VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Organization: World Food Programme
Position: Head of External Relations
Functional Area: Partnerships, Reports and Communications
Type of Contract: International Consultant (Regular)
Duty Station: Kathmandu, Nepal
Duration: 11 months from entry on duty (Renewable)
ABOUT WFP
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.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
These jobs are found in Headquarters (HQ), Regional Bureaux (RBs) and Country Offices (COs). Job holders in HQ typically report to the Division Director or the designate. Job holders in the field typically report to the Regional/Country Director or the designate.
JOB PURPOSE
Guided by the Corporate Partnership Strategy, to manage effective relationships and collaboration with external partners in order to meet WFP strategic objectives. To represent WFP externally to safeguard and promote WFP interests. To ensure a flow of relevant information between WFP and partners, and propose opportunities for synergies that maximise results.
BACKGROUN
Nepal Country Office (CO) requires a Partnerships Officer to act as the Head of Unit of the Partnerships, Reports and Communications functions. The Partnerships Officer will lead and manage the Partnerships, Reports & Communications/External Relations Unit, develop and implement the CO Resource Mobilization Strategy and its related action plan for the Nepal Country Office’s Country Strategic Plan 2019-2023 (CSP), and will drive the Resource Mobilization efforts of the CO to ensure the maximum possible funding is secured to implement operations.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
As the Head of the Partnerships, Reports and Communications/ External Relations Unit the consultant will directly report to the Country Director and will support the CO in the following ways:
Overall:
1. Lead and manage the Partnerships, Reports & Communications functions.
2. Plan and supervise the work of the team to ensure that tasks are accomplished in a manner consistent with organizational requirements, ensuring strong team dynamics and a productive working environment.
3. Act as a member of the Senior Management team providing advice, guidance and support to all Strategic Outcome leads, Activity Managers and others on the three areas of Partnerships, Reports and Communications.
4. Provide other relevant support as assigned by the Country Director.
Specific Partnerships accountabilities:
1. In consultation with all relevant stakeholders, further develop the CO Resource Mobilization Strategy with a focus on raising funds to implement the programmes stipulated in the CSP; Ensure the related Action Plan is aligned to the Strategy with specific actions for raising funds for each Strategic Objective / Activity of the CSP; Implement the Action Plan in order to ensure timely and cost effective delivery of results.
2. Lead the Resource Mobilisation efforts for the CO; Research and identify opportunities for funding in existing and new funding mechanisms (local and international) for WFP’s work in the CSP with specific recommendations for strategic relationship-building; Draft comprehensive project proposals to raise funds for CSP activities in line with the identified opportunities and the Resource Mobilization Strategy; Build and maintain effective relationships with member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners, in order to keep them informed on important, strategic operational WFP issues, advising them on the strategy, design, and impact of programmes to advocate the work of WFP, and by developing information programmes to increase WFP’s profile.
3. Identify opportunities to develop new and existing synergies with other emerging stakeholders, especially new donors, and make suggestions to the Country Director in order to support more effective and efficient food security solutions in Nepal.
4. Prepare briefing documents for Senior Management meetings with government and donors.
5. Draft a standard operating procedures for the CO relating to the Resource Mobilization Strategy implementation.
Specific Reports and Communications accountabilities, in support to the Reports Officer (NOA) and to the Communications Officer (NOA): The Terms of Reference of both posts that report to the Head of Unit detail the specific accountabilities.
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DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
Proposals are prepared as required
SOP for Resouce Mobilization Strategy drafted
Increased donor visibility and communication
4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES
Purpose
• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.
• Be a force for positive change: Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.
People
• Look for ways to strengthen people’s skills: Is able to identify, support and encourage focused on-the-job learning opportunities to address gaps between current skillsets and needed future skillsets for WFP.
• Create an inclusive culture: Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios).
Performance
• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries.
• Focus on getting results: Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.
• Be Decisive: Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.
Partnership
• Connect and share across WFP units: Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning.
• Build strong external partnerships: Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.
FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES
Capability Name: Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level
Relationship Management: Demonstrates ability to formulate and maintain strong relationships and develop networks with appropriate stakeholders. Leads in implementing identified strategy to raise the profile of WFP, build relationships and further organisational aims.
Communication Expertise: Facilitates and contributes to open verbal or written communication with stakeholders as required (i.e. through preparation of targeted written or visual communications materials, presentations, and official documentation) to convey tailored messages. Engages in mutually informative discussion with partners and influencers.
Information Analytics, Reporting and Management: Gathers, analyses and reports information in a manner that draws out fact-based insights to inform approach to partner relationships and support substantive discussion with partners. Captures relevant information and progress, and ensures internal information sharing.
Sociopolitical Contextual Understanding: Shows good understanding of the multilateral/interagency environment and the dynamics in which WFP operates to formulate recommendations to management which will inform decision making.
NGO, UN and Other Partner Collaboration Guides: interpretation of WFP’s partnering approach. Contributes to the determination of engagement strategies that inform WFP’s relationships with specific partners. Analyses and identifies new synergies with existing partners and explores new partnership opportunities.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Advanced university degree in Political Science, International Development, Development Economics, Journalism, International Relations, Communications or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.
Language: International Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese.
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE
Has contributed to the implementation of the work plan for assigned area.
Has maintained effective relationships with member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners.
Has guided and supervised more junior staff, supporting them with more complex analysis and queries.
KNOWELDGE AND SKILLS
Specialised knowledge of information management best practices, techniques and processes with some understanding of the basic theoretical background.
Strong written and oral communication skills, including substantive analysis and report writing skills.
Able to supervise and support more junior and/or less experienced members of the team.
Knowledge of, or the ability to quickly assimilate, UN/WFP specific processes and systems.
Last date to apply: 3 November 2020
HOW TO APPLY
