TERMS OF REFERENCE
Job Title: Food Security Cluster (FSC) Coordinator, Sub-national
Place of Work: WFP Sub-Office, Pemba, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique
Reports to: WFP and FAO Heads of Sub-Offices, Pemba, Cabo Delgado
The position will be for an initial period of 11 months consultancy and contracted by WFP based in Mozambique.
Starting Date: mid-June 2021.
Submission deadline by COB Sunday 18th of April.
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Mozambique, with an estimated population of 25.8 million people, is classified as a low-income, food-deficit country, ranked 180 out of 188 countries on the Human Development Index. Mozambique is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world; while the southern and central regions regularly experience droughts, floods occur every two to three years along the major river basins and in poorly drained urban settlements. The regularity of these events perpetuate a cycle of vulnerability and emphasize the need for adequate disaster preparedness, prevention and management. Two decades ago, Mozambique was one of the most impoverished and capacity-constrained country in the world. Over the past decade, Mozambique has ranked amongst the top ten fastest growing economies in the world, however strong and steady economic growth has not been translated into a proportionate reduction of poverty.
The covid-19 outbreak that resulted in global pandemic in March 2020 has increased the risks and concerns over the spread of the virus in Northern Mozambique. In particular, concerns for vulnerable populations such as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) living in Temporary Accommodation Centers and people on the move who are running away from violence, conflict and insecurity; and more recently, those fleeing the 24 March attacks in Palma, moving southern districts of Cabo Delgado such as Mueda, Montepuez and Pemba.
In Northern Mozambique, food insecurity is rising as conflict and displacement have disrupted communities’ agricultural activities and livelihoods. In Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula, more than 900,000 people are now facing Crisis or Emergency levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 and 4), while disruption of markets due to insecurity has driven up the cost of food and household items.
WFP plans to support Food Security Cluster (FSC) coordination as mandated by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). The objective is to ensure a timely, coherent and effective food security response by mobilizing stakeholders to respond in a strategic manner to a humanitarian crisis. FSC is co-led by the WFP and the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO).
WFP is therefore looking for a Programme Policy Officer to cover the position of Food Security Cluster Coordinator – Subnational based in Pemba, to lead the operational coordination of FSC. The FSC Coordinator Subnational will work impartially with all members of the FSC and serve and represent the group as a whole, not an agency. He or she will work closely with the Provincial HCT Focal Person/OCHA or their designated official as required. The roles of FSC Coordinator-Subnational is to lead and facilitate this process.
FUNCTION PURPOSE
The FSC Coordinator will work in close liaison with the other FSC team members based in Maputo, FSC members in Cabo Delgado, Namupla and Niassa ensuring adequate coordination of all activities undertaken by the FSC in Mozambique. The FSC coordinator will also liaise regularly with the global Food Security Cluster (gFSC) in Rome.
The objective of the national Food Security Cluster Coordinator is to ensure a timely, coherent and effective food security response by mobilizing stakeholders to respond in a strategic manner to a humanitarian crisis.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:
Main tasks:
- Organize action/output oriented bi-monthly Cluster meetings and feeding that to national cluster.
- Represent the cluster at provincial Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) and at the CCCM Cluster Service Providers Meeting.
- Provide orientation to Partners about the Cluster strategy and conduct trainings as required.
- Participate and support food security needs assessment and analysis.
- Engage in inter-cluster activities to include the development or review of assessment tool e.g. multi-sectoral needs or site assessments and rapid response missions whenever necessary.
- Coordinate with partners to harmonize the process of beneficiary selection and implementation of synergies between food assistance to livelihoods interventions.
- Coordinate h national/local authorities, state institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors as needed.
- Engage with provincial and local authorities to.
- Contribute to development of cluster plans, objectives and indicators that directly support realization of the overall response’s strategic objectives.
- Contribute to development and coordinate implementation of various cluster recommended technical standards, SOPs and protocols for avoiding duplication and identifying gaps.
- Act as the primary conduit for dissemination of information concerning strategic decisions, plans and recommendations made by cluster and CLAs to the provincial partners.
- Contribute to the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) through identification of needs, severity, geographical scope, and Persons in Need, supporting the National FSC Coordinator and IMO, and in consultation with the cluster partners.
- In coordination with the National FSC coordination, undertake planning and strategy development by contributing to the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) through coordinating the design of the response strategy and logframe, in consultation with the cluster partners, and support the review of FSC partners projects submitted on the HPC online system, based on the agreed inclusion criteria (where relevant).
- • Follow up on the implementation of response plans and strategies.
- • Ensure that cross-sectoral issues such as gender, age, early recovery, accountability to affected populations (Linha Verde Complain and Feedback Mechanisms and others), protection, environment and HIV & AIDS are mainstreamed and appropriately reflected in all FSC programmes.
- Provide updates on the status of the provincial cluster coordination while highlighting key challenges and lessons learnt.
- Support identification of capacity-building needs and opportunities for Food Security partners and contribute to capacity building.
- Contribute to advocacy on behalf of the cluster, cluster members, and affected people.
- Contribute to country level contingency planning and coordinate cluster/sector-wide emergency preparedness and response
- Collaborate with the IMOs and act as the focal point for ensuring that 5Ws data/information/matrices of interventions are completed and regularly updated.
- Ensure the maintenance of an updated contacts /mailing lists of humanitarian organizations engaging with the FSC cluster in the area of operation.
- Participate in any relevant meetings on IM, cash working group and community engagement.
- Regularly, share cluster updates with the partners.
Other tasks:
- Monitor and report on cluster activities and needs e.g. WFP regular situation reports.
- Ensure the use and application of common standards (e.g. SPHERE standards and CHS), and harmonization of programmatic responses (SOPs on modality of delivery, Minimum Expenditure Basket, minimum assistance package)
- Maintain close liaisons with gFSC as required on relevant issues.
- Support fundraising efforts and activities for the cluster coordination itself as well as for the Cluster partners and projects.
- Support and follow up the Nampula Food Security WG response actions and coordination efforts to assist the IDP living in host communities or relocation sites.
- Carryout any other relevant duties regarding FSC coordination by the supervisor and/or as requested by CLAs and National Cluster Coordinator.
QUALIFICATIONS
- University degree in food security, agriculture, economics or related field. Ability to work and plan at strategic as well as operational levels. Global Food Security Cluster training attendance is an advantage.
- Minimum of 6 years of experience – preferably in the humanitarian field and emergency context. Experience in the food security sector/cluster is an advantage.
- Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of Portuguese and/or mastering of another Latin language, will be a key advantage.
- Willingness and ability to work in a difficult environment, under stressful and time-critical circumstances.
- Formal training in Cluster CC or previous Cluster experience is strongly desirable.
- Experience of the country or region of deployment is desirable
COMPETENCIES
- Results Focus
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Building/maintaining Effective Relationships
- Knowledge Sharing
- Cultural and Gender awareness and sensitivity;
TECHNICAL SKILL
Essential Technical 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 summarise ideas orally and in writing in a diplomatic and inclusive manner
- Ability to organise workshops, meetings and to present outcomes in behalf of a group of stakeholders
- Good understanding of assessments, surveys, and Monitoring and Evaluation
- Other Skills that are considered desirable:
- Knowledge of and experience in using advanced Excel
- Control of working language in country of deployment.