Programme Officer - School Feeding

This position is based in Maseru and reports to Deputy Country Director.

THE ROLE

To provide support to policy and programme activities that effectively meet food assistance needs.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):

• Lead the implementation of school feeding programs at the ECCD level, including the roll-out of the pilot Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) to other districts, as well as support registration of unregistered ECCDs.
• Coordinate the management of the School Feeding activities in close collaboration and coordination with Field Offices and Supply chain unit for timely delivery of assistance and effective monitoring of the same.
• Explore partnership opportunities with the Government, UN and civil society that strengthen existing capacities of WFP and Government programmes.
• Ensure adherence to the national priorities and guidelines in the implementation of the National School feeding and other social proteciton programmes.
• Coordinate closely with functional units (Nutrition, Food Systems, Budget & Programming, M&E, etc.) for effective integration and accountability, and with Field offices to ensure timely distributions.
• Identify opportunities where WFP can support the Government's efforts and build/strengthen their capacities using the country capacity strengthening (CCS) approach.
• Coordinate and or mobilize technical expertise for capacity building of government, and other actors to enhance their capacity to manage national school feeding programme.
• Explore and identify opportunities with other sectors (agriculture, nutrition, social protection, health) that can improve the quality of the school feeding programme.
• Conduct regular oversight visits to support field staff and partners including government and other collaborators at local level.
• Ensure timely responses to the Government queries on WFP operations and any request for support and technical assistance in the school feeding and social protection portfolio.
• Represent WFP in key strategic coordination platforms such as Local Education Group (LEG) ensuring that school feeding is adequately recognized.
• Ensure proper documentation of all portfolio activities for accountability and transparency. Improve collaboration with MOET,  MAFSN, FMU and other relevant ministries at national and district levels.
• In collaboration with WFP Field Offices ensure timely periodic (monthly/quarterly/annual) reports on monitoring and other related activities are produced.
• Contribute to and advocate for improvement of school feeding infrastructures such as latrines, storerooms and kitchens.
• Advocate and promote environment-friendly activities and dietary diversification activities at school level (creation of school gardens, tree planting, solar energy use in schools).
• Liaise with UNICEF, WHO, FAO and other UN agencies to implement joint activities at school level.
• Acts as Cooperating Partners and social protection Focal Point; and closely collaborate with relevant Activity managers to support government to implement shock-responsive social protection.
• Contribute towards the development of a wide variety of projects, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidance, especially leading the development of funding proposals, concept notes, position papers, donor briefs related to school feeding.
• Promote donor visibility through monthly insight/briefs as well as branding at school and national levels

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education: Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

• At least 3 years relevant work experience

• Has gained experience in implementing technical programs (i.e. nutrition, etc.).

• Has implemented programmes and provided input into designing operations.

• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.

Language: Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language, if different.