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.

Through its Country Strategic Plan (201 9 – 2023), WFP’s role in Ghana is an enabler, consistent with the Government of Ghana’s vision of self-reliance articulated in the Ghana Beyond Aid (GBA) and the Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalization of Enterprises Support (Ghana CARES) Obaatanpa Programme, to revitalize the economy, given the impact of COVID-19, and accelerate attainment of the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.

Specifically, activities have been designed to enhance food systems and value chains; strengthen private-sector capacity to produce affordable, safe, and accessible nutritious food for both domestic and regional markets; create demand for nutritious products through public-private partnerships; build awareness and stimulate demand for the consumption of nutritious foods through social and behaviour change communication and enhance accessibility and affordability through market development initiatives. Furthermore, WFP is contributing to enhancing the capacity of national systems in early warning, disaster preparedness and response; and supports social protection programmes that respond to the needs of vulnerable populations:

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Support the operationalization of the Ghana Country Office Social Protection strategy specifically defining medium and longer-term engagement with the Government of Ghana and development partners on systems strengthening to enhance the effectiveness of LEAP.
2. Coordinate closely with MOGCSP and other development partners through the Social Protection Sector Working Group and Development partner group. WFP is a member to support efficient, effective, and timely implementation and monitoring of the LEAP programme.
3. Channel CBT technical expertise, lessons from the Bill and Melinda Gates Funded initiative, and objectives and findings from LEAP re-assessment to promote inclusion, improve the operational environment, promote financial inclusion, and facilitate the exit of participants to productive livelihood activities.
4. Enhance information management and support evidence generation on LEAP and social protection broadly and ensure dissemination and integration into appropriate capacity strengthening and policy coherence support.
5. Provide technical advice to aid effective representation of WFP at policy dialogues with Government and Partners on LEAP and Social Protection more broadly.
6. Establish and maintain operational partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve service delivery and support advocacy work for LEAP in Ghana.
7. Coach, mentor, and guide National Programme Officer for CBT, including enhancing their role as secretariat to the Country Office Cash Working Group.
8. The Programme Policy officer may also be brought to carry out other tasks according to the priorities defined by Management.

Minimum Academic Qualifications

BA/Master’s level in political science, development, population health, emergency management and/or relevant fields Experience.

Desired Experiences and skills for Entry into the role:

• 8 to 10 years of progressive experience with UN, NGOs and/or international organizations.
• UN or donor experience, especially with WFP and/or UNICEF, FCDO or World Bank
• A sound understanding of policymaking processes and the ability to provide operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for governments and other partners.
• Planning and programming skills.
• Strong capacity for analysis, learning, research and innovation.
• Strong writing, presentation, and communication skills.
• Capacity to foster strong cross-agency collaboration.
• Good leadership and interpersonal skills.

Language: Fluency and good command of oral and written English language is essential

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, 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.