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.

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.

WFP’s strategy in Djibouti is aligned with Djibouti Vision 2035 and takes into account regional strategies of the African Union, in particular Agenda 2063 and the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth, and IGAD sub-regional strategies. It is also aligned with the UNDAF for 2018–2022 and builds on relevant recommendations of the Zero Hunger Strategic Review.

Addressing poverty is a major pathway to addressing food insecurity in Djibouti. Agricultural potential is limited, but the agricultural, pastoral and fisheries sectors offer opportunities for providing direct assistance for rural households susceptible to food insecurity and malnutrition. The two pillars of the WFP strategy are:

• To provide employment equitably for women and men in the most vulnerable households; and
• To use safety nets to ensure access to assistance that meets basic needs, including for food security.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

This position is based in the Djibouti Country office and reports to the Head of Programme. The job holder operates with a high degree of independence, manages more junior staff to ensure that programme and policy objectives are achieved in full. They are usually involved in a wide variety of programme and policy activities and analytical work, some of which may be of a considerable complexity. At this level the job holder is expected to contribute to performance improvement.

JOB PURPOSE

To provide support to policy and programme activities that effectively meet food assistance needs.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Guide, supervise and assess performance of WFP’s interventions under the Emergency Pillar of its Country Strategic Plan for Djibouti

2. Contribute towards the development of a wide variety of projects, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance.

3. Collaborate closely with key ministries and contribute to strengthen their capacities in the field of project management and policy elaboration.

4. Advise WFP management in all related matters concerning delivery of assistance and contingency planning to properly respond to the needs of beneficiaries;

5. Research and analyse a range of policy and operational issues to inform the development of policies, programmes and activities and recommend proposals for timely programme engagements;

6. Provide project management support to specific and defined programmes and projects of considerable size/complexity, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes that complies with WFP standards and procedures.

7. Engage with other UN agencies, local partners and Authorities in identification of strategies, as well as programs and projects that will respond to the immediate needs of the community;

8. Liaise with internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery.

9. Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working leading to improved food assistance packages.

10. Contribute to resources mobilization efforts for WFP projects, including clearly articulating the need for food assistance and related programme opportunities, and follow up on the resource situation of projects;

11. Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to prepare for and respond to food assistance needs, e.g. through providing inputs into training materials.

10. Lead, motivate and develop staff to enable high performance.

12. Other as required.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

The incumbent should have:

• A proven track record in the design and management of emergency and development programmes with effective social protection components;
• Strong general analytical skills;
• Proven experience of working in partnership with government departments and/or humanitarian and development actors while building their capacities in project management and strategies design
• Strong oral and written communication skills

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people’s skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
•  Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
•  Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
•  Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education : Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of relevant work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Language : Fluency (level C) in English and French language. Proficiency in Djibouti’s local languages is an asset.

Experience : A least 5 years of experience is desirable.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has deepened technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams.

• Has taken leadership of implementing programmes.

• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.

• Has some exposure in field operations.

• Gained experience of analysing local political situations and assessing risk accurately.

• Gained broader exposure across areas within a function (i.e. policy, programme etc.).

• Has gained experience managing small to mid-size financial budgets, balancing priorities effectively.

• Has experience leading a small to mid-size team to ensure the effective delivery of objectives.

• Participated in a government/ partner negotiation within area of focus.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

March 10, 2021

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.