ABOUT WFP
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is recognized as the leading solution provider and partner in the struggle to end hunger and malnutrition and particularly for its efforts to reach those furthest behind first.
Being the frontline agency of the United Nations system that delivers innovative hunger solutions to 81 countries each day worldwide; WFP’s 14,800+ strong staff share a vision and commitment to end hunger by 2030. Tackling the causes – not just the symptoms – and operating in the remotest corners of the world, with all logistical means necessary, WFP’s results-focussed team provides nutritious and life-saving food and cash assistance when necessary. Bringing unrivalled experience and operating in the world’s most high profile, difficult environments, WFP upholds the humanitarian principles of humanity, integrity impartiality and neutrality.
In successfully achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) i.e Zero Hunger by 2030, the WFP team actively fosters partnerships with governments, communities, local authorities, civil societies, other UN agencies and the private sector.
For more on WFP and what we do, please go to http://www.wfp.org/videos/zero-hunger.
JOB PURPOSE
The WFP Southern Africa Regional Bureau, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, is looking for a suitably qualified candidate to fill the post of Programme Associate, Portfolio Management and Operations Support reporting to the Programme Policy Officer.
4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES
Purpose
- Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Coaches team in the most effective ways to communicate WFP’s Strategic Objectives to WFP team and partners in the field.
- Be a force for positive change: Implements new methods or tools to improve team’s work processes and productivity.
- Make the mission inspiring to our team: Maps team’s activities and tasks to specific successes in beneficiary communities to showcase positive impact.
- Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Explains to teammates how each unit contributes to the overall WFP mission.
People
- Look for ways to strengthen people’s skills: Identifies skill development opportunities such as training modules or on-the-job experiences for self, colleagues and direct reports.
- Create an inclusive culture: Facilitates team building activities to build rapport in own unit.
- Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Facilitates the pairing of junior colleagues with coaches within own team.
- Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Proactively anticipates potential challenges and develops mitigation plans to ensure that team meets goals and targets.
Performance
- Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Identifies opportunities to be creative in own work and to help team be more innovative and accurate in their respective tasks and areas of work.
- Focus on getting results: Monitors team’s deliverables and provides feedback to ensure outcomes are delivered consistently and accurately.
- Make commitments and make good on commitments: Provides accurate guidance to team on expected responsibilities and tasks, whilst also upholding own commitment to the team.
- Be Decisive: Sets an example and provides guidance to junior team members on when to escalate issues when faced with challenging issues in the workplace or in the field.
Partnership
- Connect and share across WFP units: Facilitates partnerships with other WFP units to accomplish missions in the field.
- Build strong external partnerships: Sets an example and provides guidance to team on how to build relationships with external partners.
- Be politically agile & adaptable: Articulates to colleagues or direct reports the value of contributing to other WFP teams and agency partnerships in fulfilling WFP’s goals and objectives.
- Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Organizes, monitors, and prioritizes own and team’s efforts to ensure that they will fulfil the needs of internal and external partners.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
Portfolio Management:
1. Maintain tracking records to support Portfolio Management and Country Strategic Planning (CSP) processes (RBJ Operations 2016-2017 and PMSS Portfolio Management and Operations Support Annual Priorities monthly and RBJ Project Portfolio on a quarterly basis) and prepare weekly updates.
2. Provide administrative support to the Project Review Process (PRP); including liaising with HQ to schedule s-PRP and e-PRP meetings and upload documents on the System for Project Approval (SPA).
3. Maintain and update the project documentation repository on the shared drive.
4. Liaise with HQ as necessary to provide information updates to HQ on the RBJ Programme of Work (PoW) and any other information on request.
5. Coordinate the approval process of adjustments to portfolio’s and new country portfolios in the RB and with HQ.
6. Attend thematic programme meetings and s-PRP meetings and prepare Notes for the Record (NFR) as necessary.
7. Support the regular tracking and consistent reporting on beneficiary figures (planned, prioritised, reached) for the El Nino L3 emergency and for regular operations as required.
8. Review and provide inputs to reporting documents on general programme issues particularly beneficiary planning data.
Systems Support:
9. Provide support to Country Offices (CO’s) on Country Office Monitoring and Evaluation Tool (COMET) data entry and liaise with the HQ COMET team on technical issues and status of data entry.
10. Monitor the progress and quality of Country Office data entry in the COMET implementation module (focusing on project plans, implementation plans, partnerships and distribution data).
11. Contribute towards mainstreaming efforts of COMET within the programme unit and the broader Regional Bureau (RB).
12. Support the roll-out of the new COMET interface designed for the CSP.
13. Work in collaboration with the RB logistics unit to support the COMET / Logistics Execution Support System (LESS) reconciliation process.
14. Support the programme team with the use of programme-related LESS functionalities.
15. Perform other related duties as required.
FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES
| Capability Name | Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level |
| Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance | Demonstrates ability to identify key variables and contextual factors that affect food assistance problems and programmes throughout the lifecycle to inform quality programme design or re-design. |
| Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Vouchers) | Demonstrates ability to implement, under guidance, food assistance programmes deploying the full range of transfer modalities with an understanding of basic principles guiding modality selection and implementation. |
| Broad Knowledge of Specialized Areas | Understands basic technical concepts and data and their relevance to food assistance programmes. |
| Emergency Programming | Displays capacity to provide inputs into the development, implementation and realignment of high quality emergency programmes. |
| Strategic Policy Engagement w/Government | Understands and applies basic principles of engagement with government counterparts at the national or local level. |
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Secondary school education supplemented by technical/university certificates in Public Administration, International Development, Political Science, Finance and Economics.
• A degree in in the above mentioned fileds or another relevant subject is desirable.
Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English is essential. Working knowledge of French and/or Portuguese, an asset.
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE
- Has worked with technical teams (i.e. nutrition, resilience, gender and protection, M&E, market access, social protection, VAM, etc.).
• Has contributed to implementation of programmes.
• Has observed or assisted with policy discussions.
• 6 Years relevant work experience
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
Closing date: 03 March 2017
More Information
- Job City Johannesburg
