The WFP operation in Sudan is one of the Programme’s largest and most complex. WFP provides assistance to nearly 9 million people through a network of 18 offices across the country, with over 1,300 dynamic and dedicated staff.
Many of the crises faced by people supported by WFP in Sudan stem from a basic lack of protection. Thus, the position of Protection Officer is critical to helping WFP’s work in Sudan be as relevant as it can be to the people we serve. This position will help hone WFP’s communication with communities, including through our expanding hotline system.
Given the size of the operation and the complexity of the environment, there are many opportunities for creative approaches to ensuring that WFP operations are more protection-focused and gender-sensitive. This is a position for a protection professional who would like to help improve WFP’s relevance to needy communities firsthand.

JOB PURPOSE

To support WFP Sudan to ensure that programmes are based on context and risk analysis that consider the needs, capacities, vulnerabilities and other important characteristics such as age, gender, and (dis)ability, of affected populations receiving assistance. This will be done by conducting protection and gender analysis for WFP’s programme, and working with programme staff to integrate protection and gender throughout the programme management cycle (design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Lead the development and implementation of achievable protection and gender action plans for WFP Sudan along the lines of the objectives of relevant policies, raising awareness of and commitment to protection, Accountability to Affected Populations (information, consultation and complaints and feedback mechanisms) and gender with all staff and partners at country office and area and field office levels.
• Lead the operationalization and management of WFP Sudan Call Center that is to act as a centralized Complaints and Feedback Mechanism (CFM), as well as complementary community-based complaints mechanisms.
• Design training sessions for new staff and ongoing capacity building sessions for CFM staff to maintain and advance core skills (active listening, stress management, data protection) and to augment existing skills, knowledge, and capacity in specific areas such as on protection and gender-sensitive approaches; engage positive learning practices and strategies to build a positive learning environment and maintain team morale.
• Coordinate and communicate with area and field offices, programme and other relevant units in WFP and with cooperating partners to document key lessons learnt, results, main findings and risks mitigation measures on the implementation and scale-up of CFM, and the areas of Protection and Gender.
• Prepare donor briefings on the Complaints and Feedback Mechanism (CFM), corrective actions taken on complaints, improved internal controls and enhanced efficiency of WFP operations, and progress on mainstreaming Protection/AAP and gender across all WFP activities.
• Provide technical guidance and advice on protection and gender to all staff in WFP country office and sub-offices, including recommending and supporting practical solutions and adjustments for improving protection and gender aspects of WFP activities, analyzing and anticipating potential protection and gender risks related to targeting or transfer modality, and strengthening the inter-agency understanding of WFP’s relevant policies and its operational impact.
• Produce gender analysis and regular updates on main protection risks linked to food security and related to WFP activities.
• Provide inputs to senior management in Sudan on protection and gender-relevant for WFP activities.
• Adapt and contextualize training material on protection and gender provided by the RB and HQ to the Sudan context.
• Ensure that capacity development is provided to the country team and field-office colleagues so that they have the skills and confidence to systematically and meaningfully incorporate protection and integrate gender in their work. This will include briefings, training and follow-up capacity support on protection and gender regularly for WFP staff, partner staff and contractors including financial service provider staff.
• Contribute to collection and analysis of data collected by other programme, colleagues from a protection and gender perspective, particularly including links to food and cash assistance.
• Support existing organization commitments and efforts to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), together with PSEA focal points and the Resident Coordinator’s Office.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• An advanced university degree in political sciences, International Development, Development Economics, Social Sciences, Communications or other relevant fields, or a First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience:

• At least 5 years’ experience in designing and implementing humanitarian and development programmes in an international context (e.g. UN, INGO, government agency)
• At least 3 years’ experience in implementing protection programs in humanitarian settings.
• Designing and implementing protection/AAP and gender programming, including communicating with communities’ programs, advocacy, and/or beneficiary communication.
• Designing and delivering protection and gender training and training material.
• Working in complex political and humanitarian contexts. Experience in the Sudan context would be an asset.
• Experience analyzing data and information about the context and affected populations.
• Developing and implementing relevant information, consultation and complaints, and feedback mechanisms.
• Working with and understanding the international humanitarian and development systems, including the UN system.
• Excellent understanding and practical skills in protection, gender, and humanitarian principles, including protection and gender mainstreaming in programmes and operations.
• Ability to work independently and lead initiatives as well as be part of a diverse and multicultural team.
• Familiarity with the protection and gender mainstreaming, including the latest updates and changes.

Language:

• Fluency (Level C) in English is required.
• Intermediate knowledge of a second WFP/UN language (French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, or Portuguese) is required for all International Professional positions.
• Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

International Professional positions are open to all nationalities. Nationals of the country where the position is based (i.e. Sudan) are not eligible to apply. The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of one year.

Mobility is and continues to be a core contractual requirement in WFP. This position is based in Khartoum, Sudan, and would require the incumbent to relocate. After completing this assignment, you will be expected to apply internally for other assignments in WFP.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance. For more details, please visit icsc.un.org.