Programme Policy Officer (Disaster Risk Reduction)

About UN-WFP Afghanistan

Job Summary

In Afghanistan, WFP has been not only responding to both man-made and natural disasters but also in working with Government and other partners in designing and implementing asset creation activities to reduce the negative impacts of natural disasters. The CO has benefitted from the technical and strategic expertise of a Standby Partner funded by the Swiss Development Corporation (SDC) who has developed a strategy to enhance the impact and efficiency of WFP’s Asset Creation activities, and actively contributed to developing the WFP Afghanistan DRR approach and leadership.


The CO is committed to implement the new strategy and is leading the harmonization of DRR programming within the United Nations System in Afghanistan. The SBP is being extended for 6 months to work on consolidating these achievements through establishment of a DRR/Asset Creation Unit, expanding the DRR approach to the benefit of WFP’s recipients, the UN community, the Government and stakeholders and allow time for him to build the capacity of two national officers to carry on this work – one to take over the management and strategic direction of the Unit and the other as a technical expert in asset creation.

In order to improve design, participation and impact of these asset creation programmes, the CO is planning to expand the use of the WFP three-pronged approach (3PA) to include seasonal livelihoods profiling (SLP) and community based participatory planning (CBPP) to engage communities, especially women, in defining needs and determining the best activities to improve food security. Only the most shock-prone and frequently food insecure districts and communities are being targeted using a disaster risk reduction (DRR) lens, partnering with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), FAO and the State Ministry for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs (SMDM).

Duties & Responsibilities

1.Support the implementation of the strategy for WFP’s DRR/Asset Creation (AC) activities in 2017, including the establishment of WFP DRR unit, as well as capacity development and handover of the unit to 2 national officers.

2.Improve DRR efficiency by supporting the design of projects with locally made/purchased items, when appropriate (also aimed at increasing the resilience of local markets/production).
3.Follow up on DRR training support addressed to WFP, NGOs, UN agencies and Local Authorities staff.
4.Contribute to the development of DRR projects aligned with Project Cycle Management and Logical Framework, supported by the FSAC and DRR working groups.
5.Consolidate the approach, which considers the engagement of women in activities linking asset creation with DRR and sustainability.
6.Support the follow up on project Approval and financial Process to maximize project efficiency and corporate quality.
7.Contribute to the revision of the Operational Manuals and the roles of the CO technical focal points and Field offices in the process of project formulation to presentation to the CO- PAC.
8.Travel to the field to identify capacity gaps and strategies to improve technical capacity at field level.
9.Actively contribute to the coordination of established DRR Working Groups.
10.Support the Standby Partner to draft a curriculum outline for inclusion in Kabul University Disaster Management Department Curriculum and syllabus based on existing DRR manual (adjustment and scoping of material to be generically applicable, to be finalized by UNEP as appropriate)
11.Contribute to implementing practical measures to respond to DRM management as detailed at the Sendai Conference (March 2015).
12.Actively contribute to the DRR-earmarked project funds. Work alongside the SBP in order to enhance capacity to manage the technical activities in the newly created DRR/Asset Creation Unit.
13.Other as required.

Job Requirements

Education: Advanced University degree in Engineering, 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.


Language: Fluency (level C) in English language and Pashto and/or Dari.

Sound judgment; ability to coordinate, extract, interpret, analyse and format data and to resolve operational problems;


Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan and those under his/her supervision.

Ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing

Ability to work with minimum level of supervision;

Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with counterparts and staff within the office, host population, donors, NGOs and other UN agencies

Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;

Ability to cope with situations which may threaten health or safety;

Flexibility in accepting work assignments outside normal desk description;

Desired Experiences:

At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience, of which at least three years was closely related to programme functions of DRR dominated infrastructure projects.


Training and/or experience utilizing computers including word processing, spread-sheet and other software packages.

Experience delivering training is an advantage.

Has deepened technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams.

Has taken leadership of implementing programmes.

Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.

Submission Guideline

Afghan Nationals meeting the essential qualifications of the positions are invited to apply online through WFP E-recruitment portal by submitting a letter of interest and an updated CV and/or P11 form (Attached). Application submitted via email or hardcopy will not be given any consideration.

To apply, please click or cut and past the following link into your browser:

https://career012.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=25037&company=C0000168410P&username;=

Functional Area

Agriculture

Countries

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