DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

27 August 2024-23:59-GMT-05:00 Eastern Standard Time (Panama)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

Are you interested in further developing your professional experience while contributing to ending global hunger? Are you passionate about helping those in need? Would you like to join a global organization investing in its people?

If so, an exciting & fulfilling career awaits you!!! Join our diverse and passionate team that works on varied and international projects directly contributing to saving & changing millions of lives around the globe.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), a highly prestigious, reputable & 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.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP’s values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

WHY JOIN WFP?

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The Climate and Resilience Programme Unit is hiring an expert to support the programme and policy work related to multilateral climate fund opportunities.

Climate change multiplies existing threats to food security, hunger, and malnutrition. Expected impacts of climate change include increased number and intensity of climate-related disasters, increased scarcity and lack of access to land and water and decreased agricultural productivity. Impacts will be felt disproportionally by the most vulnerable people, the majority of whom live in fragile areas prone to natural hazards, ultimately putting hundreds of millions of people at risk. The World Food Programme (WFP) approaches the challenge of climate change from the point of view of its impact on hunger and undernutrition through activities that manage climate risk, build resilience and help people adapt to climate change.

WFP’s presence in Latin America and the Caribbean is characterized by very small, small, and medium-sized country offices (CO). Except for Haiti, all COs are in middle-income countries (MICs) facing chronic undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies and recurrent emergencies exacerbated by widespread inequities, climate change, economic vulnerability, lack of access to nutritious food, inadequate consumption of food and migration, among others.

Resilience building and climate change are concepts that extend to different contexts and sectors to address increasingly complex risks and help minimize their impact on vulnerable people. Therefore, WFP has adopted resilience and adaptation to climate change as a general framework, to identify programs and approaches that help mitigate the impact of climate shocks and stressors causing environmental degradation, economic uncertainty before, during and after a crisis, conflicts, price shocks and migratory movements, among others.

The incumbent will be based in WFP’s Panama Regional Bureau, working within the Resilience and Climate team in the Programme unit.

THE ROLE

To provide support to policy and programme activities that effectively meet food assistance needs.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):

• Contribute towards the development of a limited number of projects, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance.
• Provide project management support to specific and defined programmes and projects of small to moderate size that are relatively straight forward in nature, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes that complies with WFP standards and procedures.
• Follow data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.
• Research and analyse policy and operational issues to support senior colleagues in the development of policies, programmes and activities.
• Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on programmes and activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
• Liaise with internal counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects.
• Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships to collaborative working leading to improved food assistance packages.
• Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to prepare for and respond to food assistance needs, e.g. through project management support of learning initiatives.
• Provide guidance to support staff, acting as a point of referral and assisting them with analysis and queries.
• Develop guidance, tools and approaches that support the WFP programme and other country staff, partners (including government, NGOs etc) and/or communities in the implementation of activities.
• Support coordination with country offices, regional bureaus, and headquarters to develop high-quality proposals and projects, ensuring the integration of programme technical and cross-cutting themes, including gender, protection, and environmental and social safeguards.
• Document and share best practices to support the advocacy of climate action and the replication and scale of successful climate interventions.
• Other as required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education: Advanced University degree in climate change, environment, earth sciences, geography, disaster risk reduction/management, natural resource management, 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 the duty station’s language, if different.

Experience:

• Experience in the designing or implementation of initiatives from multilateral climate funds (e.g. Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund) is required.
• Experience working with NGOs, regional development platforms and governments is desirable.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has gained experience in implementing technical programs (i.e. nutrition, etc.).
• Has implemented programmes and provided input into designing operations.
• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong knowledge of global and national climate change policy frameworks and climate finance mechanisms.
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities, with the ability to synthesize and produce a range of well-communicated information products from reports to proposals, best practices, advocacy documents etc;
• Curiosity and willingness to learn, including proactively researching different climate innovation areas to deepen one’s knowledge in their design and implementation.
• Strong interpersonal and coordination skills, ability to work in a team and to communicate clearly and diplomatically with a wide range of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• Proactive, and independent, with the ability to plan and organize their work, efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex quantitative and qualitative data, prepare reports and draw conclusions and recommendations.
• Proficiency in Windows, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Number of openings: 1

Based in: Panama City, Panama

Type of Contract: Fixed Term Level: National Officer / NOA

Duration: 12 months.

This position is open only to Panamanian citizens.

You can consult the UN Salary Scale for Panama webpage for your reference UN – Salary Scale. Fixed-Term appointments are for a continuous period of one year or more and shall have a specified expiration date. The initial appointment is subject to a probationary period of one year. Successful candidates will be placed in a roster for two (2) years.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at global.inclusion@wfp.org. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
• Please contact us at wfprecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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.