Program Associate in Environmental and Social Safeguards

 

Overview
Design and coordinate environmental and social safeguard projects

You have:

Those with a university degree in social sciences, environmental sciences, or related fields will be highly valued.
Candidates with advanced academic standing (master’s degree, specialization, etc.) or additional studies in local development, climate change, rural development, human rights, biodiversity, and indigenous peoples or related fields will be highly valued.
Have at least six years of specific experience in project design and coordination for the implementation of environmental and social safeguards at the national or territorial level, especially in human rights issues.
Experience in multidisciplinary projects (at least three) on agriculture, agricultural and rural development, family farming, sustainable agri-food systems, or similar.
Experience in the United Nations system or international organizations is desirable.
Fluency in Spanish (oral and written) or Spanish as a native language.
Intermediate level of English desirable.
Basic level of Kichwa desirable.
Knowledge of policies and procedures for international cooperation in environmental and social safeguards.
Understanding social inclusion policies, human rights, indigenous peoples and nationalities, and international best practices.
Social skills and coordination with government agencies, local communities, indigenous, Afro-Colombian, and Montuvia communities.
Ability to communicate, excellent oral and written expression.
Strong knowledge of the interrelationship between Food Security, Poverty and Development and interculturality.
Proficiency with SharePoint and knowledge management practices and digital content generation.
Ability to work independently and with low levels of supervision, as part of a team and under pressure to meet short deadlines.
Type B driver’s license and availability to travel to the countryside at least 20% of the time.

Details
TERMS OF REFERENCE

Position:

Program Associate in Environmental and Social Safeguards

Contract type:

Service Contract

Level:

L6

Unit

OE 3 Programs

Locality:

Quito, Ecuador

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The vacant position is open to Ecuadorian citizens and foreigners with a work permit in Ecuador. Applications can be submitted until March 17, 2024, at 11:59 PM (Ecuador time). All applications will be treated confidentially. We will only contact those shortlisted after reviewing and evaluating their resumes.

The contract will be subject to availability of funds.

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.

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BACKGROUND
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the 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.

WFP has been present in Ecuador since 1964, as an innovative partner supporting government policies to promote food and nutrition security, gender equality, and food sovereignty, focusing its actions on 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).

In detail, Strategic Objective 3 states: Vulnerable communities, family farmers, and relevant actors in food value chains in Ecuador benefit from more sustainable, inclusive, and healthy food systems and strengthened resilience to climate change and other shocks and stressors year-round.

Within this framework, it is necessary to form a team of professionals who will contribute to positioning the WFP as a benchmark in Food Systems and Climate Change and as a strategic partner of the national and local governments for the development and strengthening of public policies to benefit vulnerable communities, family farmers, and other relevant stakeholders in Ecuador’s food value chains.

CONTEXT AND ROLE IN THE ORGANIZATION
The Environmental and Social Safeguards Program Associate will be responsible for designing and coordinating projects through the implementation of environmental and social safeguards in WFP Ecuador operations with vulnerable communities, family farmers, and other relevant stakeholders in food value chains in territories or contexts highly sensitive to the effects of climate change and with potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

