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CONTRACTUAL INFORMATION

JOB TITLE: Food Cluster Coordinator
TYPE OF CONTRACT: International Consultant Level 2
UNIT/DIVISION: Food Cluster
DUTY STATION: Mekelle, Ethiopia
DURATION: 6 Months

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The drought conditions and the negative impact of the conflict on livelihoods are contributing to worsening of humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, particularly among the most vulnerable population groups. There are indications of disruptions of livelihood sources including on incomes and food sources. Food prices have increased in the affected regions, affecting availability and access to food. The Government of Ethiopia through Ethiopia Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC), the Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP) for Food Assistance in Ethiopia and World Food Programme (WFP) are providing emergency food assistance to food insecure people in the country, targeting over 6.6 million people in the first quarter of 2024. The food response is facing various response challenges including limited resources to address the identified needs. Partners are also working on coordination mechanisms to improve the food response, particularly on key issues that require attention of the humanitarian community and the Governments at both the federal and regional levels. There are plans to improve the monitoring of the food response and continue to support the beneficiary targeting processes that are being implemented through the vulnerability-based targeting. Partners are providing support to the Government on coordination of the humanitarian response, through the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC), which is led by the Government of Ethiopia at regional level. The food cluster coordination support at regional level will be working with regional Government and partners to ensure effective delivery and distribution of food to affected people.

JOB PURPOSE

The Food Cluster Coordinator (FCC) plays a vital role in ensuring timely, coherent, and effective coordination of the food security interventions by mobilizing stakeholders to respond in a coordinated and strategic manner to food needs in Tigray region. The Food Cluster Coordinator will lead the food response coordination along with partners and stakeholders involved in the humanitarian response in the region, and focus on:
• Supporting effective coordination of food response in Tigray region.
• Informing strategic decisions of the Cluster Lead Agency (CLA), Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and regional Emergency Coordination Center (ECC).
• Coordinating, Planning, and implementing Cluster strategies, including contingency planning and preparedness with food cluster partners.
• Participating in relevant inter-sectorial forum and work in close collaboration with relevant clusters (e.g. CCCM, Protection, Nutrition, etc)
• Monitoring and evaluating of cluster performance.
• Strengthening Advocacy efforts on Food security
• Ensuring Accountability to affected people.
The Food Cluster Coordinator will work impartially with all members of the cluster and represents the group, and not a specific agency. She/he will work closely with the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) or their designated official in the region as required. The food cluster coordinator will work closely with the Country level coordination structures – the Food Cluster Coordinator and the Information Management Officers (IMOs), by providing regular updates on food response, gaps and challenges that need advocacy at national level.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Contribute to preparation of Tigray region contingency and preparedness plans and lead the process for the cluster through identification of needs, severity, geographical scope, and People in Need, with the support of the IMO and in consultation with the cluster partners.
• Establish and maintain appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms: ensure inclusion of key partners at regional and sub-regional level, organize regular cluster meetings, as required.
• Establish and maintain Technical Working Groups in the region to support partners in key thematic areas (ex: cash, targeting, monitoring etc.) or key thematic emergencies,
• Ensure an inclusive governance structure for the cluster (including co-leadership of regional authorities where possible, NGO co-chairing, etc.)
• Ensure timely, inclusive, and regular information sharing and discussion with the cluster partners through various modalities including cluster meetings, email dissemination of cluster products (dashboards, maps, assessments, etc.).
• Ensure monitoring of the response implementation and reporting, including working with partners through a monitoring sub-working group.
• Facilitate / lead needs assessment & analysis, support in conducting surveys, secondary data review, and dissemination of available information (inventory / repository) to partners.
• Ensure that available information is analysed in a coordinated manner and utilised for decision-making at different levels (e.g. Displacement Tracking Matrix datasets),
• Ensure mainstreaming of cross-cutting and cross-sectoral issues (e.g., gender, age, HIV and AIDS, human rights, disability, environment, early recovery, protection, nutrition) and appropriate participatory and community-based approaches in cluster/inter-cluster needs assessments, analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring
• Ensure the use and application of common standards (e.g., SPHERE standards), and harmonization of programmatic responses (SOPs on modality of delivery, Minimum Expenditure Basket, minimum assistance package)
• Contribute to country level contingency planning and coordinate cluster/sector-wide emergency preparedness and response
• Participate in various coordination forums including Inter-cluster, technical working groups (e.g., Cash WG) and other relevant clusters, especially Nutrition, WASH, Health, and Protection
• Undertake advocacy and resource mobilization on behalf of the cluster partners in a neutral and impartial manner.
• HPF/Emergency pool fund allocations (where/if applicable): advocate for Food Cluster actors, and reviewing partners’ project proposal with ad hoc committee.
• Actively track food cluster funding status for the dedicated response in Tigray.
• Identify capacity gaps and needs and provide training and capacity building opportunities to cluster partners
• Provide guidance to the co-chair and other Cluster team members and ensure a smooth and inclusive relationship of the Cluster team with all partners and WFP.
• Provide regular update to the food cluster coordination forums at national level on food security situation in Tigray, and food response and gaps as reported by partners.
• Provide regular updates to the National Information team for regular products that are prepared for advocacy purposes; including the situation reports and dashboards.
• Report regularly to national food cluster and WFP on food response in the region.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
• University degree in food security, agriculture, economics, humanitarian affairs or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in humanitarian response at a mid or senior level. Experience in food security related topics is mandatory and experience in the food security cluster coordination is highly desirable.
• Working knowledge of English and knowledge of local language/s.
• Willingness and ability to work in difficult environments, in often stressful time- critical situations
• Formal training in cluster coordination or previous cluster experience is strongly desirable.
• Experience of the country or region of deployment is desirable.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Ability to work and plan at strategic and operational levels.
• Understanding of the international humanitarian response architecture, including humanitarian principles, coordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform and action, and funding mechanisms (e.g. Humanitarian Programme Cycle – HPC, Central Emergency Response Fund and Flash Appeals, Pooled funds).
• Ability to express and summarize ideas orally and in writing in a diplomatic and inclusive manner.
• Ability to organize workshops, meetings and to present outcomes on behalf of a group of stakeholders.
• Assessment, Survey, and Monitoring and Evaluation

Language:
Fluency in both oral and written communication in English. Knowledge of the local language is added advantage.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

11 March 2024

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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.