Budget & Programming Officer NOA

Job Description

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

About WFP

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.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP’s values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

Why join WFP?

WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

This position is open ONLY to Senegalese nationals. Non-Senegalese will not be considered

• Job Title: Budget & Programming Officer, NOA
• Contract type and Grade: Fixed Term, NOA
• Duration: 1 January 2025 – 31 Dec 2025 (Renewable)
• Unit / Division: Budget & Programming Unit
• Duty Station: Dakar, Senegal
• Closing date: 20 November 2024

Why join WFP?

• A meaningful and impactful career where you can make your contribution towards ‘saving lives, changing lives’.
• Continuous learning and training opportunities.
• A multicultural and stimulating working environment.
• Respectful and engaging workplace

Background and purpose of the assignment

The WFP Regional Bureau for Western Africa covers a region that extends from Mauritania to Chad and along the coast from Cameroon to Senegal. It consists of 19 countries; The West Africa Regional Bureau (RBD) is based in Dakar and provides strategic guidance, technical support, and direction to country operations in these countries.

The Budget and Programming function’s mission is to support and enable operations by safeguarding resources and efficient management of WFP resources, risk-informed end-to-end planning, budgeting, and reporting that enables WFP to deliver its key priorities, and strategic objectives and achieve its zero hunger goals. Budget and Programming Officers are required to operate with minimal

Job purpose

To deliver budget and resource analysis and programming activities, and provide support to Country Offices, partnering with and supporting managers in the application of best practice approaches for the efficient, effective, and compliant utilization of funds.

Key accountabilities (not all-inclusive)

Under the overall guidance of the Sr Regional Budget and Programming Officer and under the direct supervision of the Regional Budget & Programming Officer, the incumbent will undertake the following:

Budget Planning and Management

• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures for budget and programming activities through close monitoring, with the aim of achieving compliance with WFP and functional strategies.
• Contribute towards the compilation, preparation and revision of various budget plans in compliance with budget and programming procedures.
• Monitor WFP’s corporate systems ensuring that all budget-supporting documents are accurate, well developed and in line with recommendations to enable accurate recording into internal systems and follow up on budget approval actions.
• Participate in CSPs/RBPs closure activities and work with spending units to highlight and close open commitments in a timely manner whilst bringing any potential issues to the supervisor’s attention.

Pipeline Management

• Collate commodity pipeline requirements including Advance Financing requests in collaboration with stakeholders at the operational level, to ensure timely shortfall coverage and efficient utilization of contributions.
• Prepare monthly pipeline reports and support the CO/RB team in monitoring the resource pipeline across all transfer modalities (Food, Cash Based Transfers, Capacity Strengthening and Service Delivery) including corporate stock replenishments to maximize operational effectiveness.
• Participate in and support preparations for the monthly, cross-functional, pipeline working group, (across Area Offices, Sub Offices and Field Offices as needed), that proactively discusses resource availability and upcoming shortfalls, recommending timely mitigation measures.

Funds, Performance Management, and Reporting

• Check accuracy and monitor timely programming and utilization of funds based on operational priorities, funding proposals and donor conditions, proposing timely recommendations and possible corrective actions that enable reporting in collaboration with spending units.
• Perform and document fund sub allotments as per available procedures and guidelines, to avail funds to spending units for timely commitment.
• Participate and support preparations for the CO/RB Resource Management Committee (RMC) as per agreed timelines. The RMC reviews and prioritizes resources against the Country Portfolio Budget (CPB).

Other

• Where needed, support the activation/deactivation and management of Global Commodity Management Facility (GCMF) supply lines, participate in knowledge transfer activities in support of the facility and facilitate decision-making for the allocation of corporate stocks.
• Support the capacity enhancement of junior staff in budgeting, funds management, operational planning and performance reporting, through the regular day-to-day interactions, delivering training using available materials, manuals and guidelines.
• Take active participation in training and learning opportunities, interactions with and accepting guidance from peers and senior colleagues.
• Collect inputs and draft accurate and timely reports, to enable informed decision-making and consistency of information presented to senior management and external stakeholders.
• Contribute towards the development and improvement of systems, techniques, tools, processes and procedures to better monitor, manage and report on WFP budgets and resources.
• Participate in internal meetings/committees/working groups as required, in order to obtain and provide information from a budget and resource programming perspective.
• Follow standard emergency preparedness practices and contribute to monitoring the management of financial risks.
• Perform other relevant duties as required.

Qualifications and experience

Education

• Advanced university degree in Business Administration, Statistics, Finance, Economics, or other relevant
• field. Additional professional training in project management, statistical analysis, data analysis, and/or operational planning and management is desirable.

Experience

At least one year of progressing professional experience, with an advanced university degree, or three years of work experience for holders of a first degree.

The following skills are prerequisites

• Experience performing analytics of complex data and presenting the information to meet various audience needs.
• Experience preparing, managing, and reporting on operational budgets.
• Experience in working with large datasets, extracting information from them in an easy-to-interpret manner.
• A demonstrated and adequate understanding of information and financial systems and how those support the implementation of operations.
• Thorough understanding of operational planning and business processes, rules, and procedures and applying them consistently in the implementation and support of programme interventions.
• Adequate knowledge of programme operational requirements and how these translate into resource management requirements, enabling the proposition of recommendations for improvement in a proactive rather than reactive manner.
• Experience coordinating operational planning and fostering discussions around resource projections and implications on a programme-wide level, integrating trend analyses and ongoing discussions to drive the way forward.
• Ability to consolidate and share resource management information in a way that supports decision-making and emphasizes accuracy and consistency in numbers across teams.
• Ability to coach, train and mentor a team of staff to deliver at expected levels.
• Language: Fluency in spoken and written French and English is required.

Please read this before you apply.

All employment decisions are made based on organisational needs, job requirements, merit and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Join Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply. WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance

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.

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.
Special Notice on WFP RBD office relocation:

WFP and other UN Agencies will be moving to the new United Nations House in Diamniadio, 30 kilometres from downtown Dakar. The duty satation will remained called Dakar/Diamniadio.

Special recommendation

Before you apply, please confirm that both (i) your on-line profile and CV are accurate and up to date, (ii) your CV should include your employment history, academic qualifications, and language skills.

This VA will close on 20 November 2024.

WFP Leadership framework

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Reasonable accommodation

WFP is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at global.inclusion@wfp.org. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.

No fee disclaimer

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

Reminders before you submit your application

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.