Ethiopia: Programme Policy Officer (Stunting Reduction) NOA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Mar 3, 2024 | World Food Programme
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The World Food Programme (WFP) is United Nations frontline agency in the fight against hunger, WFP is continually responding to emergencies. WFP saves lives by getting food to the hungry fast. But WFP also works to help prevent hunger in the future. WFP does this through programmes that use food to build assets, spread knowledge and nurture stronger, more dynamic communities. This helps communities become more food secure. On average, WFP aims to bring food assistance to more than 80 million people in 80 countries.

WFP Ethiopia is working with the Government and humanitarian partners to strengthen the resilience of Ethiopia’s most vulnerable population and to chart a more prosperous and sustainable future for the next generation. The Country Office also supports programmes that use food assistance to empower women, transform areas affected by climate change and keep children in school. It aims to contribute to Ethiopia’s five-year development agenda, the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), through which the Government combats food insecurity.

Click the link to learn more about WFP in Ethiopia: WFP Ethiopia Employee Value Proposition.pdf

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

This job is found in Ethiopia Country Office under Nutrition Unit and job holder will report to a more senior Programme Policy Officer.

JOB PURPOSE

This job will provide technical support and advice to nutrition focal points and on nutrition activities, in support of WFP Ethiopia’s efforts to reduce stunting

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the supervision of the Stunting Prevention Officer, the incumbent will perform the following tasks: 

  • Capacity build staff and partners to strengthen Social Behaviour Change (SBC) skills, competencies, and abilities of the team, in order to deliver the required results.  
  • Provide technical assistance to WFP, Government and NGO partners on Nutrition sensitive programming and Multisectoral Coordination. 
  • Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men. 
  • Provide technical advice on stunting reduction and coordinate the SBC activity design, programming and implementation at Country Office and sub office level.  
  •  Provide project management support to nutrition specific and sensitive projects and activities ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes/projects that they comply with WFP standards and procedures. 
  •  Provide technical support and coordinate the formative research, SBC strategy development and implementation.  
  • Provide technical assistance on the SBC activities implementation at WFP sub offices level and integration of SBCC into nutrition sensitive programs MOUs and project proposals.  
  • Conduct mentoring and coaching on SBC implementation, supportive supervision and review meetings.  
  • Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government on SBC and nutrition sensitive programming to prepare for and respond to nutrition needs at different level.  
  • Contribute to the development of nutrition concept notes, project proposals and activities, plans and processes ensuring alignment with wider nutrition policies and guidance.  
  • Provide guidance to support staff, acting as a point of referral and assisting them with analysis and queries. 
  • Liaise with internal counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing nutrition specific and sensitive programming.  
  • Follow data gathering and monitoring/assessment systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained. 
  • Research and analyse data to provide input into reporting activities and contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on nutrition activities that enables informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders. 
  • Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working to meeting nutrition needs. 
  • Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to prepare for and respond to nutrition needs for example through project management support of learning initiatives. 
  • Revise and operationalize a Social Behaviour Change package for stunting reduction utilizing multisectoral programming and systems theory approach (food, health, social protection, education systems)  
  • Other as required. 

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

  • Support WFP’s specific efforts to reduce stunting nation-wide
  • Establish strategic and operational partnerships with government and development partners in support of efforts to reduce stunting
  • Identify entry points in existing programmes to make them ‘nutrition-sensitive’
  • Review and analyse trends and emerging policies on the reduction of stunting in Ethiopia, provide targeted advice to WFP programme staff as needed
  • Monitor the progress of nutritional outcomes of WFP’s and its partners efforts (stunting rates across regions)

EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

  • Experience with and exposure to implementation of national/international development programmes. 
  • Experience working in public health/food security/ nutrition related activities. 
  • Experience identifying and defining nutrition issues/problems within a country. 
  • Working knowledge of development and/or humanitarian nutrition in Africa with experience in implementation of prevention of malnutrition programs. 
  • Technical knowledge of acute malnutrition, chronic malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, maternal, infant and young child feeding optimal practices and the 
  • developmental impact of malnutrition on the human body. 
  • Desired experience in drafting guidance and policies in nutrition programming. 
  • Experience in coordination including work with multi-sector actors and stakeholders from government, NGO, civil society and UN ideally in SUN (scaling up nutrition) or REACH. 
  • Experience working with communities including qualitative and quantitative research abilities 

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in in Sociology, Social Development, Development Economics or Performance Management or other relevant field or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience 

Experience: At least One year of responsible post-graduate professional experience working in integrated and multi-sectoral programming involving multi-stakeholders especially in SBC programming in health and nutrition projects. 

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English. Knowledge of the local language is added advantage. 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 06 March 2024