National Programme Policy Officer (Gender & Protection)

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, established to save lives in emergencies and to use food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. WFP operates in numerous countries around the globe, employing a diverse workforce committed to its mission. The organization emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion, ensuring equal employment opportunities for all individuals regardless of their background. WFP has been recognized for its efforts, notably being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 202

• The organization is dedicated to fostering a healthy and inclusive work environment, where employees are encouraged to develop their skills and advance their careers through various training and mentorship programs. WFP's core values include Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion, which guide its operations and interactions with partners and communities.

Job Overview:
The National Programme Policy Officer (Gender & Protection) position is crucial for WFP's commitment to integrating gender and protection into its programming in Somalia. This role involves working closely with the Programme Policy Officers on Gender & Protection and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) at the Country Office, as well as reporting to the Area Office Head of Programme in Garoowe. The officer will be responsible for ensuring that WFP's food assistance programs are inclusive and responsive to the needs of vulnerable populations, particularly in terms of gender and protection. This includes conducting context-specific analyses, supporting the implementation of gender and protection policies, and fostering partnerships with local stakeholders. The officer will also play a key role in operationalizing WFP's strategic frameworks related to gender and protection, ensuring that these principles are embedded in all aspects of program management, from design to evaluation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the National Programme Policy Officer (Gender & Protection) include:

• Supporting the Area Office in conducting continuous context-specific protection and gender analyses to inform inclusive responses across the programmatic cycle.
• Analyzing program documents to identify opportunities for advancing protection and inclusion of vulnerable populations.
• Engaging with local stakeholders through field visits to support the participatory implementation of WFP's food support and nutrition programs.
• Collaborating with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team to strengthen Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) for responding to protection-related cases, including child protection and gender-based violence.
• Providing technical support to program staff and cooperating partners to integrate gender and protection throughout the program management cycle.
• Supporting the monitoring of the Gender and Age Marker (GAM) exercise and developing narratives related to gender equality for reporting purposes.
• Assisting in the establishment of strategic partnerships with local actors to address gender equality and protection issues.
• Participating in inter-agency coordination mechanisms to strengthen WFP's role in gender and protection within the humanitarian system.
• Supporting knowledge sharing and capacity building initiatives related to gender and protection at the Area Office level. 1
• Performing other tasks as assigned by the supervisor or management.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires the following qualifications:

• Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition, Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or related fields. Alternatively, a First University Degree with additional relevant work experience and/or training.
• At least one year of relevant experience with an Advanced University Degree, or a minimum of three years of relevant experience with a First University Degree in the development/humanitarian field related to protection, gender equity, and women’s empowerment.
• Experience in security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, nutrition, emergency response, social protection, and disaster risk reduction is considered an advantage.
• Strong analytical skills, particularly in gender and protection analysis, and the ability to communicate effectively through various mediums.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an Advanced University degree in relevant fields such as International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition, Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, or Social Sciences. Alternatively, candidates with a First University Degree and additional relevant work experience or training may also be considered. This educational background is essential to ensure that the officer has the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively address the complexities of gender and protection in humanitarian contexts.

Experience:
The position requires at least one year of relevant experience for candidates with an Advanced University Degree, or a minimum of three years of relevant experience for those with a First University Degree. This experience should be in the development or humanitarian field, specifically related to protection, gender equity, and women’s empowerment. Candidates with experience in areas such as gender-based violence, disability inclusion, and social protection will be particularly well-suited for this role.

Languages:
Fluency in English (level C) and Somali is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication and collaboration with local stakeholders and beneficiaries, as well as for reporting and documentation purposes. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not required.

Additional Notes:
This position is open exclusively to qualified Somali national candidates, with a strong encouragement for female candidates to apply. WFP Somalia is committed to creating female-friendly spaces in the workplace. The role is full-time and may involve collaboration with various stakeholders at local, national, and international levels. The compensation package is attractive and details can be found in the Terms and Conditions section of the vacancy announcement. WFP is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.