Consultant Programme Policy Officer (Partnerships) CST II Consultancy

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.

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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The role is located at Maiduguri Area Office and reports to the Head of Programme.
Northeast Nigeria has been engulfed in a complex and multifaceted crisis for over a decade, primarily driven by the insurgency activities. The region has witnessed widespread violence, displacement, and destruction of infrastructure, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis. The conflict has resulted in the displacement of millions of people, with many forced to live in overcrowded camps or host communities that lack basic services and resources.
About 2.2 million displaced persons face numerous challenges, including food insecurity, malnutrition, and other basic services. According to the October 2023 food security assessment (Cadre Harmonize), 4.4 million people are projected to face acute food insecurity in northeast during the lean season, June-August 2024.
Since 2016, WFP intervened and provided food assistance and nutrition support to the affected people in partnership with State Governments and other humanitarian actors. In line with its Country Strategic Plan (CSP 2023-2027), WFP Nigeria assist over 1 million people with food assistance (in-kind, CBT), nutrition interventions and livelihoods support. It works with a range of partners including the Government institutions, national and international non-governmental organizations (I/NNGOs). In this context of protracted humanitarian situation and shrinking humanitarian funding, long-term solutions should prioritize strategic and strong partnerships for efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability.
At this critical juncture, management of partnership portfolio becomes even more critical to ensure that gaps in the Field Level Agreements (FLA) and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) are proactively adequately addressed. Moreover, promoting localization and exploring opportunities to expand existing partnerships with private sector, civil society organizations (CSOs), academia and research institutions are crucial to accelerate the transition towards sustainable solutions.

JOB PURPOSE

The purpose of this role is to manage the NGO partnership portfolio at the Area Office level with focus on fostering strategic cooperation and engagement, expanding partnerships with Government, CSOs, academia and research institutes. Emphasis is placed on ensuring accountability and timeliness in the FLA processes including performance management, sustainability, and localization.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Manage and coordinate Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) partnership portfolio and expand partnerships with Government, Civil Society Organizations and promote localization efforts.

2. Develop operational partnerships and maintain established strategic partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve assistance packages and support advocacy work.

3. Facilitate partnership growth, by exploring opportunities to expand existing partnerships and scope of new partners, guided by assessments, analysis and due diligence; Present recommendations to senior management and ensure follow-up.
4. Initiate and lead complex negotiations of cooperating partners (CP’s) proposals and budgets, joint memorandum of understanding (MoU) and joint implementation plans in line with WFP corporate norms and resources availability.
5. Contribute to the preparation of partnership proposals, strategic agreements, Field Level Agreements (FLA), joint strategies and/or MOU, taking into account corporate norms, processes and external regulations; Ensure quality control of content by engaging with relevant functional units.
6. Monitor the implementation of a work plan for an assigned area that will enable WFP to identify, develop and strengthen quality partnerships in support of the WFP Nigeria Country Strategic Plan.
7. Use socio-political insights to support WFP’s effective positioning vis-à-vis national and state governments, with the aim to influence the policy agenda and support the Government priorities.
8. Take responsibility for gender transformation perspectives in all areas of work with our Cooperating Partners to ensure equal participation of women and men, and women empowerment.
9. Ensure the best use of assigned financial resources for achievement of set objectives within a moderate budget.
10. Review Cooperating Partners’ performance, proactively support growth and improvement and ensure that selection process is transparent and timely.
11. Consolidate and review FLA and MoU templates and notes for the record (NFR) for Cooperating Partners Committee (CPC) and ensuring timely approval of agreements;
12. Coordinate inputs from other units for CP performance evaluations and ensure that periodic assessments are carried out as per corporate guidance.
13. Lead, motivate and develop a team of staff to enable high performance.
14. Other as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in Political Science, International Development, Development Economics, International Relations, Law, Marketing, Communications or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience: At least six (6) years of progressively responsible professional post graduate experience relevant to the field is required. Experience working across the entire Programme portfolio including Relief, Nutrition and Livelihoods

Knowledge & Skills: Broad knowledge of all aspects of partnerships, Humanitarian Development Peace nexus, communication and negotiation skills.

Language: Proficiency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language) is preferable..

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

•   Has gained experience in implementing the work plan for assigned area
•  Has built and maintained effective relationships with member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners
•  Has researched and analysed social and political trends data
•  Has managed small teams of staff with related areas of expertise

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

1. – Stretegy for strategic partnerhsips is developped;
2. – FLA and MoU are timely prepared;
3. – NGO selection process is transparent and cost effective;
4. – Training to cooperating partners is provided to address performance gaps;
5. – Localization efforts supported: from 50% to 65% of FLA with NNGOs by end of 2024.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Only Non-Nigerian nationals
• Applications are to be submitted and received online and in English language only.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  Canvassing is strictly prohibited. Canvassing of any sort will lead to the automatic disqualification of the concerned applicant.
• 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.
• 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

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

11:59PM, 7TH APRIL 2024.

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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.