WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.

This vacancy announcement is for Nationals from the Kyrgyz Republic.

BACKGROUND

WFP’s vision is that people in the Kyrgyz Republic will have substantially increased access to national social protection systems that safeguard and foster their ability to meet their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs, and to manage the risks and shocks they face, with ample opportunity to graduate from poverty and contribute to sustainable food systems, national disaster risk management efforts and social cohesion.

WFP, the second largest UN agency in the Kyrgyz Republic, will support and promote the inclusion of people with diverse and often intersecting vulnerabilities and inequalities, by supporting nationally led social and civil protection systems and programmes (strengthening the government’s ability for anticipatory action and ensuring that no one is left behind) and by modelling new approaches within complementary WFP interventions (which can be adopted or transitioned), leveraging WFP’s global expertise in promoting healthy diets and sustainable food systems, climate risk management, warehousing, food safety, smallholder market access and innovations such as private sector-oriented solutions, micro-insurance and digital public goods.

Derived from the UN Cooperation Framework and national priorities, promoting participatory community engagement and nutrition-sensitive approaches, the 2nd generation Country Strategic Plan (2023-27 EN|RU) continues WFP’s human capital development, capacity building and productive asset creation activities to enhance the resilience and livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable, with a focus on food systems strengthening across three core pillars: (i) Social Protection; (ii) Climate Change Adaption, Disaster Risk Management & Emergency Preparedness; and (iii) Schools as platforms for healthy diets. In addition, a contingent emergency response outcome can be activated in case of need.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

A Community Feedback Mechanism (CFM) is a formalized two-way communication system comprised of human resources, processes, hardware, and software, that facilitates the intake, actioning, resolution, and analysis of feedback received by communities. WFP CFMs are meant to provide safe, inclusive, and accessible channels for communities to express concerns, lodge complaints, ask questions and provide feedback on WFP operations. This also includes incident reports of a sensitive nature, such as gender-based violence (GBV), sexual exploitation or abuse (SEA), fraud, corruption, theft, and environmental and social harm.

Community feedback is a term broadly used to describe the insights generated by people and communities, as also measured in Social and behaviour change communication (SBCC), which is a collection of communications approaches, activities, and tools used to positively influence behaviours and change social norms and, applying evidence-based strategies to help improve nutrition, wellbeing and increase resilience to shocks and stressors.

WFP applies CFM and SBCC approaches to its work because they are fundamental to ensuring people meaningfully feed into decisions that impact their lives and meet their food and nutrition needs in a safe, accountable, and dignified manner that respects their integrity and boosts resilience.

This position is based in the Research, Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) unit and performs a coordinating and analytical function to ensure CFM and SBCC approaches, as implemented with partners, meet corporate assurance standards for enhanced accountability and risk mitigation. By actively engaging with the people WFP serves, evidence for continuous improvement of WFP operations in the Kyrgyz Republic is generated. This involves database management, issue escalation and case handling as well as people-centred communication and community engagement to help understand the strengths, desires, motivations and behaviours of individuals, societies and institutions within a given context, and inform the design of appropriate strategies to make positive behaviors easier given identified barriers, leading to improved nutrition, health, and wellbeing.

Supervision: The Community Engagement Information Management Coordinator will be directly supervised by a RAM officer who coordinates the SBCC measuring framework, plus, in operating the hotline and feedback management database, will also closely work with M&E, Programme and Management on issue classification and case management. Close interaction is also foreseen with the Communications team and the Programme enabling team in charge of other relevant databases as well as with the cross-cutting taskforce of WFP experts on (data) protection, inclusion and accountability to affected populations as well as inter-agency working groups that enable effective referral or desired multiplication of SBCC.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

1. Provide technical support and assist in the development and implementation of various activities and processes within the community engagement and SBCC efforts supporting alignment with related WFP and inter-agency policies and guidelines.

CFM database administration

2. Support the design and maintenance of the information management structure (IMS) and strategy for the CFM. This includes involving relevant stakeholders and ensuring linkages and coherence with wider country office and inter-agency information management and accountability systems, as needed.
3. Enable an environment of transparency and accountability by contributing to the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) adapted to the selected IM software and by supporting the uptake of SOPs and optimal use of the software.
4. Support the development of easy-to-access and safe channels through which WFP stakeholders can lodge feedback and ask questions, making sure their referral and resolution cycle is properly mapped and documented.
5. Support in designing analytical frameworks for the use of CFM data and uphold procedures to systematize the collection, management, analysis, presentation and utilization of CFM data to improve people-centred programming.
6. Based on corporate quality assurance standards and performance indicators, including on monitoring and evaluating case management performance and data entry, operate the hotline and help improve community engagement and other feedback loops for the Programme through capacity building training programmes and remote monitoring surveys, ensuring that relevant information feeds the case handling/issue management database.
7. Work with Protection colleagues and contribute to the development and update of country-wide information structures and, as applicable, inter-agency standard operating procedures to ensure that sensitive issues, including cases of SEA and GBV, are effectively captured and functioning referral mechanisms in place.
8. With support of RAM officers in charge of the issue escalation standards, ensure swift case handling and referrals, as defined also to management and/or external partners, closely monitoring the progress towards issue resolution and case closure, escalating further in case of delays or inaction.
9. Liaise with IT focal point for troubleshooting any issue related to the technology that supports feedback management.
10. Explore with WFP IT and communication experts, incl. at Regional Bureau and HQ, how WFP’s two-way communication and CFM tools can be used and enhanced for SBCC activities and measurement.

