Senior Programme Assistant (Operations Coordinator)

World Food Programme

Job Title: Senior Programme Assistant (Operations Coordinator)
Contract: Service Contract
Duration :One year (possible extension)
Location : Gaza
Deadline for applications :27 November 2013
Reports to :Food Security Coordinator, Palestine

Background:
The aim of the Food Security Sector (FSS) is to build stronger partnerships to support sustainable, comprehensive, locally‐owned food security in Palestine, drawing on both humanitarian and development funding streams, local expertise and leveraging the comparative advantages of a wide range of NGOs, civil society and international organizations.

The FSS was established in 2013 following a review of the humanitarian and development coordination structures associated with food security. The sector represents a merging of three key groups – food, agriculture and cash for work.
Under the new FSS structure, coordination structure will be composed of three interlinked units: the Steering Committee, Food Security Analysis Unit and Operations Unit.

The Operations Unit will coordinate the day‐to‐day business of the sector and will also take into account strategy from the steering committee and advice from the Food Security Analysis Unit to ensure that all Food Security Sector operations are coordinated and harmonised to maximise synergies, avoid overlaps and gaps, and build on strong partnerships and performance.

Responsible for:
-Convening operational meetings and supporting technical working groups of the FSS. The Operations Coordinators will be the main point of contact for FSS partners (including the government authorities) operating in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He/she will be expected to establish and maintain good working relations with all partners and especially to encourage and promote the participation of local NGOs in the FSS.
-Support the FSS on technical standards. Document technical standards in a user–friendly manner and ensuring that these are accessible to all sector members.
-Providing information management services to the FSS for key decision making. This includes data collection, collation, analysis and dissemination.

The Operations Coordinators will be expected to maintain a close working relationship with each other to ensure consistency in approach and IM tools.
-Identifying gaps, duplication or inequities in service delivery and working with the FSS Coordinator to resolve these problems.
-Managing regular information requests from OCHA and the inter‐cluster group. Specifically but not limited to the Humanitarian Program Cycle (HPC) Strategic Response Plan, Mid Year and End of Year Monitoring and the 3Ws (who’s working where) database.
-Mapping interventions and updating the maps on regular basis
-Support information management for FSS response to emergencies. This includes active involvement in contingency planning and preparedness at the sector and inter‐cluster level. In the event of emergency affecting Palestine, the Operations Coordinators will be the key focal points for FSS partners and OCHA.
-Assisting the FSS Coordinator in documenting lessons learnt from past FSS
activities and revising strategies and action plans accordingly.
-Contributing to training and capacity building initiatives.

Other responsibilities:
-Supporting the FSS Coordinator in administering the vetting of FSS projects for the HPC
-Supporting FSS Coordinator in reporting against the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)
-Support the FSS in cross cutting issues such as gender, protection and disability
-Supporting FSS Coordinator with data and analysis as requested to inform policy development
-Maintaining overview of humanitarian requirements and contributions as appropriate

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
Required:
-Degree‐level qualification or equivalent. The degree should be in a relevant field or discipline such as Food Security, Agriculture, Economics, geographic sciences, humanitarian affairs, political science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or Communications although experience can replace qualifications.
-Minimum of 5 years relevant humanitarian or development experience in Palestine.
-Good knowledge of food security issues in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
-Strong inter‐personal skills and experience in coordination – managing partnerships, building consensus, developing common strategies and encouraging participation.

-Cultural and gender awareness and sensitivity essential.
-Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic required.

Desirable:
-Knowledge of the principles of humanitarian information management and exchange in emergencies.
-Knowledge of sector participants – UN and NGO agencies.
-Experience with cluster coordination tools ( e.g. stakeholder mapping, HPC,
UNDAF, CERF, Flash Appeals, GAP ID, IM tools, Need‐Capacity‐Resource Mapping, Contingency planning etc).

Technical Skill sets
Essential Technical Skills:
-Strong knowledge of Excel and preferably MS Access or other databases.
-Understanding of GIS/Cartographic outputs and ability to collect and organize data to support their production.
-Ability to present information in understandable tables, charts and graphs.

Other Technical Skills that are considered desirable:
-Ability to maintain and manage website content for the Sector.
-Data storage and file management expertise.
-Assessment, Survey, and Monitoring and Evaluation expertise.
-Communications and technical writing using both graphic and narrative presentations.
-Information Technology and networking skills.
-Knowledge of ArcGIS or other mapping software an advantage.

Interested candidates are requested to send their resumes and P11 Forms to:
UN / World Food Programme By E‐mail to: [email protected]
Applications must be received by 27 November 2013 @ 14:00hrs
Only short‐listed candidates meeting the required qualifications will be contacted.

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