BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
Under the direct supervision of the Head of Emergency Unit, the Programme Policy Officer (PPO) for Protection, Gender and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) will be responsible for supporting WFP Ethiopia to ensure alignment with, and achievement of, WFP’s commitment to gender, protection, AAP, conflict sensitivity/social cohesion, and disability inclusion across all activities of WFP Ethiopia’s Country Strategic Plan. The PPO will provide strategic, operational and programmatic advice on the implementation of the policies on protection, gender and AAP and peacebuilding approved by the WFP Executive Board, as well as ensure accountability to affected populations in line with the 2017 Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s (IASC’s) four commitments and WFP’s corporate AAP strategy.

Under the overall guidance of the Country Director (CD) and the Deputy Country Directors (DCDs), the Head of Emergency Unit, in close coordination with the Head of Programme, will provide direct supervision to ensure the achievement of the PPO’s workplan, while HQ and regional advisors on gender, protection, and AAP provide technical support. The PPO will work closely with the pillar leads, activity Managers, Heads of Area/Sub-Offices and established focal point networks relating to gender, protection (including PSEA), AAP, Social Cohesion and Disability Inclusion.

The PPO will lead WFP Ethiopia’s efforts in mainstreaming protection, gender, AAP, conflict sensitivity and disability inclusion in all its activities by closely coordinating with heads of units, activity managers from all functional units, as well as heads of area offices and sub-offices, in order to better respond to food and nutrition insecurity in Ethiopia. This includes ensuring that all areas of WFP are equipped through tailored capacity enhancement approaches, to sustainably integrate good practice in gender, protection, AAP, conflict-sensitivity and disability response across their operations and areas of responsibility. The PPO will lead in ensuring strategic positioning of WFP as leading actor for AAP in Ethiopia leveraging and enhancing the experience and effectiveness of WFP CFMs. The PPO will directly supervise three staff members and oversee the work of eleven staff members across the five cross-cutting pillars.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Lead Gender and Protection Analyses and Contribute to Policy Development:
The PPO will lead and provide technical guidance in analyzing gender and protection concerns impacting food security and food assistance. This includes examining issues arising from WFP operations and presence to establish a replicable baseline for gender, protection, and AAP realities in the country. These analyses aim to understand and address the linkages between gender, protection, and food security, ultimately informing programmatic responses and operational activities. Additionally, the PPO will lead or contribute to research and policy development efforts to support the continuous improvement of WFP’s gender and protection strategies, ensuring that WFP’s policies and practices remain relevant and effective.

2. Develop and Implement Country Gender Action Plan, and Advise on Gender and Protection Integration:
The PPO will create and oversee the Country Gender Action Plan in line with WFP’s Gender Policy (2022–2026). This includes providing technical guidance on the plan’s preparation and implementation to ensure that gender considerations are integrated into all WFP programs and operations. Additionally, the PPO will offer technical guidance to WFP and its partners on incorporating gender and protection considerations into food assistance programs to develop effective responses and action points for WFP Ethiopia’s activities. The purpose is to align WFP Ethiopia’s activities with global gender policy standards and ensure that food assistance programs are gender-sensitive and protective of beneficiary rights.

3. Strengthen the Gender Results Network (GRN): The PPO will provide strong leadership and support to the Gender Results Network, a corporate mechanism established to support WFP in integrating gender into all its programs, activities, and operations. The objective is to ensure that gender integration efforts are effective and consistent across WFP Ethiopia’s initiatives.

4. Integrate Gender and Protection Indicators: The PPO will work with the Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) teams to integrate relevant gender and protection indicators into assessment and monitoring tools. The goal is to enhance the tools and processes used to assess and monitor gender and protection issues, thereby improving data accuracy and program responsiveness.

5. Ensure Data Protection and Privacy: In collaboration with relevant colleagues, the PPO will ensure that beneficiary registration processes comply with WFP’s corporate guidance on data protection and privacy. The objective is to safeguard the information of beneficiaries and maintain their trust in WFP operations.

6. Coordinate Risk Assessments: The PPO will work with Security and Logistics officers to ensure that risk assessments for access and delivery take into account the protection of beneficiaries. The purpose is to mitigate any gender and protection risks associated with the delivery of food assistance.

