BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The World Food Programme (WFP) Strategic Plan (2017-2021) builds on WFP’s recognized role as the world’s largest humanitarian organisation. With this identify comes a responsibility of fulfilling commitments and expectations in emergency response and recovery in contexts of crisis and disruption. Following the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, WFP also continues to advocate for enhancing the complementarity between humanitarian and development assistance; safeguarding the foundations of humanitarian action; and better serve people in need. WFP’s recently approved Nutrition Policy (2017-2021) affirms its commitment to support good nutrition before, during and after emergencies, recognizing that the changing nature and frequency of emergencies exacerbate already critical levels of malnutrition.
In a significant number of countries, the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is jeopardized by conflict, natural disasters or health emergencies. Hunger and malnutrition are widespread among crisis-affected populations, disproportionately impacting women and children. Forty-five percent of deaths in children under-five are associated with undernutrition, related to both acute and chronic undernutrition. Equally important, poor nutrition also has longer term consequences related to child growth and development – these latter consequences are largely irreversible. Therefore, nutrition is an essential part of the emergency response. However, given the high number of concurrent and complex emergencies, it remains a global challenge within the nutrition community to implement appropriate, well-coordinated and effective nutrition responses at scale
WFP continues to improve its ways of working to address nutritional needs in diverse and complex emergency settings. Its primary role for nutrition is to ensure those affected by a crisis receive adequate nutrients, not just adequate food. Given the multiple causes of malnutrition, WFP also advocates for a comprehensive response to the underlying and immediate causes of malnutrition to be achieved in partnership (i.e., optimal caring practices, good health services, proper hygiene and sanitation and household food security).
WFP’s Nutrition Division (OSN) supports WFP country offices in achieving an appropriate, timely, well-coordinated and effective nutrition response in emergencies at the required scale. In line with corporate priorities, the Division’s Nutrition in Emergencies Team (NIE), created in January 2016, works towards achieving: 1) Resources and capacities are available at all time to ensure WFP leadership in NIE response; 2) WFP Nutrition response in Emergencies meets the minimum quality standards; 3) Strengthened partnerships and coordination for Nutrition in Emergencies 4) Improved management of information and communication on WFP Nutrition in Emergencies.
A key priority of WFP works in Nutrition in Emergencies is to improve the quality of maternal and child malnutrition prevention programmes in emergency settings. As a complement to existing programmes, WFP plans to further invest in infant and young child feeding practices in emergencies programming (IYCF-E) as a critical part of WFP emergency food and nutrition responses.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Infant and Young Child Feeding programme and policy support
• Monitor and evaluate progress of the pilot projects implemented in 2018 with the aim of integration of Infant and Young Feeding in Emergency actions into WFP Emergency food assistance.
• Document lessons learn from pilot projects to better define operating models, estimate the necessary steps and resources needed for achieving the integration of IYCF-E actions into WFP Emergency responses.
• Develop field guidelines and training modules for the integration of IYCF-E in WFP emergency food and nutrition assistance, including capacity development in collaboration with the other Divisions, as well as regional Bureau and Country Offices including frequent visit to emergency Country Offices.
• Provide on the job technical assistance for the implementation and monitoring of the IYCF-E activities in collaboration with knowledge management team, and other Divisions, as well as Regional bureau and Country Offices including support to missions to country offices as required.
2. Coordination and partnership
• Contribute to build the partnership with key IFE stakeholders to improve the integration of IYCF-E into WFP emergency operations and to strengthen the inclusion of IYCF-E into Humanitarian Response Plans and WFP Country Strategic Plans.
• Represent WFP in all relevant international, regional and national forums on IFE, and to contribute to technical discussions, exchange experiences, advocate for IYCF-E interventions and identify areas of potential collaboration (Infant Feeding in Emergency core group, Maternal and Newborn Health group, etc).
All activities will be carried out in close collaboration with team members of the Nutrition in Emergencies Team, and with other team members of the Nutrition Division such as Knowledge Management Team, Nutrition Specific and Sensitive Teams, as well as with other WFP divisions, Regional Bureaus and Country Offices
The above responsibilities will be summarized into an individual work plan as part of consultancy evaluation process.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
1. Operational guidance for the integration of IFE in WFP emergency food and nutrition response is available.
2. Global partnerships with key IFE stakeholders are established
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Master’s in nutrition science, Public Health or related field
Experience:
Five years’ work experience in international nutrition programming with at least 3 years related to humanitarian contexts;
Minimum of 3 years’ work experience with Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergency programming; Experience with other UN agencies, or key international NGO in humanitarian settings
Experience with trainings and other learning approaches would be an asset
Knowledge & Skills:
Knowledge of global nutrition and global humanitarian architecture required;
Solid knowledge of nutrition in emergencies programming
Knowledge and experience with gender concepts. Solid knowledge of project cycle management, and good analytical skills. Good interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work in multicultural setting and teams.
Excellent written and oral communication skills required.
Languages:
Fluency in English required. Working knowledge of another UN language, especially French is highly desirable. The assignment will require a minimum of 50% of duty travel.
APPLICATION:
Please email your resume and cover letter with subject line “WFP Nutrition Rapid Response Team” to:
Gwenaelle Garnier: gwenaelle.garnier@wfp.org before the 13th May