Programme Policy Officer (Livelihood) SC9, Lebanon Country Office, Beirut

Assisting more than 90 million people in 83 countries each year, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. As the international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030, one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. Food and food-related assistance lie at the heart of the struggle to break the cycle of hunger and poverty.

In Lebanon, WFP works to support approximately 700,000 people with regular assistance using e-cards. WFP also supports Lebanese schools with school meals, and has run over 300 development activities which include supporting rural infrastructure, as well as education and training opportunities for vulnerable individuals in families. WFP also supports Lebanon’s National Poverty Targeting Programme. 

The purpose of the job is To manage and support policy and programme activities that effectively meet the needs of beneficiaries WFP Livelihood Unit serves.

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

Under the supervision of Head of Livelihood Unit, the incumbent will perform the following tasks:

1. Contribute towards the development of a wide variety of livelihood projects, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance.
2. Provide project management support to Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) and Food Assistance for Training (FFT) projects for timely and quality implementation in coordination with other country office units and Field Offices, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes that complies with WFP standards and procedures.
3. Forecast and track resources of FFA and FFT activities, ensure timely submission and clearance of Cooperating Partners (CPs) narrative and financial reports and monitor expenditures in collaboration with Finance and Budget & Programming Unit
4. Support the identification, development and fostering of relationships with Partners and lead the partners performance capacity assessment in close coordination with Partnership Unit.
5. Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on programmes and activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
6. Develop and coordinate data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.
7. Research and analyse a range of policy and operational issues to inform the development of policies, programmes and activities.
8. Liaise with internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery.
9. Assess the capacity building requirements of WFP staff, partners and national government and support their capacity building through appropriate capacity building measures
10. Guide, motivate and supervise team through team building, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries.
11. Perform any other duties as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience: Five years of relevant progressively responsible experience in the design and implementation of complex livelihood programmes, coordination with multiple stakeholders at mid-senior level and supervising teams

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

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• Demonstrated operational field-based experience on livelihoods activities is required.
• Has technical knowledge on livelihoods activities.
• Knowledge of major humanitarian, recovery and development challenges and issues.
• Demonstrated planning and project management skills, and ability to mobilize teams.
• Strong understanding of the theory and application of food security, livelihoods or other safety net programs.
• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.