South Sudan: Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster Coordinator (National)

In South Sudan, the food security outlook for 2016 remains of great concern, with 2.8 million. people expected to be in Crisis or Emergency situation from January to March 2016, mostly in Greater Upper Nile. Severe challenges include early depletion of household food stocks, dysfunctional markets, economic crisis, loss of livelihoods, and displacement – all resulting from protracted conflict. The nutrition situation remains critical, especially in conflict-affected states where the prevalence of global acute malnutrition (GAM) is likely to remain above emergency thresholds (GAM >15%) between January and March and into the forthcoming lean season. High levels of acute malnutrition are attributed to inadequate food consumption as well as other factors including morbidity, dietary and feeding habits, and constrained health and nutrition service delivery. Market functionality throughout the country has been affected mainly due to the depreciation of the local currency, and most traders are not restocking resulting in scarcity of commodities and high prices, especially cereals. In the areas it has reached, humanitarian assistance has reduced the number of people in Crisis and Emergency phases. However, deliveries remain inconsistent due to logistical constraints, continued insecurity, and insufficient funding. The number of people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance may be over 5 million during the 2016 lean season, with an incumbent risk of famine if humanitarian access and the scale of assistance in the most conflict affected areas are not increased.

The Food Security and Livelihoods (FSLC), co-led by WFP and FAO, works with over one hundred partners throughout the country to ensure a timely, coherent and effective food security response by mobilizing stakeholders to respond in a strategic manner to a humanitarian crisis. The protracted characteristic of the crisis in South Sudan requires the cluster assumes more responsibility with regard to programme guidance and support to quality programming. This post is fully co-funded by WFP and FAO, with expectations that the incumbent will report equally to both agencies and reflect priorities of the sector in a transparent and meaningful way.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The role of the Food Security Cluster Coordinator, as set out in the IASCGeneric Terms of Reference for Sector Leads at Country Level, is to lead and facilitate this process through:

• Engagement, establishment and maintenance of appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms with all humanitarian partners on a coherent and robust humanitarian response for the food security sector- including food assistance, livelihoods/resilience programmes, and agriculture-based initiatives;

• Coordination with national/local authorities, state institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors as needed.

• Capacity building of national and international NGO partners on priority matters related to the food security and livelihood response;

• Participating and supporting food security and interagency needs assessment and analysis, engagement with the IPC Technical Working Group in country;

• Undertaking planning and strategy development- particularly leading on the Humanitarian Needs Overview and Humanitarian Response Plan- including reviews as needed;

• Advocate and fundraising on behalf of the cluster itself in addition to the sector and partners;

• Management of information management for the cluster and staff, ensuring the timely collection and dissemination of FSCL data to all stakeholders;

• Ensure that cross-sectoral issues such as gender, accountability to affected populations, and HIV are streamlined and appropriately reflected in all FSLC programmes;

The Food Security and Livelihood Cluster Coordinator will work impartially with all members of the Food Security and Livelihood Cluster and serves and represents the group as a whole, not an agency;

He or she will work closely with the UN Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator or their designated official as required and support the Representatives of both WFP and FAO on relevant issues as required.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has developed, or supported in the development of, complex and multi-discipline work plans to support humanitarian operations;

• Substantial experience in complex field operations, preferably in a hardship duty station or emergency situations;

• Knowledge of Integrated Phase Classification (Preferably Level I certified) and/or other relevant food security analytical frameworks;

• Substantial experience in complex field operations, preferably in a hardship duty station or emergency situations;

• Experience of extensively analysing complex political situations, assessing risk accurately;

• Be politically agile and adaptable, managing rapport with strategic external partners and proactively identifying and seizing opportunity to constantly re-align partnership with evolving internal and external environments.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health,

Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience: At least ten years (of which 5 international) of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in public sector management, development projects, emergency assistance, and/or operational aspects of national, bilateral or multilateral food aid or commercial transactions, including practical experience in the design, planning, implementation and assessment of relief operations and the operational aspects of food assistance.

Knowledge: General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures governing administration- including the humanitarian architecture, IASC, and keen understanding of the role and responsibility of the FSLC in the wider humanitarian response.

Language: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish.

COMPETENCIES

Action Management: Develops large or complex programmes, operations, methods, procedures or policies that are innovative. Moves work forward despite changes in operational requirements, organisational priorities, etc. Solves potential problems and negative outcomes in a proactive manner, where possible.

Communication: Presents complex issues articulately, strategically and convincingly. Facilitates clear and transparent communication among the staff. Adapts the level of language and complexity of content to a wide range of audiences in internal and external environments. Disseminates pertinent information to staff in a timely and efficient manner. Creates and maintains an environment that promotes respectful communication with all individuals regardless of gender, national and cultural background.

Ethics & Values: Continually monitors and strives to have the division/office meet standards of performance. Anticipates and evaluates the broader ethical implications of decisions. Promotes a sensitivity to individuals of both genders and diverse backgrounds, nationalities and cultures. Fosters a climate of honesty, integrity and trust.

Teamwork: Fosters the sharing of information within and between teams across all stakeholders. Facilitates the enhancement of individual and team based skills and knowledge. Anticipates and

takes action to mitigate potential conflict in the team. Promotes and represents the team’s work both within and outside FSLC- including state level focal points for the FSLC.

Client Orientation: Promotes the needs and expectations of clients to management and staff so that they can be better met. Consider how decisions (e.g., operational, human resources) within the division/office may impact client service. Develops new initiatives to address trends in client needs or problems. Actively promotes the services and competencies of the division/office.

Cognitive Capacity: Ensures that a sufficient amount of information is obtained to draw sound conclusions and/or make recommendations. Conducts in-depth analysis on issues or problems that are highly complex and contain multiple interdependent factors or causes. Draws solid conclusions that take into account multiple factors and their interactions. Anticipates problems or challenges in area of specialisation at the FSLC and proactively proposes solutions.

Interpersonal Relations: Ensures that a wide range of perspectives have been incorporated in work by self and others. Anticipates negative reactions of others and adapt behaviour appropriately. Manages complex interpersonal situations (e.g., group dynamics, political situations, changes).

Stamina & Stress Resistance: Reduces stress factors in the work environment where possible. Fosters a positive outlook during stressful situations or periods of heavy workload. Takes actions to alleviate stress in staff (e.g., encouraging discussions about stress). Behavioural Flexibility: Influences others to understand and respond constructively to change. Creates mechanisms for others to adapt to changing situations or priorities. Identifies priority actions in the face of uncertainty.

Please send CV including references to Sara Moussavi (sara.moussavi@wfp.org) by 28 April 2016.