Beirut - Programme Policy Officer (Social Protection) SC9

Job Context:

The position will be based in Lebanon Country Office. The incumbent will report directly to the head of Social Protection Unit (SPU) Technical Assistance & Policy and under the overall supervision of the Head of Social Protection in Lebanon Country Office. It will require working closely with the Government counterparts, external and internal WFP’s partners, and ensuring that relevant units in WFP are engaged in its development and implementation.

Job Purpose:

The person selected will support the daily management of SPU technical assistance portfolio and contribute to strengthening governmental capacities in the design, implementation and monitoring of social safety nets (SSN).

Duration of Assignment:

The selected candidate will be contracted for an initial term of 12 months. Contract may be extended based on business need and satisfactory performance.               

Key Responsibilities (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the head of SPU Technical Assistance & Policy and under the overall supervision of the Head of Social Protection in Beirut Country Office, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

• Support the overall management of SPU technical assistance (TA) portfolio aiming at strengthening the Government of Lebanon’s (GoL) capacities to design, operate and monitor social safety nets. This involves ensuring that project outcomes are met, and quality standards of implementation are maintained
• Lead technical assistance components that focus on improving the communication, the promotion and the visibility of social assistance co-operated by the GoL and WFP (such assistance advocacy plans and communication strategy);
• Lead technical assistance components that focus on strengthening gender inclusion in social assistance portfolio.
• Support internal WFP’s unit and external government partners in the development of Monitoring and Evaluation strategy for Social Assistance Programmes in Lebanon, operated by WFP.
• Lead capacity strengthening of national government partners to improve the implementation of related social protection programs, including through the development of new systems protocols, guidelines and trainings to staff and partners on core aspects of social protection program delivery.
• Support the identification, development, and management of potential collaborative partnerships in the social protection domain in Lebanon to enable more effective delivery of assistance to vulnerable populations.
• Contribute to the production of knowledge products related social protection in Lebanon within global perspective. This involves ensuring that knowledge on global social protection systems is always kept up-to-date and shared within the SPU and relevant units within the Country Office, as well as ensuring corresponding expertise are engaged to effectively deliver the TA’s objectives.
• Contribute to the timely and accurate delivery of corporate and donor report requirements on TA activities to enable informed decision-making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
• Liaise with relevant units within WFP to ensure effective collaboration and implementation of ongoing technical activities.
• Perform other related duties as required.

DESIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Experience in directly working or collaborating with Government ministries is required.
• Demonstrated experience in social policy or social protection in government is required
• Excellent writing skills in Arabic and English are required.
• Effective communication skills for diverse audience of different cultural background and economic levels, and interagency partners are required
• Knowledge of policies around safety nets, targeting, monitoring systems and their applications (desired).
• Proficient computer knowledge and usage of MS software package, internet search and mapping software (desired)
• Demonstrated experience in government capacity strengthening (desired).
• Advanced analytical skills (desired)

STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Advanced University degree (i.e. Master's degree or higher) in Political Science, Economics, International Affairs, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Communication or other related fields; or First University degree (i.e. Bachelor’s degree) with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience: Three (3) or more years of postgraduate professional experience (after completion of Advanced University degree) in the fields of programme management for humanitarian/development organizations or government, government capacity strengthening, government partnership, public administration, public affairs, or in communication for a public institution, or five (5) years or more after completion of First University degree.

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Arabic.