He or she will serve under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer responsible for WFP’s Strategic Objective 3 and the overall supervision of the Deputy Country Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Contribute to the development of proposals and concept notes for projects to be submitted to bilateral (cooperation between countries), multilateral (GCF, AF, GEF, among others), private, and philanthropic funds.
Manage, implement, monitor, and systematize the Program’s projects and initiatives, in coordination with other WFP units and external counterparts, issuing early warnings and preparing reports, including the complaints and feedback system.
Plan and budget the initiatives required to implement projects so that they have resources, in coordination with their line of supervision.
Maintain adequate archiving and documentation of the methodologies, plans, and reports generated, and manage information repositories for the projects in which you participate, using the corporate SharePoint tool; to contribute to the systematization and management of knowledge, ensuring that key information is organized, documented, disseminated, and available in a timely manner.
Coordinate and ensure the proper implementation and integration of environmental and social safeguards throughout each phase of the project cycle (diagnosis, implementation, and monitoring-evaluation) of SO3, including grievance mechanisms, to guarantee their quality and compliance with WFP policies, in coordination with other WFP areas.
To implement effective inter-institutional coordination with key stakeholders in food systems and climate change to ensure the deployment and implementation of environmental and social safeguards, such as the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Decentralized Autonomous Governments (GAD), and small-scale producer associations, among others.
Collaborate in monitoring WFP SO3 interventions in indigenous, Afro-Colombian, Montuvia, and mestizo communities to ensure the adequate incorporation of environmental and social safeguards, human rights, and indigenous peoples and nationalities, working in coordination with relevant WFP Ecuador areas, especially the Gender and Protection focal point and the Monitoring and Evaluation area.
Drive the vehicle, if assigned, by WFP for the performance of their duties, complying with established legal and safety regulations.
Perform any other activities required by the office necessary to achieve WFP’s objectives and mission.
REQUIRED PROFILE
Education
Those with a university degree in social sciences, environmental sciences, or related fields will be highly valued.
Candidates with advanced academic standing (master’s degree, specialization, etc.) or additional studies in local development, climate change, rural development, human rights, biodiversity, and indigenous peoples or related fields will be highly valued.
Experience
Have at least six years of specific experience in project design and coordination for the implementation of environmental and social safeguards in programs, policies, or projects at the national or territorial level, especially in areas related to human rights and indigenous peoples and nationalities.
Experience in multidisciplinary projects (at least three) on agriculture, agricultural and rural development, family farming, sustainable agri-food systems, or similar.
Experience in the United Nations system or international organizations is desirable.
Languages
Fluency in Spanish (oral and written) or Spanish as a native language
Intermediate level of English desirable
Basic level of Kichwa desirable
Required skills and knowledge
Minimum

Knowledge of policies and procedures for international cooperation in environmental and social safeguards.
Understanding of social inclusion policies, human rights, indigenous peoples and nationalities, and international best practices, preferably in the context of environmental, conservation, and/or development projects/programs.
Social and coordination skills with government agencies, local communities, indigenous, Afro-Colombian, or Montuvia communities, civil society, and other stakeholders.
Ability to communicate, excellent oral and written expression
Desirable

Strong knowledge of the interrelationship between Food Security, Poverty and Development and interculturality.
Proficiency with SharePoint and knowledge management practices and digital content generation.
Ability to work independently and with low levels of supervision, as part of a team and under pressure to meet short deadlines.
Type B driver’s license and availability to travel to the countryside at least 20% of the time.
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.

Demonstrates WFP’s values, principles and standards, and encourages others to do so.

Respect others, value diversity by using respectful and inclusive language, and encourage others to do the same.

He stays focused and calm under pressure, and encourages others to do the same.

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 changes
Generates high-impact results: takes ownership of achieving results and holds others accountable for them.

Delegate appropriately: Produce results based on delegated tasks and seek guidance and assistance when necessary.

Responds quickly to changes and adjusts work as needed.

Promote inclusive and collaborative teamwork : Practice inclusion and collaboration , and contribute to a culture of learning and personal growth.
Promotes inclusive teamwork and psychological safety by sharing ideas and raising issues openly.

Support the development of others by providing constructive and timely feedback.

Listen carefully to others with the goal of capturing, understanding, building, and sharing new perspectives.

Applies strategic thinking : Demonstrates commitment to gathering feedback, analyzing options and risks, and proposing new working methods.
Meets WFP’s vision and is able to explain how its own objectives support that vision.

Show curiosity and propose new working methods when appropriate.

Collect data and share knowledge to guide team decision-making.

Implements decisions and asks questions to understand the potential impact on longer-range goals.

Establishes and maintains sustainable partnerships : Establishes and nurtures external partnerships, and collaborates with partners to achieve common goals
Build partnerships by seeking out collaboration opportunities

Collaborate with partners by sharing information and working together to achieve common goals
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