Beirut - Programme Policy Officer (School Meals) SC 10

Job Purpose

To design and manage the school meals programme and related work, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, to effectively meet the food assistance needs of school children; to contribute to the policy formation and provide technical advice and oversight on the programme’s strategy and implementation.

Accountabilities:

Within delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of Programme in the WFP Country Office, the Programme Policy Officer tasks involve the following:

• Translate WFP-wide programme policy, especially the school feeding policy, into country level practices, programme guidance and implementation modalities and operations, to ensure a clear and strong connection between Regional Bureau, HQ and field operations.
• Provide technical advice or mobilise technical expertise, on a wide range of programme and policy issues (relevant to school feeding as well as nutrition-sensitive programming). This includes assessment and analysis, the choice of objectives, activities, modalities and appropriate food products.
• Assist senior stakeholders of governments and other partners in identifying where school feeding activities can be usefully employed and provide support and technical expertise for the planning, formulation and implementation of a national school feeding programme.
• Develop operational partnerships and maintain established strategic partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that promote and support school feeding activities and other WFP programme initiatives.
• Enhance WFP’s leadership status in different forums on subjects related to food security, nutrition, livelihoods, resilience, engagement in humanitarian, transition and development contexts and other related issues through direct participation, briefings, information products and other materials.
• Manage or oversee operational research and evidence building on issues relevant to school feeding and other programme related matters.
• Represent WFP at regional, national and international meetings to contribute to technical discussions, exchange experiences, advocate for school feeding programmes and identify areas of potential collaboration.
• Contribute to resources mobilisations efforts for WFP projects, including clearly articulating the need for food assistance and related programme opportunities, and follow up on the resource situation of projects including commodity and cash availability, seeking advice from senior colleagues where necessary
• Ensure the best use of assigned financial resources for achievement of set objectives within a significant budget.
• Take responsibility for incorporating persons with disabilities and gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men, boys and girls.
• Lead, motivate and develop a team of staff to enable high performance.
• Advice and support the development of functional training in areas of expertise to enhance the capacity of WFP staff and partner to design and deliver effective food assistance programmes.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s degree) in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Education, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree (bachelor’s degree) with additional years of related work experience.

Experience:

•  At least five (5) years of professional experience in humanitarian or development settings.
• Experience in nutrition or educational programming, or international development programme management
• Working in complex political and humanitarian contexts.
• Ability to facilitate discussions and coordinate tasks with multiple field stakeholders
• Communicating and reporting in English. 

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Arabic. Knowledge of French is an advantage

Desired skills and knowledge: 

• Experience in United Nations, Government, or large NGO programming is a plus
• Experience working across education, nutrition, children’s protection portfolio including monitoring and evaluation and project design, planning and operational management.
• Has led a functional team or a small office or professional programme
• Effective communication skills for diverse audience of internal and external actors
• Has engaged in policy discussions and provided input into policy decisions.
• Knowledge about the Sustainable Development Goals