Program Assistant – Nutrition (Temporary)

Overview
Provide technical support in nutrition and collaborate in program implementation.

You have:

At least four years of experience working in nutrition, of which at least four are in humanitarian assistance.
Experience in strengthening the capacities of governments and non-governmental organizations will be valued positively.
Fluency in Spanish (oral and written) or Spanish as a native language.
Intermediate level of English and good reading comprehension.
Performance as a facilitator of teaching-learning processes for adults will be positively valued.
Advanced ability to use standard office equipment and Microsoft Office suite.
Attention to detail and data analysis, ability to identify discrepancies.

Details
Position:

Program Assistant – Nutrition

Contract type:

Special Services Agreement

Level:

SSA-4

Unit

Program

Locality:

Quito, Ecuador

Duration:

Temporary maternity replacement position

Start date:

TERMS OF REFERENCE

BACKGROUND

About WFP
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization that saves and changes lives by providing food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience .

For its efforts to combat hunger , its contribution to improving peace in conflict-affected areas, and its driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict, WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

Every day, WFP works around the world to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, especially women and children, have access to the nutritious food they need. In emergencies, WFP delivers food to where it’s needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict, and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses the food to help communities rebuild their lives.

In 2022, WFP provided assistance to 160 million people in more than 120 countries and territories.

Brief description of the WFP in Ecuador
WFP has been present in Ecuador since 1964, serving as an innovative partner that supports government policies aimed at promoting food and nutrition security, gender equality, and food sovereignty, and directing its actions toward supporting the most vulnerable populations.

WFP’s Country Strategic Plan 2023-2027 focuses on ensuring access to food before, during, and immediately after emergencies, disasters, and protracted crises ; ending malnutrition , especially chronic child malnutrition; achieving food security and advancing sustainable, equitable, and inclusive food systems while enhancing resilience to the effects of climate change ; and providing services that support the operations of government institutions and humanitarian partners (More information at https://es.wfp.org/paises/ecuador ).

WFP’s ability to achieve its Strategic Objectives depends on its activities addressing the different needs and priorities of the women, men, girls, and boys they serve. A world without hunger can only be achieved if everyone has equal opportunities, equal access to resources, and the same ability to have their voice heard in decisions that impact their households, communities, and societies.

Furthermore, WFP, as a United Nations (UN) agency, is committed to promoting and encouraging respect for human rights, a core objective of the UN. WFP ensures humanitarian protection, guaranteeing the safety, dignity, and rights of the beneficiaries of its programs, so that each person benefits equally from its assistance and that discrimination is not perpetuated or exacerbated.

Under Strategic Objective 1 (SO1) of the Country Strategic Plan, WFP focuses its actions on ensuring food security and nutrition for vulnerable people on the move or affected by crises by providing food assistance (food vouchers, in-kind support, and cash); strengthening national and local government capacity in (i) emergency preparedness and risk reduction; and (ii) disaster and emergency response; working on social protection policies and emergency-responsive social protection policies.

Within the framework of these actions, WFP develops and implements nutrition strategies and nutrition-sensitive actions to increase the target population’s knowledge, understanding, and practices regarding the importance of adequate nutrition. It also deploys technical support strategies to local and national governments, as well as its humanitarian partners, in the area of ​​preparedness and response to nutrition-sensitive emergencies.

CONTEXT AND ROLE IN THE ORGANIZATION
The Program Assistant – Nutrition will be responsible for providing technical support and assisting in the development and implementation of nutrition and/or nutrition-sensitive activities within the framework of the integration of nutrition as a cross-cutting component and specifically within Strategic Objective 1. The Program Assistant will promote the mainstreaming of nutrition into the actions implemented by WFP, its cooperating partners, and/or with the National and local governments, within the framework of emergency preparedness and response actions. The Program Assistant will ensure the alignment of these actions with WFP’s nutrition policies and guidelines.

The Program Officer (Activity Manager who manages WFP’s Strategic Objective 1) will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director, who heads the Program area. The Program Officer will also maintain ongoing coordination and communication with the SO1 team in the country office and local sub-offices, as well as with other strategic objectives in the area of ​​nutrition. The Program Officer will also support local coordination with WFP’s cooperating partners and with local and national governments.

