Programme Policy Officer

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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.

WFP in Kenya has been working in partnership with the Government for over 40 years. Its role has evolved from primarily delivering food assistance (Saving Lives) largely focusing on delivering immediate and ongoing support to boost food access and availability to medium to long-term action (Changing Lives) which aims at building climate-resilient food systems. In June 2023, this partnership was renewed through WFP Kenya’s Country Strategic Plan (CSP, 2023-2027), through which WFP will continue to support the Government of Kenya to addressing food security and nutrition challenges within the framework of Kenya’s Vision 2030 and to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2) – Zero Hunger.

THE ROLE

• WFP has invested for years in strengthening Kenya’s social protection system and resilience for Kenyans in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and contributed to transitioning refugees living in the camps and settlement towards self-reliance. The Social Protection system is rapidly expanding and will see its coverage move from the current 1.2 million households in 2023 to 2.5 million households by the end of 2024. The coverage may increase further given the interests and commitments of county governments especially within the ASALs.
• With Government’s focus on transitioning refugee assistance in Kenya from camps to settlements supported by the Refugee Act 2021 and Shirika Plan, ending drought emergencies and scaling up social protection from 1.2 to 2.5 million people, there is now an opportunity to link these investments and bring them to scale.
• WFP through its work on changing lives will support the Government by catalyzing ongoing efforts to transition vulnerable populations (Kenyans and refugees) in Turkana and Garissa, and potentially other ASAL counties from external assistance and change their lives through the introduction of a productive safety net and targeted/differentiated assistance packages,  which leverage government’s expanding cash transfer programmes with WFP’s resilience building efforts, empowers them economically and helps the communities to transition and boost their resilience.

JOB PURPOSE 

• Coordinate activities on the ground related to WFP Kenya’s work on Changing Lives, in line with WFP Kenya’s Changing Lives Transformation Fund (CLTF) investment implementation, to ensure the effective delivery of a productive safety net for transitioning Kenyan communities and refugees covered under the Shirika Plan from dependence on humanitarian assistance to self-reliance, economic empowerment and resilience.

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

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Area Office, in close collaboration with the respective Head of Field Office, and in close coordination with WFP Kenya’s CLTF Coordination Team, the Programme Policy Officer will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Collaborate with UN and government partners to facilitate assessments meant to inform appropriate strategies and actions contributing to systematic empowerment and transitioning of local and refugee populations living in Turkana, Garissa and other Counties to be more resilient and receiving social protection services in line with the CLTF agenda of self-reliance.
• Collaborate with Area Offices, Field Offices and SO teams to undertake stakeholder mapping integrating key development and humanitarian partners, government institutions, and local communities (refugee and host) to identify focus areas, define areas of work and collaboration, and identify entry points for livelihood investments.
• Contribute to the development of an “incentivization strategy” for vulnerable households to encourage their shift from unconditional assistance to a conditional humanitarian assistance programme, complemented by resilience and economic empowerment initiatives.
• Guide and lead in community engagement, beneficiary mapping, targeting processes to tailor the development of differentiated assistance packages (incl. a new Cash Plus Resilience and Economic Empowerment Package) to meet the needs of both the Kenyan local population and refugees in the catchment area around the new municipalities of Dadaab and Kakuma, as well as potentially in other areas. This process will include participating in the development and management of an inter-agency recourse mechanism to manage complaints and feedback for onward action.
• In liaison with other UN agencies and the government effectively participate and contribute significantly to the development of a framework that is based on agreed parameters that recommends the appropriate packages for households and individuals based on their assessed socio-economic and other relevant profiles that will enable them to build their resilience and economic empowerment.
• Contribute to and tailor the design and roll-out of the associated assistance (incl. Cash plus) to the changing context conditions and needs of vulnerable communities on the ground, by leveraging government’s investments expanding social protection and linking those to activities that promote resilience building, economic empowerment, livelihood development and transition.
• Engage in policy advocacy processes aimed at strengthening national and county legal frameworks, policies, and social protection programmes, as well as registration of vulnerable Kenyans and refugees into government’s Enhanced Single Registry.
• Engage in policy advocacy processes related to the implementation of the Shirika Plan with the county government and negotiate how the assistance packages for Kenyans and refugees can best be linked to Kenya’s existing programmes (e.g. Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP), Economic Inclusion Programme, Resilience Programmes).
• Contribute to the coordination of WFP’s activities regarding the humanitarian-development nexus in Turkana and Garissa Counties, while ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance.
• Develop and coordinate data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained. In coordination with the CLTF research and learning technical working group, oversee the capturing of evidence and lessons learned to inform the CLTF research and learning agenda.
• Represent WFP in relevant technical and sector committees under the Kalobeyei and Garissa Socio Economic Development Plans (KISEDP and GISEDP) which are part of the Shirika Plan and identify issues that need to be channeled for policy engagement with government.
• Identify and document lessons learned. On a regular basis, scan and identify catalytic opportunities for effective cross-fertilization based on existing and new investments led by the Government, multilateral actors and private sector and recommend them for consideration by CLTF Coordination Team. At local / county level, lead the implementation and tracking of results and priorities envisaged within the CLTF implementation plan and ensure WFP delivers on its commitment.
• Support the development and management of partnerships to ensure smooth roll-out of the above activities.
• Other duties as required and assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Three (3) years post graduate relevant professional experience with Master’s degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition, Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or other field relevant to international development assistance.

OR

• Five (5) years of post-graduate relevant professional experience with a first university degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition, Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or other field relevant to international development assistance.
• At least 3 years of progressively responsible work experience in both humanitarian and development assistance to local, displaced populations and refugees.
• Demonstrated experience in providing technical assistance for the design and implementation of social protection and resilience programmes at national or county level, in coordination with government.
• Experience in integrated programme management, particularly in the areas of refugee transition, resilience building, economic empowerment, and social protection.
• Analytic thinking and experience in evidence generation and knowledge management.
• Experience in troubleshooting and solving operational issues.
• Experience in advocacy and policy dialogue.

Desired experience for entry into the role:

• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Coordination and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with a range of individuals to provide a high-quality support service.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Substantive analytical skills.
• Language: Fluency in both oral and written English.

Source: https://wd3.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/wfp/job_openings/job/Kakuma-Kenya-The-Republic-Of/Programme-Policy-Officer–Changing-Lives–Humanitarian-Development-Transition-_JR106654

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