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Programme Associate SC6 School Meals (plus roster creation in Bishkek and Osh) (832167)

World Food Programme

WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourage qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.

Job Title: Programme Associate School Meals 

Grade: SC6 

Type of contract: Service Contract 

Duty Station: Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

Vacancy Number: 832167

Date of Publication: 20 March 2024

Deadline of Application: 3 April 2024

This vacancy announcement is for Nationals from the Kyrgyz Republic. 

JOB PURPOSE

Building on successful implementation in previous years, the WFP’s Country Strategic Plan 2023-27 focuses on the institutionalization and sustainability of an optimized national school meals model through policy support, advocacy, direct technical assistance and horizontal mutual exchanges and learning from other countries in the region, leveraging the WFP-supported school nutrition unit within the Ministry of Education and Science and the National Republican Competency Centre.

This role is focused on quality assurance over operational day-to-day effective progress in schools currently as well as previously supported, with attention to enhancing sustainability and long-term national ownership.

The vacancy will also be used to build a roster of candidates for future related position at similar or lower grades.

Supervision received: Under the direct supervision of the Outcome Manager and with overall guidance from the Head of Programme, the Programme Associate works in a team spread across office locations in Bishkek and Osh and supports close coordination with partners and counterparts in Government, civil society and donor organisations also actively supporting the national school meals programme. This role also requires establishing effective linkage with other Outcomes and close engagement with the RAM team.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

  1. Provide technical support and assist in developing various activities and processes for the sustainable Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) Programme (sustainable and localized food system, smallholder farmer production support, food safety and quality assurance, linking smallholders and processors to schools, including tendering process support and product processing, etc.) at the field and office levels and with stakeholders, supporting alignment with broader programme policies and guidelines, including food system, social protection, agriculture, education, food security, and nutrition programme/policy.
  2. Provide specialized project management support to the National School Meals Programme as supported by WFP to ensure that the various activities are performed within the established targets following WFP’s policies and procedures and/or established national legislation and guidance. 
  3. Within HGSF and on related areas of responsibility, prepare a range of reports and data analysis (e.g. food assistance needs, resource utilization, programme status, performance) and highlight trends/issues ensuring deliverables adhere to corporate standards and quality control.
  4. Ensure and/or perform accurate, timely recording of data within the specific technical area of work (e.g. assistance programmes, food security and vulnerability assessments) and consistency of information presented to stakeholders. 
  5. Liaise with internal counterparts to support effective collaboration, implementation and monitoring of ongoing project activities.
  6. With guidance from the Head of Outcome and other more senior staff, coordinate and communicate with local partners, agencies, NGOs and research institutions to ensure HGSF-related activities are delivered in a timely and effective manner.
  7. Support the capacity building of WFP staff, cooperating partners and national government within the specific technical area.
  8. Act as a point of contact for resolution of a range of operational queries and problems within a specific technical area of responsibility. 
  9. Oversee and/or review the work of other support staff, providing practical advice and guidance, to contribute to delivering objectives to agreed standards and deadlines.
  10. Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to ensure WFP is able to quickly respond and deploy needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.
  11. Perform other duties as required.

SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

  1. In collaboration with the country and field offices’ cross-functional teams, central and local government partners (particularly with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic on the central and district levels where the experience of previous work with them is preferable), the HGSF Programme Associate will support the planning and implementation of the HGSF intervention within national school meals programme in the HGSF intervention districts, including the establishment of school meals committees at the district, capacity building interventions, and policy and legal framework establishment
  2. Act as a focal point for all HGSF-related activities, in close consultation with the WFP country and field offices, give clear guidance on expected outcomes/outputs, suggest tools and systems that enable to work effectively and minimize errors, and train to grasp fully the guidance given and help building skills needed cross-functionally to manage the HGSF systems and tools provided.
  3. Provide guidance to colleagues and partners to inform and ensure the alignment and integration of HGSF into the National School Meals Programme, coordinating closely with other players active in the sector.
  4. With guidance and oversight by other units and more senior staff, incl. from the Regional Bureau or HQ i) support design and delivery of adequate monitoring and evaluation, ii) support market analyses and drafting of TOR or specifications for goods and services purchases foreseen in the programme plans, iii) draft and monitor budget utilization, and iv) maintain plans and records to help coordinate internal admin, finance and travel management processes effectively.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK: COMMON STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR

Leads by Example with

Integrity

Upholds WFP values, principles, and standards

Demonstrates and encourages others to uphold the WFP values, principles and standards

Respects others and values diversity

Values diversity using respectful and inclusive language, and encourages others to do the same

Stays focused and calm under pressure

Stays focused and calm when under pressure and encourages others to do the same

Demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn

Shows humility and a willingness to learn and share knowledge, frequently seeking and acting on feedback, and taking up opportunities to develop