At this level, the individual must be able to complete a range of specialized and/or standardized processes and activities that require a certain level of interpretation of guidelines and standard practices. They may also recommend a specific course of action to officials at various levels and assign tasks to other support officials. They must perform their duties with minimal supervision and present analytically supported, organized, and accurate information that facilitates decision-making and the smooth execution of programs and projects.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide technical support and collaborate in the development and implementation of various nutrition and/or nutrition-sensitive activities in the coverage area, supporting alignment with WFP policies and guidelines.
Provide specialized support in the management and implementation of specific nutrition-related projects and activities, in collaboration with WFP cooperating partners, local governments, and/or relevant ministries, ensuring proper implementation within established objectives.
Contribute to the design and implementation of operational procedures and processes for the execution of programs managed within the framework of Strategic Objective 1, ensuring the mainstreaming of nutrition issues.
Propose and implement educational communication and training strategies in coordination with relevant WFP departments and WFP’s governmental and non-governmental counterparts, promoting a social and behavior change communication (SBCC) approach in the educational communication strategy.
Participate in capacity building for WFP staff, cooperating partners, and national and/or local governments in technical areas and as required.
Coordinate and connect with relevant units, cooperating partners, UN agencies, and government institutions to conduct accurate food security and nutrition analyses for efficient delivery of food assistance.
Contribute to the design of standard emergency preparedness and response practices, ensuring that WFP can respond rapidly and deploy nutrition- and/or nutrition-sensitive actions in affected areas.
Support the development of technical capacities of WFP staff, cooperating partners, and national and/or local governments.
Review project proposals and provide technical support in the preparation and review of project proposals, agreements, and conventions to ensure the mainstreaming of nutrition issues.
Contribute to incorporating the nutrition approach into monitoring and evaluation activities, as well as in the design of activities related to SO1.
Support the evaluation of the performance of cooperating partners and/or strategic partners and provide timely recommendations for operational improvement, both during periodic coordination meetings and in the final evaluation phase.
Collaborate in the preparation of proposals and reports for internal authorities, donors, and other stakeholders.
Promote knowledge management mechanisms and manage information repositories in SO1, helping ensure that key reports and the systematization of experiences, lessons learned, and best practices are documented, disseminated, and made available in a timely and organized manner.
Comply with United Nations security standards and ensure, within their area of ​​responsibility, compliance with all security regulations for both partner and counterpart personnel, as well as project participants.
If required, drive the vehicle assigned by WFP to support the performance of their duties, complying with established legal and safety regulations.
Perform any other function requested within their scope of responsibility.
REQUIRED PROFILE
Education
Those with university degrees in Human Nutrition, Public Health, Food Technology, and other relevant fields will be highly valued.
Experience
At least four years of experience working in nutrition, of which at least four are in humanitarian assistance.
The following will be positively valued:Experience in strengthening the capacities of governments and non-governmental organizations.
Experience with the United Nations system and/or NGOs and in inter-institutional coordination
Languages
Fluency in Spanish (oral and written) or Spanish as a native language
Intermediate level of English and good reading comprehension
Required skills and knowledge
Advanced ability to use standard office equipment and Microsoft Office suite and databases.
Knowledge of CBT money transfers is desirable
Performance as a facilitator of teaching-learning processes for adults, preparation of educational and communication materials will be positively valued.
Time management, organization, and follow-through to meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
Excellent written communication skills and writing of documents, reports, presentations, summaries, etc.
Ability to interpret a wide variety of information and synthesize it into reports and indicators.
Demonstrated skills in analysis, writing, information synthesis, and communication.
Attention to detail, data analysis, ability to identify discrepancies.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
It establishes common standards of behavior that guide how we should work together to fulfill our mission and contribute to an optimal culture , incorporating WFP values .

Lead by example and with integrity: Incorporate WFP values ​​into your daily life and demonstrate humanity and integrity by exemplifying caring for others.Respects and demonstrates the values, principles and standards of the WFP
Respect others, value diversity, and use respectful and inclusive language.
Stays focused and calm under pressure
Show humility and a willingness to learn and share knowledge, ask for feedback often and act on it, and take advantage of development opportunities.
Generates results and meets commitments : Meets commitments and easily adapts to changesGenerate high-impact results: take responsibility for achieving results
Ask for guidance and help when needed
Quickly adapts to changes and adjusts work according to needs
Promote inclusive and collaborative teamwork : Practice inclusion and collaboration , and contribute to a culture of learning and personal growth.Promotes teamwork, sharing ideas and raising issues openly
Provides timely and constructive feedback to others
Listen carefully to others and share new perspectives
Applies strategic thinking : Demonstrates commitment to gathering feedback, analyzing options and risks, and proposing new working methods.Embrace the WFP vision and the impact it has on your own role
Show curiosity and adopt new working methods when appropriate
Collect data and share knowledge to guide team activities
Asks questions to understand the impact of decisions on goals
Establishes and maintains sustainable partnerships : Establishes and nurtures external partnerships, and collaborates with partners to achieve common goalsConducts himself professionally with external partners
Collaborate with others and work with partners to achieve common goals.
APPLICATION
The vacant position is open to Ecuadorian citizens and foreigners with a work permit in Ecuador. Applications can be made until April 30, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. (Ecuador time).

All applications will be treated confidentially. We will only contact those shortlisted after reviewing and evaluating resumes.

The World Food Programme is committed to equal opportunities and achieving diversity in its workforce in terms of gender, ethnicity, and culture. We value inclusion and encourage women, people belonging to minority groups, and people with disabilities to join our organization.

To improve the accessibility and inclusion of the World Food Programme’s recruitment processes, we encourage individuals who require disability-related accommodations or other accessibility assistance to contact us. Please email your requests to [email protected] . Upon receiving your email, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team will contact you to confidentially discuss your needs and provide support. WFP is committed to providing a recruitment experience that respects and responds to the unique needs of each candidate.
Apply now