Job description

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme 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.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The WFP’s Nutrition Division in collaboration with Research Assessment and Monitoring Division (RAM) and the Innovation Accelerator (INKA) have received funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) for Mapping and Modelling Inadequate Micronutrient Intake (MIMI) Project. The project is aimed at addressing the gaps in the large-scale food fortification (LSFF) data landscape by modelling and mapping proxy indicators for inadequate micronutrient intake and applying these to policy discussions.

Good data needed to inform LSFF programme and policy are not available in majority of countries. Decisions about large-scale food fortification (LSFF) programmes and policy require evidence on the magnitude and distribution of micronutrient malnutrition, the likelihood that current diets meet recommended vitamin and mineral requirements, including for specific population subgroups, and access to and consumption of different fortified foods or foods that could be fortified. Such evidence can help identify needs and determine the impact of current or potential LSFF programmes, with particular emphasis on those who are most vulnerable and gender. Unfortunately, due to the cost, time needed, complexity and invasiveness of collecting indicators of micronutrient status and dietary intake, there are many gaps in these data in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. MIMI will address gaps in the LSFF data landscape by modelling and mapping proxy indicators for inadequate micronutrient intake at the sub-national level and applying these to policy dialogues.
WFP Ethiopia urgently needs a Fortification Expert to support the two-year Mapping and Modelling Inadequate Micronutrient Intake project. Under the direct supervision of the Ethiopia Country Office Nutrition Prevention Activity (NPA) Manager, this position would coordinate national- and state-level stakeholder engagement and consult on and advise programme and policy discussions relevant to food fortification. The Fortification Expert would be expected to meet regularly, through virtual calls, with the Rome-based project team and during in-country visits to maintain updated on project developments and to keep the project team informed of local data needs, policy discussions regarding LSFF and feedback on products developed through the project. The position also includes the coordination of in-country workshops or meetings with government and non-government partners to disseminate evidence and other outputs developed through the project and collect feedback. More broadly, the Fortification expert will be expected to support WFP- and national-level discussions on LSFF, by becoming involved with national data alliances, task forces and other platforms advocating for and making decisions about LSFF.

The Fortification Expert will bring technical expertise in LSFF, and skills in stakeholder engagement, partnerships, advocacy and communication and translation of evidence to inform policy.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1.    Engage and build strong networks with with key fortification stakeholders, including governments, the United Nations system, civil society, the private sector, research institutes and donors;
2.    Contribute to the development of nutrition projects and activities, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider nutrition policies and guidance.
3.    Provide project management support to specific and defined nutrition projects and activities, ensuring a co-ordinated approach with wider programmes/projects that complies with WFP standards and procedures.
4.    Develop and co-ordinate data gathering and monitoring/assessment systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.
5.    Track and analyse data to provide input into reporting activities and contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on nutrition activities that enables informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
6.    Liaise with HQ project team and other project partners (internal and external) to monitor activities, ensuring effective collaboration, timeliness and efficiency, and highlight potential risks to project delivery.
7.    Support the identification of potential partners and partnership negotiations to ensure a collaborative and holistic approach to meeting nutrition needs.
8.    Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and national government to prepare for and respond to nutrition needs for example the production and review of training materials.
9.    Guide more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries.
10.    Perform other tasks within the technical area of work, as required

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STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: 

Advanced University degree in Food Science, Public Health Nutrition, Nutrition, Food Technology or other relevant field.

Experience: 

5-10 years relevant professional experience is required in the following:
•    Experience and exposure to implementation of national/international development programmes.
•    Experience working in public health/food security/ nutrition related activities, with a particular emphasis on Food Fortification.
•    Experience in capacity development, especially of government counterparts and the private sector, on aspects related to food fortification.
•    Experience identifying and defining nutrition issues/problems within a country
•    Experience identifying and promoting advocacy messages for nutrition issues and solutions

Languages: Fluency in English and Amharic language

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE:

• Strong technical knowledge of public health and nutrition, including micronutrients
• Technical knowledge of fortification (large-scale)
• Good overall knowledge about the fortification landscape in Ethiopia, including key players, policies and programmes
• In-depth knowledge of global nutrition goals, programs and programs, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the SUN movement for scaling up nutrition, etc.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

JOB TITLE: Programme Policy Officer – Fortification Expert
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Service Contract Level 10
UNIT/DIVISION: Programme – Nutrition Unit
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Addis Ababa Ethiopia
REPORTING LINE: Head of Nutrition

DURATION OF CONTRACT: One year will possibility of extension till Dec 2023