Drives Results and Delivers on

Commitments

Delivers results for maximum impact

Holds self and/or others accountable for the delivery of results

Delegates appropriately

Delivers results against delegated tasks and seeks guidance and support where needed

Adapts readily to change

Responds readily to change adjusting work as needed

Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative

Is inclusive and collaborative

Promotes inclusive teamwork and psychological safety by sharing ideas and openly raising issues

Gives timely and constructive feedback

Supports development for others by giving timely and constructive feedback

Builds and shares new perspectives

Listens attentively to others to capture, learn, build and share new perspectives

Applies Strategic

Thinking

Communicates and

fulfils WFP’s vision

Fulfils WFP’s vision and is able to explain how their objectives support the vision

Embraces curiosity and new ways of doing things

Demonstrates curiosity, and proposes new ways of doing things when relevant

Analyses and evaluates data

Gathers data and shares knowledge to inform team decision making

Considers the impact of decisions

Implements decisions and asks questions to understand the impact for wider objectives

Builds and

Maintains

Sustainable

Partnerships

Builds partnerships

Builds partnerships by seeking out opportunities to work with others

Collaborates to 

deliver common objectives

Collaborates with partners by sharing information and working together to deliver common goals

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.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

  • Has worked with technical teams (i.e. nutrition, research and monitoring & evaluation, etc.).
  • Is familiar with the socio-economic challenges, ongoing education reform and/or farming realities in Kyrgyz Republic, able to follow an evidence-based approach in supporting the Government in efforts to Leave No One Behind (LNOB) when investing in SDG progress.
  • Has contributed to the implementation of programmes and brings demonstrated experience working with Ministry of Education or Ministry of Agriculture.
  • Has observed or assisted with policy discussions and facilitated that feedback and learning from review and oversight processes are effectively applied to ongoing programmatic activities.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: Six years of progressively responsible work experience in development, government aid programme, general administrative work or other related fields. Work experience in enhancing national programmes such as school meal programme is preferable.

Education: Completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary certificate in the related functional area. Formal education in agriculture is highly desirable.

Language: Fluency (level C) in both oral and written communication in English and proficiency in the duty station’s language(s) (Russian or Kyrgyz, both considered an advantage).

All WFP Employees are expected to demonstrate the competencies and standards of behaviour aligned with our core values and defined in the WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK, namely: 

Leading by example with integrity, 

Driving results and delivering on commitments, 

Fostering inclusive and collaborative teamwork, 

Applying strategic thinking, 

Building and maintaining sustainable partnerships. 

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action. 

Request for Disability related Reasonable Accommodations: 

It is important to WFP to create an accessible and inclusive workplace for everyone. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection and hiring process, please direct your request and inquiries to the Diversity and Inclusion team on: global.inclusion@wfp.org, cc’ing bangkok.recruitment@wfp.org. A member of the reasonable accommodation team will contact you to confidentially discuss your needs. 

This email is only to be used for any disability related accessibility requirements, and not for sending the application itself. Due to volume of applications, any applications or CVs sent through this email address will not be considered as a formal application and will not receive a reply from WFP. 

Please note that WFP may keep candidates who successfully passed recruitment tests and interviews, but were not the first-choice candidate selected for a position, on a roster for similar (or lower-level) upcoming positions or short-term opportunities for direct contracting. Successful candidates will be informed about their inclusion into the roster.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) 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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

WFP’s vision is that people in the Kyrgyz Republic will have substantially increased access to national social protection systems that safeguard and foster their ability to meet their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs, and to manage the risks and shocks they face, with ample opportunity to graduate from poverty and contribute to sustainable food systems, national disaster risk management efforts and social cohesion.

WFP, the second largest UN agency in the Kyrgyz Republic, will support and promote the inclusion of people with diverse and often intersecting vulnerabilities and inequalities, by supporting nationally led social and civil protection systems and programmes (strengthening the government’s ability for anticipatory action and ensuring that no one is left behind) and by modelling new approaches within complementary WFP interventions (which can be adopted or transitioned), leveraging WFP’s global expertise in promoting healthy diets and sustainable food systems, climate risk management, warehousing, food safety, smallholder market access and innovations such as private sector-oriented solutions, micro-insurance and digital public goods.

Derived from the UN Cooperation Framework and national priorities, promoting participatory community engagement and nutrition-sensitive approaches, the 2nd generation Country Strategic Plan (2023-27 EN|RU) continues WFP’s human capital development, capacity building and productive asset creation activities to enhance the resilience and livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable, with a focus on food systems strengthening across three core pillars: (i) Social Protection; (ii) Climate Change Adaption, Disaster Risk Management & Emergency Preparedness; and (iii) Schools as platforms for healthy diets. In addition, a contingent emergency response outcome can be activated in case of need.

WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 

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.

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Confirmed 3 hours ago. Posted 8 days ago.

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