World Food Programme announces vacancy for Programme Associate

Position Title: Programme Associate (Nutrition) – Outposted to Provincial Health Services Directorate (HSD)

Contract Type: Service Contract (SC)
Grade: SC-6 (equivalent to GS-6)
Contract Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)
Duty Station: Health Services Directorate, Madhesh Province, Janakpur, Nepal
Vacancy Number: 174307
Date of Publication: 29 September 2022
Deadline of Application: 12 October 2022

This vacancy announcement is ONLY for Nepalese Nationals.

JOB PURPOSE
To provide technical and operational support to the HSD, Madhesh Province in the design/review, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as knowledge management of activities relating to MSNP 2018-2022, with a particular emphasis to maternal and child health and nutrition programmes

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
Under the overall guidance of the Head of Nutrition, and direct supervision of the National Nutrition Officer and the Director of the HSD, the job holder will carry out the following tasks;

Capacity strengthening support to Provincial HSD

• Provides technical and operational support to the Province-1 HSD during planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning of nutrition programs with an emphasis to maternal and child nutrition, and nutrition in emergency, as well as inclusion of social and behavior change communication works across the MSNP implementation.
• Advocate and support adequate budgeting for nutrition during annual planning processes.
• Assess needs and organize/facilitate nutrition orientation, review workshop, training and refresher courses to help develop the capacity of the Government staff at the provincial, district, Palika and health facility level in coordination with the country office.
• Participate as a resource person in training/orientation and/or consultative/advocacy meetings related to nutrition at provincial, district and local level as required.
• Contribute towards development or adaptation of provincial level guidelines, manuals, protocols…etc. for nutrition programmes.
• Support dissemination of appropriate and timely nutrition information, protocols, guidelines…etc. to the Province, municipality, Plaika and health facility levels.
• Provide support for the implementation of the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition Programme (IMAM), as per the national protocol.

Coordination and Partnership:

• Attend different provincial level forums and share information that enhance WFP’s collaboration with Government agencies and contribute to building and sustaining effective collaborative relationships with appropriate provincial and local government stakeholders.
• Facilitate support the Cooperating Partners implementing the MCHN project needs from the HSD and other government entities.
• Spend at least 20% of his/her time supporting the Provincial Ministry of Social Development liaise/advocate for effective planning, implementation and follow up of shock responsive social protection initiatives for vulnerable groups as per the national priorities/schemes.
• Facilitate with Ministry of Agriculture for establishment community food bank in selected Palikas.
• Facilitate with the Provincial Ministry of Education for school health club support, in selected schools.
• Facilitate any supports the CPs requires from the HSD and other government entities.
• Together with the CO, organize annual nutrition advocacy meetings to lobby for increased resource allocation, strengthen multi-sectoral linkages, and promote best practices.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting:

• Organize regular joint supportive supervision/coaching visits from Provincial HSD to Districts and health facilities, followed by a review meeting at Provincial level to reflect on the observations of the joint visit.
• Provide technical support for the HSD in regular reporting, analysis, interpretation, sharing and use of nutrition data from HMIS/DHIS2 and other sources.
• Support design and implementation of assessments, evaluations and/or researches as deemed identified.
• Prepare and submit periodic progress report to the HSD and WFP.

Programme Support:

• Provide support to the CO during development of Concept of Operation (CONOPS) to ensure the needs of the province are reflected in WFP’s emergency preparedness and response plan.
• Support the roll of Gender action learning system, development of recipe book, infrastructure development, M&E system, and other initiatives under the MCHN project.
• Carry out other tasks as required, to support the day-to-day activities of WFP CO.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATION

Completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary certificate in the related functional area. Bachelor’s degree in nutrition or Public Health or related fields with at least five years of reasonable experience. Relevant on the job trainings will be a plus.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• At least five years of reasonable experience in Nutrition or Public Health or related fields.
• Previous experience in areas of technical assistances at national, provincial or district level.
• Experience and expertise in delivery of nutrition prevention and treatment programs including social and behaviour change communication, community based.
• Experience in negotiation, training, communications, advocacy & resources mobilization.
• Knowledge and experience of UN and Government partnership will be an asset.
• Has worked with technical teams (i.e. nutrition etc.).
• Has contributed to implementation of programmes.
• Has observed or assisted with policy discussions.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Functional competencies including Providing guidance to team designing/planning of nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive programming; Nutrition emergency preparedness and response, child and maternal health, IYCF/MIYCN, SBCC etc.
– Sound understanding of nutrition related policies, and systems of Nepal
– Good negotiation skills and ability to communicate effectively
– Ability for perform well in cross-disciplinary teams.
– Training and experience in utilizing computers and standard software packages and systems, such as MS Office.
– General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures in the area of work is an advantage.

LANGUAGE
Fluency in both written and spoken Nepali and English languages. Knowledge of local languages is a plus. Nepali Typing skill is an asset.

HOW TO APPLY
To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings).
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

We want to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible. Please contact us at [email protected] to advise us of any accessibility needs you may have.

BACKGROUND
The Government of Nepal (GoN) has made remarkable progresses in the field of nutrition as evidenced by the reduction of national stunting rate from 57% in 2001 to 32% in 2019. Following the successful implementation, and lessons from the Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan (MSNP 2013-2017), the GoN formulated and implementing MSNP 2018-2022 with aim of improving maternal, adolescent and child nutrition by scaling up essential nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions and creating enabling environment for nutrition.
Since 1963, WFP is among the strong supporters of the GoN through its emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, as well as development programmes. WFP Nepal five years Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 20192023 has five Strategic Outcomes (SO), namely:
– SO1: affected populations in Nepal have timely access to adequate food and nutrition during and in the aftermath of natural disasters and/or other shocks.
– SO2: Food Insecure people in targeted areas have improved nutrition throughout the key stages of the life cycle by 2025.
– SO3: Vulnerable communities in remote, food-insecure areas of Nepal have improved food security and resilience to climate and other shocks by 2030.
– SO4: The Government of Nepal has strengthened capabilities to provide essential food security services and respond to crises by 2023.
– SO5: Government efforts towards achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 are supported by inclusive and coherent policy frameworks across all spheres of government by 2023.

As per the CSP, WFP Nepal will ensure that food in-secure people in targeted areas have improved nutrition throughout the key stages of their lives by 2025. This outcome will be achieved through three outputs, namely (i) Targeted populations, including children aged 6–59 months, pregnant and lactating women and girls and school children, receive an integrated package of assistance to prevent malnutrition and improve diets; (ii) Targeted populations in food-insecure areas receive nutrition-sensitive, shock responsive and gender transformative social services delivered through a strengthened national social protection framework; and (iii) People benefiting from the national social safety net programme receive post-harvest fortified rice.

WFP received a grant from the Government of Japan for the implementation of ‘The Project for Mother and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts of Province-1, and Saptari and Siraha districts of Madhesh Province. The purpose of this project is to contribute to the Government’s MSNP II vision of reducing malnutrition, enhancing human capital, and increasing overall socio-economic development.

Therefore, with the intent of strengthening the Provincial and Local Governments’ capacity to implement integrated health and nutrition programs, WFP is seeking to fill the position of a Programme Associate to be seconded to the Provincial Health Services Directorate (HSD) of Madhesh Province, Nepal.

ABOUT WFP
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. 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.

To apply for this job please visit career5.successfactors.eu.