Recrutement d'Un(e) Conseiller(e) principal(e) au développement national

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

JOB TITLE: Senior National Development Advisor

Contract Type: National Professional Officer (Category D) – NOD

Unit/Division: Country Office Management

Direct Reporting Line: Country Director

Contract duration:  12 months (renewable based on performance & funds availability)

Duty Station (City, Country): Conakry, Republic of Guinea

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.

Our response to emergencies - saving lives and livelihoods either through direct assistance, or by strengthening country capacities – remains at the heart of our operations, especially as humanitarian needs become increasingly complex and protracted, such as those brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

Since its establishment, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been entrusted with a dual mandate: to meet emergency and protracted relief food needs (saving lives) and to support economic and social development (changing lives). To contribute to national development agendas in an impactful way, WFP innovates to tackle the root causes of hunger and malnutrition and builds resilience both at a community and system level. The organization works with multiple stakeholders, aiming to build strong partnerships with national governments, development partners, including International Financial Institutions (IFIs), and the private sector.

Effective design and implementation of development programmes requires:

(1)        Robust engagement and investment in relationships with governmental authorities (local, subnational, and national);

(2)        Robust engagement and investment in relationships with other development actors, including International Financial Institutions.

(3)        Expertise in public policy and public administration and contextual knowledge of how respective Governments and ministries operate.

Supporting the WFP Country Director and working closely with the Country Office Management, the Senior National Development Advisor will help position WFP strategically as a key development partner amongst the national stakeholders and will co-lead the engagement with the national Government, International Financial Institutions and other development actors in the country to maximize the impact of WFP’s development programmes.

The Advisor will facilitate WFP’s contribution to the design of key policies and programmes in country and will mobilize resources for WFP programmes contributing to the country’s development agenda.

COUNTRY CONTEXT

Guinea is rich in natural resources and enjoys agroecological conditions that are conducive to the eradication of hunger. The Guinean economy is largely dependent on mining and agriculture. However, low productivity, poor farming techniques and significant post-harvest losses undermine the agricultural sector, while poor road infrastructure hinders access to markets.

Poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition rates are alarming, especially in rural areas. On average, 55 percent of the population live below the poverty line and more than 21 percent of households are food insecure. Children nutritional situation remains precarious with 6.1 percent of children aged 6-59 months suffering from global acute malnutrition (of whom 1.7 percent are severely affected).

WFP has been present in Guinea since 1964. WFP targets vulnerable groups of people in the four regions of Guinea particularly in rural areas, in order to improve food security, reduce malnutrition, enhance resilience and contribute to improve education achievements, all while contributing towards the achievement of SDG 2 and 17 and aligning with national priorities (Plan national de développement économique et social 2016-2020) with a special focus on women and youth.

The approach also aims to increase national ownership through institutional capacity strengthening. The COVID-19 pandemic, beyond its immediate effect on public health, combined with the resurgence of Ebola, is affecting the food security, nutrition, and livelihoods of the most vulnerable people, particularly the poorest households, casual labourers and petty traders. The December 2020 Cadre Harmonisé projects 645,105 people to be food insecure in June- August 2021.

WHY WORK WITH US? 

This is an opportunity for an exciting and challenging position in a multi-cultural and interdisciplinary organisation, on a topic with high relevance. In addition, we offer:

▶️ Meaningful and impactful careers:

Our day to day work makes a difference in the lives of the people we serve

▶️Continuous learning and training:

We provide learning tools for our staff to continually develop their careers

▶️ Multicultural and stimulating work environment:

We encourage gender and cultural diversity to make our teams stronger

Join us to make a difference, watch this video to know more about us!!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnaxfnNKdsM&t=7s

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Country Director and in close coordination with the Country Office Management, the Programme and Partnerships teams, the Senior National Development Advisor will undertake the following key responsibilities to advance the efforts of the Country Office in programme and partnership building and resource mobilization with the Government, IFIs and other development actors:

