Job Opportunity at WFP
Job Title: 1
Programme Officer- Knowledge Management (Disability Inclusion)
JOB PURPOSE
A 2020-2022 Disability Inclusion (DI) Road Map framed the operationalization of WFP commitments to disability inclusion in our programmes and policies. The DI Road Map aimed to develop corporate standards on DI, while simultaneously creating space to experiment how practical change making and implementation could occur at a regional and country office level. Representing 70% of the world’s men, women, girls and boys with disabilities, the Regional Bureau Bangkok (RBB) and its 17 country offices, were selected as the corporate pilot region for the roadmap. As of end 2022, at least 13 country offices in the region have taken forward one or more dedicated workstreams related to DI (be it in data collection, dedicated studies, and/or programme pilots) in addition to regional and global initiatives supporting inclusive recruitment, accessible procurement, accessible premises, and dedicated partnerships and advocacy to advance DI work.
In 2023, focus of RBB will be on building on the awareness raising and work undertaken in 2021-2022, to consolidate knowledge and enable transformation, specifically:
- From awareness raising to institutionalization of disability inclusion across our policies and practices;
- From pilots to streamlining inclusive programming across our interventions and in our technical assistance to governments; and
- From data collection and analysis, to informing programme refinements for inclusion and impact.
To enable this transition, WFP is reinforcing its programme team by bringing in a Programme Officer who will lead the portfolio to consolidate learning and develop operational guidance. The Knowledge Management Officer will work with Country Offices (COs) and the Regional Disability Advisor to capture good practices and lessons learned from programmatic initiatives in the region. The Knowledge Management Officer will need to coordinate closely with focus Country Offices as well as with the Regional DI Advisor and Regional Bureau (RB) thematic programme areas (eg Social Protection, Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR), School feeding, and Livelihoods). The Officer will be expected to undertake multiple field missions in the region, including to hardship duty stations, as part of this role to gather learning.
The Officer will report to the head of Emergency Preparedness and Response and Cross-Cutting Issues within the RBB Programme Unit.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Contribute to the Corporate and Regional DI priority by establishing and leading a knowledge management portfolio to consolidate learning and develop operational guidance, drawing on programme work to date.
- Establish a knowledge management foundation for the regional (and corporate) disability inclusion programme priority. The Officer will be responsible for capturing and documenting in accessible way the best practices and lessons learned from key pilot initiatives. Priority areas to be studied will be identified with the supervisor, DI Advisor and in collaboration with RB Programme colleagues, but may include: learning on design, implementation, and effectiveness of household top-ups in crisis response programming as well as learning from DI specific and DI inclusive livelihoods programming approaches.
- Lead (or contribute to) the development or update of programmatic operational guidance building on the knowledge and lessons learned. This includes but is not limited to supporting corporate DI learning by providing operationally informed learning to strengthen corporate guidance on meaningful partnerships with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs).
- Close collaboration with the DI Advisor and Programme teams in the RB in engagement with COs to guide and enable the transition from data collection/analysis, to using that data/analysis to inform programme design and refinements, including but not limited to findings from 2023 RB-led research initiatives on disability inclusive school feeding, inclusive emergency preparedness and response, and digital financial inclusion.
- Contribute actively to dissemination and sharing of learning within country offices in the region, with other regions, and with WFP HQ to contribute to WFP’s wider corporate knowledge on DI in food security and nutrition programming.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT
- At least 3 dedicated operational learning & guidance products are developed on key thematic priorities identified with the supervisor in coordination with the DI advisor and RB Programme team. Target audience: WFP programme officers, to enable shift from pilot projects to core programming.
- Regional research initiatives are supported to ensure final products advance concrete operational guidance which can be taken forward by WFP, partners and government counterparts.
- WFP’s regional and global policies and guidance on DI are grounded in operational learning and knowledge.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION
- Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in social sciences, development studies, international relations, sociology, or another relevant field.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- At least 5 years of professional experience in designing, implementing, and/or monitoring development projects or humanitarian assistance in the field. At least 4 years undertaken at country office or field office level.
- Demonstrated experience in developing knowledge management products/or evaluations and operational guidance targeting programme operators (UN, NGO, government counterparts).
- Experience working with WFP (as a staff or as a partner) is highly desirable.
- Experience working in the design, implementation, monitoring or evaluation of disability-inclusive or disability-specific programmes.
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Fluency and demonstrated strong writing skills in English
- Ability to write in an engaging, accessible and informative manner and to conceptualize and clearly synthesize information.
- Understanding of intersections and differing needs, challenges, and talents of women, men, boys and girls and a strong commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind.
- Ability to work on short timelines, managing multiple priorities simultaneously and independently, and with minimal supervision and guidance.
- Enthusiasm to work with colleagues and counterparts from different cultures, languages, lived experiences, and disabilities.
- Ability to travel to work with country offices, including hardship duty stations.