Community engagement communication and SBCC measuring

11. Leverage own community and communication knowledge – or closely work with the communications expertise in the country office and regional bureau – to continuously enhance SBCC messaging and measuring, including but not limited to more evidence-informed decision-making on:

• identifying the goal of communication efforts, informing the design for measuring SBCC impact,
• identifying the intended audience and the related most effective communication channels,
• carefully considering the determinants of change and exploring deeply ingrained social norms and belief systems.
• testing messages and materials to identify concrete ways to improve in the next iteration,
• supporting the evaluation of tactics and their combination (use of mass media, interpersonal, social and community channels).

12. Support the Programme and M&E colleagues in collecting primary and secondary data related to above and in using participatory processes that will help you develop a better understanding of the people, contexts and barriers that WFP’s SBCC strategy aims to address.
13. Acknowledging that impactful, cost-effective and sustainable SBCC activities are often led by those closest to the communities and supported by regional and national leadership and policy-makers, support the Programme in capacity assessments and capacity building measures for partners related to SBCC digital platforms and measuring frameworks.

14. Other duties as required.
15. Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to ensure WFP is able to quickly respond and deploy needed resources to affected areas at the onset of a crisis.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES:

Media and Communication Expertise: Collates accurate and timely information presented in required format (i.e. written or visual materials) as well as verbally, to enable information flows and informed decision making on communications issues

Change Implementation, Project Management, Planning and Optimization: Has basic understanding of project management principles to provide basic estimates on timing, resource utilisation and costs to facilitate the project planning process.

Requirement Definition & Management: Asks meaningful and appropriate questions to understand and translate business requirements into desired technical functionality or SOPs

Sociopolitical Contextual Understanding: Shows awareness of the multilateral/interagency environment and the dynamics in which WFP operates which informs approach to daily tasks

Database management and data protection and privacy: Maintains records and databases with the objective of having data and files accurately stored and updated in compliance with established standards and with consideration of data protection and privacy requirements.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

Ideally, a combined profile of ICT/data management capabilities with strong communication skills:

• • Has demonstrated a sound understanding of communication techniques and activities and awareness of the socio-political context in which WFP operates through day-to-day work.
  • Excellent communication skills, able to also support others in refining communication strategies towards targeted audiences and to achieve impact.
  • Demonstrated track record in listening skills and in translating programmatic requirements into business processes/SOPs and IT system support.
  • Proficiency in data management, incl. knowledge of data protection and privacy standards.
  • Sound analytical capacity to classify issues and handle sensitive subject matters with care.
  • Experience in leading focus group discussions or other hands-on experience in community engagement desirable.

STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience: Six years of progressively responsible work experience in communication or data management roles (with exposure to/knowledge of the other field ) or other related fields.

Education: Completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary certificate in areas such as ICT/data administration, communication or community engagement is strongly preferred.

Language: Fluency (level C) in both oral and written communication in English and proficiency in the duty station’s language(s) (Russian or Kyrgyz, both – as well as minority languages – considered an advantage).

All WFP Employees are expected to demonstrate the competencies and standards of behavior aligned with our core values and defined in the WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK, namely:

Leading by example with integrity,

Driving results and delivering on commitments,

Fostering inclusive and collaborative teamwork,

Applying strategic thinking,

Building and maintaining sustainable partnerships.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

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.

Request for Disability related Reasonable Accommodations:

It is important to WFP to create an accessible and inclusive workplace for everyone. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection and hiring process, please direct your request and inquiries to the Diversity and Inclusion team on: global.inclusion@wfp.org, cc’ing bangkok.recruitment@wfp.org. A member of the reasonable accommodation team will contact you to confidentially discuss your needs.

This email is only to be used for any disability related accessibility requirements, and not for sending the application itself. Due to volume of applications, any applications or CVs sent through this email address will not be considered as a formal application and will not receive a reply from WFP.

Please note that WFP may keep candidates who successfully passed recruitment tests and interviews, but were not the first-choice candidate selected for a position, on a roster for similar (or lower-level) upcoming positions or short-term opportunities for direct contracting. Successful candidates will be informed about their inclusion into the roster.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) 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

WFP, the second largest UN agency in the Kyrgyz Republic, will support and promote the inclusion of people with diverse and often intersecting vulnerabilities and inequalities, by supporting nationally led social and civil protection systems and programmes (strengthening the government’s ability for anticipatory action and ensuring that no one is left behind) and by modelling new approaches within complementary WFP interventions (which can be adopted or transitioned), leveraging WFP’s global expertise in promoting healthy diets and sustainable food systems, climate risk management, warehousing, food safety, smallholder market access and innovations such as private sector-oriented solutions, micro-insurance and digital public goods.

Derived from the UN Cooperation Framework and national priorities, promoting participatory community engagement and nutrition-sensitive approaches, the 2nd generation Country Strategic Plan (2023-27 EN|RU) continues WFP’s human capital development, capacity building and productive asset creation activities to enhance the resilience and livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable, with a focus on food systems strengthening across three core pillars: (i) Social Protection and Active Labour Market strengthening; (ii) Climate Change Adaption, Disaster Risk Management & Emergency Preparedness; and (iii) Schools as platforms for healthy diets. In addition, a contingent emergency response outcome can be activated in case of need.

WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. 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, Joint 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.