Programme Policy Officer (Cash Based Transfers and Digital Financial Inclusion) – World Food Programme (WFP Uganda)

NOTE: WFP DOES NOT SOLICIT FOR FEES OR ANY FORM OF PAYMENT FROM JOB APPLICANTS

WFP is looking for talented people who are committed to joining our efforts to eradicate hunger. It offers unlimited opportunities to grow your professionalism,  talent, and expertise. Start your journey to be a member of the world-wide effort to eradicate hunger. WFP has a policy of affirmative action for women.

ABOUT WFP

United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) 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. In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their lives. On average, WFP reaches more than 80 million people with food assistance in 80 countries each year. The organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to food and contribute to lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas.

Brief description of WFP in Uganda

WFP delivers food assistance in emergencies and work with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. WFP provides life-saving food assistance and livelihood opportunities to refugees in Uganda. In addition, WFP assists the most vulnerable people in Karamoja with food and nutrition assistance. Finally, WFP works with smallholder farmers and links them to markets.

As Uganda strives to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030 and become a middle-income country by 2040, WFP is also assessing its relevance and repositioning its role in Uganda.

ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?

We are seeking a qualified individual for the position of Programme Policy Officer (Cash-Based Transfers and Digital Financial Inclusion), NOB to be based in Kampala. The selected candidate will be employed on a Fixed Term contract.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The position is based at the Country Office, providing support to policy and programme design, monitoring and implementation of activities under the Strategic Outcome 1 of the Uganda Country Strategic Plan 2018-2025, that seeks to effectively meet the food assistance needs of refugees and other crisis affected people. This is done in close collaboration with other Country Office Units, Area Offices, Field Offices, Government Entities and other partners including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Cooperating Partners.

WFP has been using unrestricted cash transfers to provide relief food assistance in the refugee settlements since 2015, and following an initial period of learning, began scaling up cash significantly in 2018, currently reaching about 700,000 people with monthly transfers. Cash transfers and emerging digital opportunities put vulnerable people at the centre of assistance, empowering them to meet their essential needs on local markets according to their priorities. WFP intends to expand its cash programming to 75% of beneficiaries by the end of 2022.

WFP’s cash programmes are a starting point for promoting the financial inclusion of refugees and other unbanked persons through the opening of bank or mobile money accounts and the provision of access to other financial services. WFP’s field presence and regular engagement with communities and local partners can also facilitate a more systematic understanding of women and men’s needs, capabilities, networks and preferences. WFP’s approach to financial inclusion thus focuses on:

1. Supporting access to financial services for vulnerable groups.
2. Ensuring that any such users of financial services are sufficiently informed and protected to enable them to use such services to their benefit.
3. Helping to develop private sector and local retail networks and supply chains in the hardest-to reach areas.

JOB PURPOSE

To manage WFP UGCO’s Cash-based transfers and digital financial inclusion programmes with the overall aim of; supporting access to financial services for vulnerable groups, ensuring users of financial services are sufficiently informed and protected, and supporting the development of the private sector and local retail networks and supply chains in the hardest-to reach areas.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (1/3)

• Spearhead the formulation and implementation of WFP’s digital financial inclusion strategy in line with the roll-out of Cash-Based Transfers (CBT) across WFP’s assistance portfolio.
• Lead on the design and roll-out of the cash programming strategies for Strategic Outcome 1 of the Uganda Country Strategic Plan, in line with in-country and global cash vision.
• Lead on the implementation of thematic cash programmes, including on digital financial inclusion projects aimed at Women’s Economic Empowerment.
• Develop and lead the execution of a financial inclusion strategy to empower both beneficiaries and communities beyond the end of the project life, while linking the delivery system with reliable existing systems from financial service providers, private sector, community organizations, and the Government of Uganda to boost the sustainability of the project
• Ensure harmonized coordination and supervision of financial literacy trainings to refugees, in collaboration with Cooperating Partners, Area Offices and Field Offices
• Lead the development and execution of functional and multi-functional trainings related to cash-based transfers’ programming to enhance the capacity of WFP staff and partner to design and deliver effective food assistance programmes

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (2/3)

• Identify and select cooperating partners and financial service providers able to deal efficiently and effectively with the delivery part of the cash-based transfers programmes; review and negotiate in detail Service Providers offers and contracts according to established rules and regulations
• Support the development and execution of activity plans to roll out digital CBT across WFP’s other assistance portfolio
• Lead the CBT operations and project teams, ensuring prompt implementation of tasks, career development, capacity building and performance evaluations
• Ensure cross-learning of CBT implementation through Agent Banking and Mobile Money, enforce documenting lessons learned, and build the capacity of staff across all regions implementing cash programmes
• Propose digital solutions that can be adopted at country level in line with up-to-date global digital innovations and oversee the actualization of the same in the WFP context.
• Lead the development of a behavioral change communication strategy for the adoption a digital payment and digital solutions culture by CBT beneficiaries
• Develop SOPs for a systematic referral system for solving Agent Banking, Mobile Banking, and Mobile Money related problems encountered by beneficiaries.
• In collaboration with other units, oversee and support the development of and adherence to Standard Operational procedures (SOP) aligned with corporate manuals and guidelines

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (3/3)

• Enhance WFP’s leadership status in forums relating to digital financial inclusion, CBT and wider programme policy focus areas such as livelihoods, resilience or engagement in humanitarian, transition and development contexts through direct participation, briefings, information products and other materials
• Coordinate support to other Strategic Outcomes in WFP’s Country Strategic Plan: Agricultural Markets Support, Retail Engagement, Clean Energy Initiatives (E-Voucher programme design etc.), FFA/Resilience programmes’ use of CBT, support to Government Social Protection Systems
• Maintain close contact with key partners and advise on opportunities for strategic collaboration; assist counterparts in governments and/or other stakeholders in identifying where CBT interventions can be usefully employed
• Identify and source partnership and collaboration opportunities with industry-leading stakeholders through inbound leads follow-up and outbound engagements.
• Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree (Master or higher) in International Affairs, Finance, Banking, Business administration, Project Management, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Social Science or other fields of relevance to international development assistance.
Language: Fluency in oral and written English.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• At least five years of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in the private or public sector demonstrating high performance.
• Proven experience in digital payment solutions in relation to agricultural development programmes and/or mobile financial services, such as Agency Banking and/or Mobile Money.
• Proven capacity to manage innovation in cash-based transfer programme approaches. o Proven experience leading teams. o Proven capacity to manage sensitive strategic partnerships for the design and set-up of a joint projects.
• Proven exposure in projects aiming to position an organization or enterprise as a key partner in social protection programmes is highly desirable, especially the knowledge of policies and practices around long-term financial inclusion opportunities for the poor and vulnerable.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS (1/2)

• Excellent understanding of Digital Financial Services (DFS) and proven ability to assess, design, implement and monitor market-based assistance programmes.
• Excellent understanding of cash-based programming especially for minority and underserved populations;
• Excellent background knowledge in financial processes and experience in analytical work.
• Excellent understanding of the role humanitarian agencies such as WFP can play in emergency, recovery and development context.
• Excellent attitude towards partnership.
• Be innovative and visionary at the programme design phase to reach the highest level of effectiveness of a given response.
• Proven effective cognitive abilities, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated learning agility and thirst for constant growth.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS (2/2)

• Displayed openness and passion for new experiences and multicultural environments.
• Taken initiatives when implementing programmes.
• Exhibited ability to communicate effectively and build sustainable partnerships.
• Deepened technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams.
• Provided input into policy discussions and decisions.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people’s skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
•  Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
•  Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
•  Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

17th December 2021

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.

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