Central African Republic: Programme Policy Officer CBT, Bangui, Central African Republic

Dec 26, 2023 | World Food Programme
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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. 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.

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The Central African Republic (CAR), a least-developed country and among the world’s poorest, is impacted by historic conflicts, poor governance, and weak institutions. The compounded effects of widespread violence, socio-political instability, structural and governance deficits, and climate change have left more than half of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. Insecurity has disrupted the health and education sectors, constrained access to basic services and increased inequalities, affecting particularly the most marginalized groups (women, girls, youth, ethnic minorities). The latest results of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC analysis, April 2023) show that 39% of the population analyzed (2.4 million people) are in Crisis and Emergency situations (IPC Phase 3 and 4). As of June 30, 2023, CAR had 485,825 internally displaced persons (IDPs), comprising 129,047 people in sites and 356,778 in host families. This represents an increase of 11,003 IDPs (2.3%) in the overall volume of displacement compared with May 2023, when the number of IDPs was estimated at 474,822. However, most households in host communities (69%) would like to see sustainable local integration in their current area of displacement, while the most cited priority assistance needs in IDP host communities remain food distribution (35%), income-generating activities (IGA) (15%) and shelter items (14%).

To address these challenges, crisis response remains the priority under CAR country strategic plan (CSP 2023-2027) launched in March 2023. Thus, WFP support the Government of CAR and the humanitarian community in providing humanitarian food assistance to the most vulnerable people affected by crisis mainly through general food distributions, nutrition prevention and treatment intervention, school-based programme, and resilience building using in kind food transfer, Cash- based Transfers (CBT) and capacity strengthening. WFP is committed to strengthening the consideration of humanitarian, protection principles, accountability and gender to ensure the full participation of the community and thus facilitate the resilience during the CSP implementation

process. This aim to address a longer-term community engagement approach by strengthen the implementation of gender accountability and protection risk mitigation measures within WFP interventions; This is to put people at the center of all actions “leaving no one behind”while addressing root causes of vulnerability, strengthening systems to support populations in vulnerable situations.

WFP maintains its deep field presence throughout CAR with a Country Office (CO) in Bangui and field- offices located in Bouar, Paoua, Kaga-Bandoro, Bambari, Bria, Bossangoa and Bangassou.

In 2024, through its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) WFP CAR WFP will continue to support the Government of CAR and the humanitarian community in providing humanitarian food assistance to the most vulnerable people affected by crisis. WFP’s CAR country office requires a programme and policy officer CBT to manage the planning, development, and rollout of the DAE and CBT in coordination with relevant country and sub-office teams and ensure full integration with WFP programming.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Lead the DAE taskforce, comprised of key WFP units necessary for DAE development and rollout, provide regular progress reports to CO staff and management.
  • Contribute to formulation and implementation of corporate CBT strategies, business models and solutions to meet operational requirements.
  • Design, implement and manage the implementation of innovative CBT operations, initiatives and services to ensure timely, cost-effective and integrated approach with core activities and in close cooperation with key CBT stakeholders.
  • Consider innovative opportunities generated by cash assistance, such as integration of market interventions, financial inclusion and links to existing and effective national delivery systems owned by local private sector or governments.
  • Build productive partnerships and collaborate with counterparts in key CBT functions (e.g. Supply Chain, Procurement, TEC, Finance, Legal, M&E and RAM) to ensure an integrated CBT approach to food and essential needs and cross-functional operational alignment.
  • Coordinate the analysis for transfer modality and delivery mechanism selection including needs, market and sectorial assessments, definition of transfer value and MEB in close collaboration with RAM and other functional units.
  • Design and apply the CBT operational plan and related SOPs.
  • Plan and oversee the CBT beneficiary registration in coordination with Programme and TEC units. Coordinate and sensitize local authorities.
  • Apply related assurance control, support training to staff and CP.
  • Develop strategies on beneficiary sensitization in line with AAP framework.
  • Plan and manage the delivery systems set-up including participation in the due diligence process and contracts drafting for FSP and CP selection and contracting; determination of criteria for beneficiary selection and creation of payment lists; oversight of payments instrument management by ensuring appropriate controls in place and in line with corporate standards.
  • Run CBT operations by ensuring compliance with the established CBT strategies, policies, procedures and controls, and assist in the implementation of corporate standards, with special emphasis on programme quality, impact, and assurance.
  • Oversee the implementation of CFM; review performance and follow up on key issues.
  • Review and analyze M&E outputs and adjust programme design as needed; read analytical results and reflect findings in operational management. Evaluate operational risks; develop and update CO risk register.
  • Search for best CBT practices from the humanitarian and development fields, academia, and private sector.
  • Identify and build productive partnerships with counterparts amongst government and other national organizations, UN agencies, NGOs and private sector to share operational knowledge and resources and build capacity resulting in coordinated and cost-effective CBT operations.
  • Represent WFP in external humanitarian Cash Working Group to ensure a closer coordination with other stakeholders, when required.
  • Define funding needs and forecasts and manage operational budgets.
  • Plan and coordinate capacity building activities by providing technical support on content and facilitation of trainings.
  • Manage, motivate and develop a team providing coaching, training and career guidance to ensure appropriate development and high performance.
  • Guide for incorporating gender and protection in all areas of work, for inclusive, participatory and equitable programming that delivers gender equality results.
  • Undertake other assigned tasks, as required.

 

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

Criteria for key strategic decisions developed and approved by CO management, including a beneficiary identity management, potential future use of biometrics, transfer modality and mechanism selection criteria ;

Digital Assistance Ecosystem (DAE) is operational and effective in Bangui, with an effective nationwide rollout plan developed and rollout underway;

WFP beneficiary identities in CAR are digitised and verified in SCOPE, with appropriate functional identity and payment instruments produced and distributed;

Promote and guide continuous CBT improvement and innovation initiatives within area of operations managed. Defines operational performance targets, monitors performance, anticipates and mitigates risks for timely corrective actions.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education: University degree in a related field.

Experience:

  • At least Three years professional experience in the humanitarian/development sector with increasing responsibility, at least three of which spent in a field location. Experience with cash programming and technology/information management systems beneficial.
  • Experience in implementing/setting-up CBT improvement and optimization initiatives to achieve cost efficiency, improved agility, reliability, and quality.
  • Experience in managing CBT operations including coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Knowledge of WFP-used technology systems including SCOPE, MODA/ODK, Sugar CFM advantageous.

Knowledge & Skills: Strong project management, coordination and interpersonal skills required. Ability to bring together multiple technical teams to integrate planning and implementation objectives. Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure in difficult conditions with minimal supervision. Initiative, enthusiasm, creativity, and flexibility.

Languages: Fluency (level C) in French (as CAR is a French working environment) and in English is required.