7. Lead Staff and Partner Training: The PPO will facilitate training and capacity-building sessions for WFP staff and partners on topics such as gender, APP, effective feedback systems, and case management procedures. This accountability aims to build capacity and ensure that all relevant stakeholders are equipped to integrate gender and protection considerations into their work.

8. Safe Delivery of Assistance: The PPO will collaborate with the Head of Emergency Unit, Head of Programme Unit, Head of Supply Chain, and Head of Security to provide advice and guidance on any gender and protection issues related to the safe delivery of food, cash, or vouchers. The goal is to ensure that assistance is delivered safely and that any potential problems are addressed promptly.

9. Oversee Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) and Develop Beneficiary Communication Strategies:
The PPO will provide technical guidance in operationalizing the CFRM scale-up strategy and managing its budget, operating procedures, and systems. This includes overseeing the case management process to facilitate case resolution through internal and external referrals. The purpose is to ensure that beneficiary feedback is effectively managed and acted upon. Additionally, the PPO will lead the development and progressive implementation of communication strategies for beneficiaries. This involves coordinating with sub/field offices, programme teams, and other relevant units to provide affected populations with clear information about programmatic aspects, including objectives, eligibility criteria, rights, entitlements, recourse channels, and duration of assistance.

10. Mainstream Conflict Sensitivity: The PPO will coordinate with sub/field offices, programme teams, and other relevant units to integrate conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity risk assessment questions into field assessments. The goal is to ensure that peace and conflict considerations are addressed in WFP operations, contributing to overall conflict sensitivity mainstreaming.

11. Promote Disability Inclusion: The PPO will strengthen disability-inclusive program activities and design approaches to make WFP project implementation areas more disability-friendly. This involves collaborating with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to contextualize policies and guidelines for disability mainstreaming, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in WFP projects.

12. Facilitate Inter-agency Coordination and Support Strategic Positioning: The PPO will assist WFP in developing, maintaining, and coordinating relationships with other UN humanitarian agencies, NGO partners, and relevant interlocutors to assess current and emerging gender, protection, disability inclusion, AAP, and peace and conflict issues. This includes representing WFP in relevant inter-agency meetings and providing advice to WFP staff participating in such meetings at the national or field levels. The goal is to enhance response planning, ensure strategic positioning of WFP as a leading actor for AAP in Ethiopia, and ensure that cross-cutting priorities such as gender and protection are adequately reflected in the new UNSDCF and WFP’s 3G CSP.

Other duties
Lead or contribute to research, reports or activities as directed by WFP

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
Protection, gender, conflict-sensitivity and disability mainstreamed in WFP Ethiopia’s strategies and operations and well-established complaints feedback and response mechanisms in WFP Ethiopia, as well as, facilitate information provision to affected populations.

Job Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Advanced university degree in one of the following disciplines: social sciences, international development, development economics or another related field such as international relations, human rights or political science or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience:
At least five years, including at the field level, of solid, responsible and relevant work experience in a humanitarian organisation dealing with the management of community feedback and response mechanisms, design of communication strategies to engage communities, gender, protection of civilians, conflict-sensitivity approaches, peace contribution and disability inclusion and programme implementation.
Experience of managing a team is required. Experience with the implementation of WFP programmes including in emergency and development operations is desirable. Experience and knowledge of the Ethiopian context is an advantage.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of programmatic approaches and cross-cutting priorities (Protection, Gender, Disability Inclusion, Social Cohesion/Conflict Sensitivity)

• Knowledge of Accountability to Affected Population principles and hands on experience in direct management of Community Feedback Mechanisms and implementation of Communication with Communities within humanitarian operations.

• Knowledge of WFP programmes and operations at the field level is desirable.

• Hands on experience in programme implementation and knowledge of operation implementation through Cooperating Partners.

• Strong analytical, writing skills, and communication skills.

• Sound knowledge and skills in training and facilitation.

• Flexibility to travel on short notice and in challenging and difficult environments.

• Required competencies: teamwork, action management, innovation, flexibility, partnerships, client orientation, strong analytical and writing skills,ability to work independently, interacting with technical and non-technical internal and external stakeholders including decision-makers.

Languages:
Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language).

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