Programme Policy Officer (NGO/Partnership) NO-B Nay Pyi Taw

The Role

This position is established to ensure effective CP management structure, capacities and Standard Operating Procedures are in place and to provide technical guidance and operational support to CO programme team and Area/Field offices on strategic, technical and business process issues as well as risks related to CP management.  

 Under the direct supervision of Deputy Head of Programme and overall supervision of Head of Programme in WFP Country Office in Naypyitaw, the incumbent will perform the following duties:- 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible in coordinating NGO partnership arrangements within the WFP Country Office, Field offices or Area offices and cooperating partners (CPs) and strengthen quality partnerships in support of WFP strategic objectives of CSP/iCSP.  

• Manage partnership arrangement through UN Partner Portal, issuing Expression of Interest and call for proposals, ensuring compliance with due diligence core standard in registration of cooperating partners’ profiles in UNPP and verify occasional basis, review/monitor the provided Due Diligence document are updated in UNPP to ensure understanding of CP landscape & the CPs operational, institutional, & financial capacity and a plan to mitigate identified risks 

• Maintain an updated roster of potential Cooperating Partners (CPs) that are eligible to be contracted and that has undergone a capacity assessment and expand the partnership in support of the CSP/iCSP priorities.  

• Manage the digitalized platform (Partner Connect FLA management module) to ensure efficiency and transparency in CP selection and engagement process; Coordinate with HQ/RBB focal persons on the rollout of Partner Connect subsequent modules including Invoice tracker and CP Distribution Reporting 

• Perform as a secretary of Cooperating Partners Committee (CPC) responsible for organizing screening process of proposals in UNPP, organize technical review among field offices and CO technical units, organize CPC meetings for final endorsement, preparing Note for the Records of PRC proceedings and recommendations and sharing with the respective cooperating partners,  

• Supervise the FLA management team to ensure all the FLA documentation including addendum or amendment are prepared correctly and in line with the SOPs. Stipulate clearly roles and responsibilities of WFP and CP in FLA and corresponding operational plan in collaboration with respective SO and Activity Managers and share with the cooperating partners and obtain approval from the Management; Review the proposed budget and recommend options for the consideration of the SO/Activity managers based on trend analysis;  

• Analyze the NGO profile, capacity assessment, and performance evaluation conducted and follow up the improvement plan as required; Provide inputs to partnerships strategies, including the development of Partnership Action Plans; Draw up quality partner proposals and reports by engaging with other WFP entities and external stakeholders.  

• Develop SOPs, TORs, checklists that support the CP Management functions in the field, in line with corporate NGO partnership guidelines and directives in coordination with respective units; 

• Provide technical support and comprehensive information sessions/onboarding/induction trainings to CP staffs to ensure the understanding the WFP assurance requirement across the project cycle management; 

• Prepare annual Spot-Check plan according to the criteria (in coordination with finance unit), conduct regular oversight/ spot-checks of CP performance and assure improvement plan are in place.   

• Arrange capacity building training for WFP field offices and partners to address the capacity gaps identified in annual capacity assessment and performance evaluations. Provide technical support and training to the WFP and CP staffs to ensure the understanding the WFP procedures for FLA. 

• Expand the partnership network, identify the capacity gaps and support the capacity improvement of potential civil society organization to be the effective WFP partner in light of supporting localization agenda. Apply inter-agency collaboration approach to conduct due diligence process of civil society organizations where possible.  

• Providing technical assistance and guidance to the Technical units and Field offices on the mid-year and end of the year performance assessments, ensuring timely completion of the process and maintaining a database of the results for review by CPC during FLA extensions and renewal process. 

• Oversee and supervise all aspects of field support functions in terms of Fund management and CP payment, including partnership records in COMET, creation of PO/SOA, grant assignment and expense recognition in the systems and CP invoicing.  

• Liaise with HQ/RBB CP management team regarding corporate guidance, directives and standards which need to be operationalized and provide inputs/feedback; share with CO colleagues and contextualize/adopt into the SOPs where and when required. 

• Perform any other duties and responsibilities assigned by supervisor.