Regional And Country Support Officer

Regional And Country Support Officer

The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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The School Meals Coalition Secretariat, in the School Meals, Social Protection and Nutrition Service, is seeking a Regional and Country Dialogue Officer to support regional efforts and facilitate connections, peer-to-peer exchange and learning between countries of a specific region and across regions. The consultant will also provide support to governments in the development and implementation of their national commitments, on request and in coordination with the school meals programme team.

Under the supervision of the School Meals Coalition Secretariat Coordinator, and working closely with WFP Global Headquarter teams and Country Offices, the main responsibilities include:

• Develop activities that support regional networks and initiatives, in coordination with WFP Country and Regional offices and with Government stakeholders when required. This includes leading discussions with selected regional bodies that are members of the Coalition and WFP's regional and country offices on strategies to increase the opportunities for engagement and peer-to-peer learning between countries in particular regions, providing technical guidance and support to the activities of the regional networks; acting as the main focal point in the SMC Secretariat for selected regional bodies and networks; identifying potential regional champions that could be cultivated and motivated to continue supporting the Coalition's agenda.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, including governments and partners, to ensure successful regional dialogue/event outcomes; steer the content and the design of event dynamics ensuring objectives of increasing the potential for learning, experience-sharing, and agenda-setting are met; acting as main focal point for and coordinating efforts with WFP Regional Bureaus and Country Offices, as relevant. This includes providing inputs to concept note and agenda, facilitating connections and stakeholder engagement, and drafting session briefers and talking points for envisioned speakers as required.
• Support Regional and Country Offices in planning, coordination, and execution of regional events and dialogues, as required. This includes drafting Save-the-Date/invitations and advise on possible invitees, as relevant; supporting WFP Offices in the management of event logistics, including venue selection, and onsite event operations; developing and managing event budget allocated by the Secretariat, ensuring cost-effective solutions without compromising quality; coordinate with relevant Advocacy and Communication colleagues on all advocacy and communication plans and materials. These include key messaging, branding and production of outcome documents; gathering information and intelligence on each regional dialogue/event for reporting and strategic purposes. This includes the full list of participants (with an analysis of country and partner participation and level), the documents and outcomes coming out of the event and the general report of the event.
• Develop and document tools and good practices to support WFP Offices and other relevant stakeholders in the organisation and facilitation of regional dialogues and peer to peer learning and exchange. This includes a toolkit to guide relevant stakeholders and inform the work of the Coalition Secretariat, including ToRs, templates, timelines, to do lists, communication tools, and good practices/lessons learned from past events.
• Support the integration of regional agendas in the Ministerial Meetings of the School Meals Coalition (Global meetings and Task Force meetings) and other engagement opportunities, providing inputs to the agenda, and ensuring the outcomes/issues raised in regional events/forums are reflected in global meetings.
• Support countries develop and revise commitments to the School Meals Coalition based on policy and SABER consultation processes, linked to transition to national ownership of school meals programmes.
• Performing any other duties in support of the regional networks.

Deliverables to include:

• Coordinated regional dialogues/events successfully organized every year.
• Good practices in advancing country and regional peer to peer learning and exchange are captured and disseminated.
• Outcomes disseminated in a timely manner.
• Global events/efforts informed by regional events/forums, networks and dynamics.
• Contribute to a tracker to follow up on initiatives with each regional body/initiative.

Qualifications & Experience Required:

• Advanced University degree in Social / Political Science, International Relations, Public Relations, Communications or relevant field or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
• Minimum of 6 years of related experience in development programmes, partnerships, and advocacy.
• Proven track record of executing successful events in collaboration with multiple stakeholders.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Experience working with and coordinating with Governments.
• Strong advocacy, negotiation and communication skills.
• Good knowledge in school meals, and understanding of the school meals landscape/partners
• Excellent writing skills
• Strong project management and planning skills.
• Well organized and detail oriented,
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Collaborative spirit able to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures and to act with credibility and diplomacy.
• Understanding of the dynamics of intra-organizational communications within WFP desirable

Languages:

Fluent written English, with French or/and Spanish highly desirable.

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