Programme Policy Officer NOA (EPR)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

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.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has worked alongside the Cuban government, since 1963, to reinforce long-standing social protection programs that provide free, universal access to basic services. These efforts have led to 1.3 million direct beneficiaries by 2024. The country's operational landscape is marked by significant food security and nutrition challenges, and in this context, WFP works to address prioritized humanitarian needs amid growing needs and resource constraints by providing nutrition-sensitive food assistance before, during, and after shocks.

WFP enhances the capacity of the social protection system and facilitates the delivery of nutritious food and nutrient supplements. WFP also strengthens local food systems and links them with social protection program institutions. WFP has a strong field presence with monitors operating in six provinces: Las Tunas, Granma, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, and Villa Clara (which recently opened).

JOB PURPOSE

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

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority)

1. Contribute towards the development of a limited number of projects, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance.
2. Provide project management support to specific and defined programmes and projects of small to moderate size that are relatively straight forward in nature, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes that complies with WFP standards and procedures.
3. Follow data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.
4. Research and analyse policy and operational issues to support senior colleagues in the development of policies, programmes and activities.
5. Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on programmes and activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
6. Liaise with internal counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects.
7. Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working leading to improved food assistance packages.
8. Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to prepare for and respond to food assistance needs, e.g. through project management support of learning initiatives.
9. Provide guidance to support staff, acting as a point of referral and assisting them with analysis and queries.
10. Other as required.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

1. Coordinate emergency response activities in support of senior management at CO/Global HQ level in line with WFP Emergency Protocols and Frameworks and contribute to funding mobilization strategy.
2. Liaise each step of the EPR way with National Counterpart and design plans for building capacity of its actors.
3. Provide guidance to support cross-functional coordination by mobilizing expertise from various technical / functional areas to ensure that emergency preparedness and response is delivered in a coherent, integrated, and efficient manner.
4. Contribute to the overall strategic development, implementation and management of emergency assessment capacities, scenario building and Concept of Operations to ensure adequate operational readiness, including anticipatory action and where feasible, a transition plan for more sustainable emergency responses.
5. Liaise with other functions, especially M&E-VAM, for research and analysis of emerging humanitarian and food security trends and potential socio-economic and political instability to identify emerging risks and develop strategies for preparedness and risk reduction before crisis occurs.
6. Identify and propose optimal use of available funding mechanisms, partnership networks and communication and advocacy platforms to raise visibility of the emergency operation and requirements.
7. Ensure use of technological tools and solutions to enhance emergency preparedness and response effectiveness and efficiency.
8. Communicate technical matters related to the emergency response, both current and anticipated to senior management.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

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 related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience: At least one year of postgraduate professional experience in a related field.

Language: Fluency Spanish. Advanced English.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

. Has gained experience in implementing technical programs, especially in EPR

. Has implemented programmes and provided input into designing operations.

. Has supervised and motivated small teams

. Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Position: Programme Policy Officer (EPR/Emergency Preparedness and Response).

Unit: Programme

Type of Contract: Fixed Term

Grade: NOA

Duty Station: Havana, Cuba

Duration Of Contract: 12 months with the possibility of extension, based on organizational requirements.