Programme Policy Officer (Protection & Accountability to Affected Populations Advisor-Head of Unit) at World Food Programme (WFP)

Organizational Context

• Under the direct direction of the Head of Area Office and the technical oversight of the Deputy Country Director (Operations), the Protection and Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) Advisor - Head of Protection and AAP Unit (below referenced as HoProt) will be responsible for providing strategic orientations in protection and AAP.
• This includes overseeing the implementation of protection and AAP activities in WFP’s operations in Nigeria, supervising the CO protection and AAP personnel and coordinating the partner protection and AAP officers and assistants hired within the context of field level agreements with WFP.
• This will include providing operational and programmatic advice on the operational integration of the WFP Nigeria CO Protection and AAP strategy and working closely with WFP technical units including support services and respective sectors (Food, Logistics, Communication) to mainstream protection & AAP throughout WFP operations in North-East Nigeria.

Job Purpose/Description

• The Protection and AAP Advisor also plays a key role in supporting the implementation of the WFP Gender Policy 2015 to 2020 in coordination with the WFP Gender Focal Point and the WFP CO Strategy on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (draft) in collaboration with the WFP Senior SEA Focal Point.
• The HoProt leads the protection team which is composed of two national protection officers and one international protection officer and works in close coordination with the Head of the Programme Unit, as well as with the Heads of Nutrition, Livelihoods, Vulnerability Assessment Mapping (VAM), M&E, Communication, Compliance, Security and Supply Chain so that protection is effectively integrated at various levels of WFP’s response, including in operational support-related activities, as well as ensure that staff is trained accordingly.
• The HoProt is responsible for the overall yearly implementation, monitoring and reporting on the Nigeria CO Protection and AAP Strategy and the protection component of the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2019-2022.
• WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Key Accountabilities (not all-inclusive)

• Leadership & Advocacy on Protection and AAP-Provide leadership on protection related policy issues to the Nigeria Country Office including on the choice of protection objectives, policies and context-based priorities, including by ensuring alignment of the HCT/OHCT-endorsed policies with WFP Nigeria Protection, Gender and AAP policies and strategies.
• Define and Oversee the Implementation of the Nigeria CO Protection Component of the Country Strategic Plan and respective Policies on Protection and AAP- Manage a team of three protection officers across three locations Yobe, Adamawa and Borno and provide the technical framework for the scope of work of WFP's implementing partner protection officers & assistants.
• Advice WFP and Partners on the Integration of Protection and AAP into WFP Operations in Nigeria-Develop and define strategic and operational measures to integrate the findings from the protection analyses of issues that are impacting WFP beneficiaries and their communities and the linkages to food security and food assistance. Work will all relevant staff and in collaboration with the Head of Area office to develop responses, ensuring that these are integrated in WFP’s programming and operational activities at the country office level.
• Integrate Protection Considerations Relevant for WFP Operations in Nigeria into WFP's tools and Processes-Coordinate and provide technical leadership to assessments, analysis and to design, formulate, implement and monitor the integration of protection, AAP and gender into WFP food assessment programmes. Draft or review country strategies & approaches as required to ensure protection is mainstreamed and AAP is integrated.
• Staff Training and Capacity Building-Provide WFP protection officers, the relevant technical units and the and cooperating partners with active guidance on the integration of protection and AAP within the context of WFP operations in Nigeria by developing and overseeing the implementation of a training and on the job mentoring scheme.
• Inter-agency coordination and representation-Assist WFP to coordinate with other UN humanitarian agencies, NGO, INGO partners and other relevant interlocutors on assessments of current and emerging protection issues and response planning and explore strategic partnerships that . Represent WFP in the inter-agency protection fora (Protection Working Group, GBV and Child protection sub-working groups, the civil-military taskforce), as well as individual protection actors to ensure complementarity with the overall strategy on protection.
• Complaints and Feedback Mechanism and Reporting System for Protection-Support the roll-out of the WFP Nigeria Complaint and Feedback Standard operating procedures and the development of relevant tools and guidance. Provide advice, guidance and follow-up in relation to protection aspects of the complaints and feedback mechanism and continue to explore how a systen of reporting protection issues within the context of WFP's operation in Nigeria can be established and sustained.
• Safe Delivery of Assistance-In collaboration with the Head of Progamme Unit, Access Unit, CIVMIL (Logistics Sector), Head of Logistics and Head of Security provide advice, guidance and follow-up on measures to ensure safe distributions. Ensure that protection integration is consistent with WFP policies Executive Board and other operational and protection guidance.
• Contribute to the Country Office Emergency Preparedness i.e. early warning, risk analysis and contingency planning for the integration protection considerations and arising protection issues and other coorporate and donor reporting requirements.
• Perform other duties as required.

4Ps Core Organisational Capabilities
Purpose:

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives : Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.
• Be a force for positive change : Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.
• Make the mission inspiring to our team : Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions : Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.

People:

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills : Is able to identify, support and encourage focused on-the-job learning opportunities to address gaps between current skillsets and needed future skillsets for WFP.
• Create an inclusive culture : Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback : Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit : Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios)

Performance:

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions : Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries.
• Focus on getting results : Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments : Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.
• Be Decisive : Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.

Partnership:

• Connect and share across WFP units : Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning
• Build strong external partnerships : Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships
• Be politically agile & adaptable : Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships : Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.

Functional Capabilities
Capability Name - Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level:

• Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance - Displays ability to identify the main hunger problem at the national or subnational level to design and implement context-specific programmes that integrate complex analysis and the full range of food assistance tools.
• Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Voucher) - Demonstrates the ability to design, implement, monitor and provide oversight over effective and efficient programmes deploying different transfer modalities.
• Broad Knowledge of Specialized areas (i.e. Nutrition, VAM, etc.) - Demonstrates the ability to interpret basic data in the context of WFP specialised fields to contribute to technical programme design, implementation and monitoring.
• Emergency Programming - Displays ability to translate understanding of programme principles in emergencies and protracted conflict situations into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches
• Strategic Policy Engagement w/ Government - Develops thorough recommendations using multiple inputs (e.g., government counsel, research, own experience) to strengthen national or subnational entities and government owned food and nutrition security programmes..

Standard Minimum Qualifications
Education:

• Advanced university degree in one of the following disciplines: Social Sciences, International Development, International Relations, Human Rights, Political Science, or another related field

Language:

• International Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese.

Knowledge And Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of humanitarian protection, sexual- and other forms of gender-based violence, accountability to affected populations, civil-military relations and international humanitarian policies, and its linkage with humanitarian assistance.
• Strong analytical, writing skills, and communication skills
• Sound knowledge and skills in training and facilitation
• Knowledge of UN system policies and functions of protection-mandated agencies
• Flexibility to travel on short notice and in challenging and difficult environments.
• Team spirit and excellent interpersonal relations.

Desired Experiences For Entry Into the Role:

• At least 5 years of solid, responsible and relevant work experience in a humanitarian organisation or with an organization/agency dealing with protection of civilians, human rights or gender-based violence in a humanitarian emergency context.
• Demonstrated effectiveness to mainstream protection within general operations (specific to food security but also shelter, WASH, Camp management) bringing policies and strategies into the country context.
• Proven experience developing and conducting capacity strengthening initiatives and developing guidance to mainstream protection and integrate accountability to affected populations.
• Ability to lead a team and strong coordintion and communication skills to advocate for protection, AAP and gender across different fields and technical units.

Terms and Conditions

• Only Non-Nigerian nationals are eligible to apply for this position
• 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 automatic disqualification of the concerned applicant.