Programme Policy Officer (climate actions mapping and development of catalogue of scalable models), SSA-9

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

3 March 2025-23:59-GMT+05:45 Nepal Time (Kathmandu)

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ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

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WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

About WFP:
The 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 the most vulnerable, particularly women and children can access the nutritious food they need.


Organizational Context:
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been working in Nepal since 1963, supporting the Government to achieve greater food security among vulnerable communities and build resilience to disasters. WFP is strengthening government capacity and providing support to food security, nutrition, as well as emergency preparedness and response, in support of the country’s goals to achieve Zero Hunger and to graduate from the least developed country to a lower middle-income status by 2026. WFP’s work in Nepal primarily targets the most food insecure, those in the hard-to-reach areas. Since 2024, WFP started implementation of its five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for 2024-2028 to support the Government of Nepal to address food insecurity, reduce malnutrition and build the resilience of vulnerable populations.

With the launch of the new CSP (2024-2028), WFP aims to intensify its shift towards the prioritization of development-oriented activities, with a strong focus on resilience building as well as country capacity-strengthening measures through technical assistance and strengthening of national capacity, systems, and programmes to address food security and nutrition needs, improve livelihoods, and build resilience in the face of shocks and climate change. As such, WFP seeks to continue increasing its engagement with government Ministries and development partners including International Financial Institutions (IFIs). WFP plans to accelerate the transition of its work from direct implementation to the provision of technical assistance to the Government aimed at strengthening programmes and systems to address food insecurity, malnutrition, and vulnerability to climate change. The CSP has outcomes designed to complement one another and putting strong emphasis on strengthening the capacity of government institutions to achieve SDGs 2 and 17 and contributing to SDGs 1, 4 and 13.


Job Purpose:
Nepal’s move from a centralized unitary system of governance to a decentralized federal system in 2015 has mandated the local and provincial governments to exercise significant autonomy in law and policy making, budget formulation, development planning and implementation. This is especially relevant to ensure delivery of basic services related to infrastructure, climate and disaster risk reduction and environment. Due to institutional capacity gaps at sub-national level under the new governance system, increased capacities are required to exercise resilient and sustainable development planning and ensure effective delivery of climate services.
Many organizations, including several UN Agencies, are supporting local and provincial governments to develop sustainable localized climate change adaptation implementation models to support communities to tackle climate change and environmental impacts across a variety of sectors and the different topographies of Nepal. Support from UN agencies include provisions for mainstreaming climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and resilient livelihood promotion at sub-national level and building capacities to develop and implement climate adaptation, risk reduction and environmental sustainability plans. However, there is limited visibility, understanding, and knowledge exchange on best practices and lessons learned from these interventions. There is also lack of clear plans on how such models and approaches can be scaled-up through a localized approach in similar contexts across the country. Hence, with support form Joint SDG Fund, the three UN agencies (WFP, UNDP and UN Habitat) are implementing a Joint Programme (JP) entitled ‘Accelerating the localization of integrated climate actions in Nepal’. The main objective of this joint programme is to accelerate the SDG Transition on Climate and Biodiversity through integrated, localized climate actions and frameworks in Nepal that support in minimizing the impacts of climate change, particularly in benefit of those most marginalized and poor. WFP, UNDP and UN Habitat will capitalize on their respective comparative advantages in climate change and localization work in Nepal to undertake advocacy and actions that lead to the development of a catalogue of successful, inclusive and contextual climate actions implemented in several local governments of Nepal. The catalogue will then be used to formulate an integrated framework for localization of SDG 13 and develop climate focused interventions in the target municipalities. The JP will also strengthen the capacity of sub-national actors to advance localization of climate actions through participatory processes.
Against this backdrop, WFP is looking for a national consultant (Programme Policy Officer) to carry out comprehensive mapping and develop a catalogue of scalable, successful, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion responsive climate change adaptation and environment conservation models. The models and localization framework will then be used to provide guidance to the targeted local governments in formulating their localization plans.



Position Title: Programme Policy Officer (climate actions mapping and development of catalogue of scalable models)
Contract Type: Special Service Agreement (SSA)
Level: SSA-9
Contract Duration: 4 months (Max 45 workdays)
Duty Station: Kathmandu
Date of Publication: 18.02.2025
Deadline of Application: 03.03.2025
WFP offers a competitive benefits package including salary plus CIGNA health insurance

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the direct supervision of Deputy Head of Programme (DHoP), WFP Nepal CO, the Programme Policy Officer will be responsible for the following tasks:

1.    Support to carry out an assessment of the existing gender responsive climate change adaptation models adopted and implemented by government agencies, UN agencies, other bilateral/multilateral projects, development partners, I/NGOs, civil society and provate sector in Nepal.
2.    Conduct a comprehensive mapping using SWOT analysis of existing models adopted in Nepal in collaboration with government agencies and development partners to assess their existing climate change adaptation models adopted. 
3.    Support to documenting best practices on gender responsive climate change adaptation and environment conservation models of all the agencies including government, bilateral agencies, UN agencies, I/NGOs, and other entities through assessing and analyzing their scalability based on existing socio-cultural, environmental and political dynamics.
4.    Support the preparation of catalogue of scalable, successful, and gender equality, disability and social inclusive climate change adaptation and environment conservation models in Nepal with in-depth analysis of their strengths and weaknesses and ecological region/province-wise scalable models.
5.    Contribute to provide technical guidance to the targeted local governments in formulation of gender-responsive and inclusive climate actions localization plan based on the catalogue and localization framework.
6.    Work closely with Strategic Outcome – climate change and resilience team and other teams in WFP country office and other JP partner UN agencies- UNDP and UN-Habitat. 

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
1.    Methodology on carrying out the assessment (15 days after the contract). 
2.    Literature review on the national plans and policies on climate change and disaster risk reduction and management (two (2) days after the contract).
3.    Assessment/mapping report on the adopted best practices from government, UN agencies and other agencies on the successful gender responsive and inclusive climate actions considering localization of relevant SDG (two (2) months after the contract).
4.    Catalog with of scalable, successful, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion responsive climate change adaptation and environment conservation models in Nepal with in-depth analysis of their strengths and weaknesses and ecological region/province -wise recommended scalable models (three months after the contract).

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:                    
Advanced University degree (Masters) in a relevant discipline: environmental science, climate science, agriculture, forestry, development studies, anthropology, economics, or related field, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience:
•At least 3 years of relevant postgraduate (Masters) professional experience in food security, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and management related field.  More years of relevant post graduate professional experience is desirable.
•Proven experience and ability in research, assessment, producing analytical report, project design and preparation of catalogue/Manual/guidelines/plans etc in climate change adaptation, mitigation and environmental conservation area.  
•Experience in humanitarian aid and/or development project design or implementation would be an asset.
•Has deepened technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams.
•Has taken leadership of implementation programmes
•Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions

Knowledge & Skills:
•Familiarity and good understanding on national and international policies on climate change, Paris agreement, Nepal’s NDC, NAP, Long Term Strategy on Net-Zero Carbon, Loss and Damage Framework.
•Proven ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders.
•Extensive, proven experience with stakeholders’ consultations.
•Excellent communication skills.
•Field experience will be regarded as an asset.
•Familiarity with WFP and the UN system will be an asset.
•Proficiency in Windows, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Languages: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Nepali languages.

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

 

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

 

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

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• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

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