nutrition.
• Exposure to and experience with soil conservation, water works and infrastructure implementation, watershed management and planning, participatory approaches and community-led change projects, food security, nutrition programmes and safety nets desirable.
• Proficiency in Windows, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and experience in using geographic information systems is an advantage.
• Good analytical skills; resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgement, tact, negotiating skills; ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing; ability to work in a team, and establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to cope with situations which may threaten health or safety; flexibility in accepting work assignments outside normal desk description.
• Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Demonstrated experience in donor, government, and private sector liaison and coordination.
• Previous UN work experience will be an added advantage.

Competences:

• Demonstrated ability to present information and ideas and to communicate technical content effectively to a non-technical audience.
• Ability to conduct effective meetings, listen to others and engage in dialogue.
• Thorough understanding of operational planning and business processes, rules and procedures and apply them consistently in the implementation and support of programme interventions.
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management, and reporting.
• Ability to lead formulation and monitoring of management projects.
• Has performed basic financial analysis or either office or operational budgets.
• Has provided analytical inputs for the development of budgets, financial plans or analysis.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
• Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills;
• General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures governing administration.

Languages:

Full professional fluency in English with strong writing skills.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at [email protected]. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
• Please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

This position is not open to Gambian Nationals. If you are Gambian please do not apply as your application will not be considered.