LANGUAGE
- Proficiency in both oral and written communication skills in English
Terms and Conditions:
WFP offers a competitive benefits package including salary and a medical insurance.
Remote work may be possible depending upon the operational requirements of the Programme. Requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the personal circumstances of the requestor given the operational situation.
(**) The role requires a high level of internal coordination across units (Programme, TEC, Compliance, Legal) as well as with teams in country and headquarters offices, priority will be given to candidates willing to relocate to Bangkok, Thailand and the candidates who are willing to travel, including to hardship duty stations.
For home-based candidates meeting the requirements stated in this vacancy announcement, regular travel to Regional Bureau Bangkok Office, Thailand and in the region will be expected; in the case of home-based applicants, candidates in similar time zone to Thailand will be prioritized.
JOB PURPOSE
The mission of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is to help households, communities, and national systems to achieve Zero hunger. Everyday WFP’s 17 Country Offices in the Asia and Pacific Region engage with communities, partners and governments to ensure that the most vulnerable can access the nutritious food they deserve while working to achieve sustainable national programmes to achieve food and nutrition security. People’s data is critical information that allows us to serve those most in need, from identification and registration, to the provision of assistance and graduation from it. Ensuring protection of this data is fundamental to ensuring the rights of the people we serve.
The Regional Identity Management Advisor will play a critical role advising Country Offices (COs) and Regional Bureau (RB) units on best practices and standards around identify management and data sharing, supporting countries to identify and mitigate risks including through Privacy Impact Assessments, and contributing to the refinement – and dissemination – of WFP’s corporate approach to Identity Management including the establishment of guiding principles and standardization of business processes, tools and guidance. The incumbent reports to the head of EPR (Emergency Preparedness& Response) and Cross-Cutting Issues within the Regional Bureau Bangkok (RBB) Programme Unit.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
- Contribute to corporate efforts to develop a people-centered data strategy that helps all relevant Programme activities interpret principles and standards related to personal data meaningfully, for the achievement of Programme objectives and in the best interests of the people we serve. Lead at regional level the dissemination of this strategy across functions, and guide Country Offices in its application.
- Lead Data Protection for the Regional Bureau. Engage with organizational efforts to identify risks and gaps in current standards, tools, templates and guidance. Contribute to the development of corporate tools, templates and guidance to ensure that they are pragmatic, operational, and adapted to operational realities, all the while accessible to field and partner staff. As Data Protection Lead and provide guidance to Country Offices in the application of appropriate tools and templates including but not limited to new Data Protection Annex for cooperating partners.
- Support Country Offices to identify data protection risks including but not limited to supporting the roll out of new tools for Privacy Impact Assessments. Where risks are identified, guide and support Country Offices to address these through the identification and implementation of appropriate mitigation measures.
- Advise Country Offices on appropriate data sharing frameworks and data protection templates for their context, including with governments. Act as liaison between Country Offices and Headquarters (Legal, etc) on Data Sharing Agreements to support appropriate and timely advancement of contracts.
- In partnership with RB programme and data assurance teams, advise COs in engaging with government-led data management processes and systems building efforts, including but not limited to social protection programmes.
- Where needed, support WFP staff and partners in upholding data protection principles and identity management standards through remote or in person oversight, support and trainings.
- Establish and coordinate a network of data protection focal points (and engage with cross-regional advisors) to share experiences, challenges, and best practices.
- Engage in RB oversight functions, including but not limited to the implementation of WFP’s assurance frameworks.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION
- MA or LLM Degree. Specialization in social/political sciences, human rights or international law, development studies, international relations, sociology, political science or another relevant field.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience, ideally within WFP or UN agencies.
- Direct and diverse (ie more than one country context/office) experience in developing or implementing identity management standards aligned to data protection principles, including but not limited to: assessing risks and advising on personal data to be collected as part of programme response; conducting privacy impact assessments; leading the development of data sharing agreements; other.
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Working knowledge of WFP’s approach to data protection, inter-agency data sharing, digitalisation and digital services to governments.
- An understanding of humanitarian assistance programme implementation in complex contexts.
- An understanding and commitment to protection of beneficiaries and respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of data subjects.
- Demonstrated strong analytical and writing skills, including the ability to write in an engaging and informative manner, and conceptualise and clearly synthesise information.
- Familiarity with legal language and constructs.
ESSENTIAL:
- Aforementioned experience, knowledge and skills are considered essential for this role.
- Candidate must be able to communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds to ensure that complex legal templates and standards are understood, and be able to tailor communication approaches to different audiences.
DESIRABLE:
- The consultant would ideally have a mixed profile of legal and programme experience.
- Experience in delivering training / conducting capacity building of colleagues in the area of identity management and/or data protection/privacy.
- Familiarity with WFP approach and tools including Privacy Impact Assessments, platforms (eg SCOPE), etc.