Strategic Advice and Analysis

• Provide strategic direction and high-quality advisory services to the Country Director and Country Office Management in terms of strengthening WFP’s relationship with the Government and positioning WFP as a key actor in the development space.
• Proactively scan the country development landscape and support exploration of viable opportunities and new approaches for WFP’s strategic engagement in the development space with the Government and other development actors, such as IFIs, particularly in the areas of social protection, rural transformation, sustainable infrastructure and human capital development.
• Closely follow relevant external developments and processes involving the Government and IFIs (e.g. national budgetary processes, approval of key strategic documents, and loan negotiations) and support the development of the Country Director’s/Office’s position on these matters.
• Analyse the national development, budgeting, and spending priorities to determine how WFP could support the Government with furthering its priorities and closing the funding gap.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and co-lead the implementation of WFP’s partnerships with Government and key development actors, including IFIs, academia, regional organisations and other UN agencies working on development issues.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key stakeholders as relevant.
• Inform and support the Country Office management as well as its technical teams on the engagement with key partners on the strategy, design, relevance, and impact of programmes that can be supported by WFP to advance national development priorities.
• Liaise with government agencies in support of projects and operational activities that strengthen government capacities.
• Provide advice on WFP’s representation and messaging in various national instances/committees /working groups (on humanitarian/development issues).
• Engage with national institutions, universities, and think-tanks to establish WFP as a thought leader in the country in the development arena.

Brand Management and Positioning

• Support the management of WFP’s brand among key external stakeholders as a UN agency with a dual humanitarian and development mandate and a trusted development partner.
• In close contact with relevant colleagues from the Country Office, support the development of WFP’s value proposition and specific offerings in the areas of rural transformation, sustainable infrastructure, and human capital development, and contribute to the process of project design, where necessary.

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Reports to the Country Director. Works closely with the Country Office Management and Programme and Partnerships Teams and liaises with the Head of Partnerships at the Regional Bureau and a relevant focal point in the Strategic Partnerships team.
• External: Facilitates engagement with the Government, including relevant ministries and agencies, key development actors, including IFIs, and academia in close coordination with the Country Director.

KEY DELIVERABLES:

• On-going strategic advice leading to game-changing support from WFP to the government and increased funding for WFP’s work contributing directly to the country’s development portfolio.
• Government and development actor (including IFIs) engagement strategy including stakeholder mapping for WFP at country level.
• Lead the implementation of the above-mentioned partnerships strategy both by supporting the country office management and also by building and maintaining partnerships directly as relevant.
• Joint concept notes with the national government on areas of joint engagement. 
• Advocacy documents and position papers on WFP’s development work.
• Regular stakeholder meetings and technical workshops, where relevant.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

EDUCATION:

• Advanced university degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Economics, International Development, or another relevant field.

DESRED TECHNICAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• At least 8 years of experience working in the public sector.
• Demonstrable experience with the national government, public sector economic planning and budgetary processes at the strategic level. Ability to interact effectively with staff at the Ministerial level and at the IFI Management level.
• Ideally, Director level government experience, preferably from  Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning, or a line Ministry with significant interaction with IFIs.
• Ideally experience with development issues and significant experience in developing relationships and managing strategic partnerships with governments and development partners, particularly IFIs.
• Proven record of accomplishment in new partnership building, brokering relationships with partners, and engagement at a senior level.
• Experience in project design processes and coordination with internal and external stakeholders, including governments and IFIs.
• Experience working closely with academia and think tanks.
• Knowledge of WFP operations in country and international experience is a plus.                 

LANGUAGE:

• Fluency level C both in French and English language is mandatory

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

10  June 2021

WFP is committed to promoting an inclusive work environment where diversity is valued, and no form of discrimination is tolerated. We promote women’s leadership within our organization and aim to achieve parity in our teams in West and Central Africa. Qualified female candidates are therefore particularly encouraged to apply. WFP does not tolerate discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV / AIDS status.

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.

Only the selected candidates will be invited.

Guinean nationality is required for the position