Details

Mission and objectives

Independent since 2002, Timor-Leste – an island nation situated between Indonesia and Australia – is one of the world’s newest countries. It has successfully managed to transition out of conflict and become one of the region’s most stable democracies, with opposing political forces maintaining a peaceful dialogue to resolve differences. Its economy is dependent on oil and gas revenues, but with aspirations to develop agriculture and tourism.
Timor Leste is a young nation. 59 percent of the population is under 25 years of age and women bear children at very early ages: one in four gives birth before turning 20. The right investments in education, employment and the empowerment of women can accelerate development in the course of a generation. Improved nutrition must underpin these efforts.
The Government of Timor-Leste is firmly committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), of which it was a staunch supporter during negotiations. However, serious obstacles to the achievement of SDG 2 on Zero Hunger and improved nutrition remain.
WFP works in close collaboration and coordination with the Government of Timor-Leste, with a view to strengthening its capacities for delivering social safety programmes, and with other partners including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO).

Context

WFP has been present in Timor-Leste since 1999. WFP’s Country Strategic Plan (CSP 2023-2025) supports the attainment of the Government’s vision and contributes to the National Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030 and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. WFP’s comparative advantage in Timor-Leste is its ability to strengthen the delivery of national programs related to food security, nutrition, and disaster risk reduction in partnership with other actors. The emergency preparedness and response associate will assist with reviewing and implementing internal and external food systems activities. Through its work in Timor-Leste, WFP actively supports the government in reducing the risk of stunting which is currently the highest in the region with 42%. The associate will also play a key role in planning emergency responses following slow and sudden onset disasters.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Supply Chain and working closely with the Head of Programme, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
Provide support to WFP operations and activities, following standard processes and facilitating, directly or indirectly, the effective delivery of food assistance to beneficiaries.
Support vulnerability assessments, verification, registration, mobilization and distribution planning for immediate emergency responses to alleviate suffering of the population.
Support the supply chain and field support team to undertake relevant assessments (e.g. market assessments and Logistics Capacity Assessments)
Conduct regular field visits to monitor the distribution process and address any operational challenges.
Support humanitarian information management through primary data collection, secondary data collation, content creation and report writing
Support with the preparation of external coordination meetings by sending out meeting invitations, hotel room bookings, printing attendance forms, drafting and disseminating meeting minutes.
Engage with representatives of the government as well as development partners to share WFP’s vision and drive effective programme implementation
All other duties as required