Programme Policy Officer, Cooperating Partner & Risk Management

Position description

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Partnership Lifecyle management:

• Oversee and coordinate use of the UN Partner Portal (UNPP) for the registration, identification, and selection of potential Cooperating Partners (CPs). Provide trainings and orientation to relevant units and prospective CPs on the UNPP, partnership selection process, budgeting, and proposal development.
• Coordinate the partnership selection process and establishment of partnership agreements (FLAs, MoU etc.) in line with WFP corporate guidelines and Partnership management SOPs, ensuring all review and due-diligence processes are duly followed. Streamline the review of budget proposals submitted by CPs to explore areas for synergies and to ensure cost efficiency and provide guidance to internal stakeholders on budget negotiations with CPs. Ensure timely registration and fund reservations for established partnership agreements in WFP’s corporate systems. Coordinate CP onboarding in collaboration with relevant units.
• Take lead in Cooperating Partners (CPs) profiling, due diligence, and capacity assessment ensuring compliance with guidelines, as well as provide training to CPs on gaps identified as appropriate.
• Ensure Technical reviews and Cooperating Partner Committee (CPC) processes and guidelines are followed, ensure Field Level Agreements (FLAs) and MoUs are prepared timely and accurately.
• Ensure CP oversights and spot checks are conducted as routinely in collaboration with risk & compliance, Finance, and other relevant units both WFP and CP. Follow up on implementation of CP oversights and spot checks recommendation for better partnership management.
• Track progress of the FLAs/MoUs implementation and ensure timely submission of programmatic and financial reports. Prepare thorough analysis of partnership agreements budget consumption comparing planned and actual costs and monitoring CP funds consumption to alert and advise relevant functions on any required FLA amendments and adjustments.
• Coordinate partner performance evaluation as per corporate guidelines ensuring relevant units and tools are used; ensure improvement plans are developed where required and collaborate with relevant functions on capacity stretching initiatives for the CPs.
• Support the CP management end-to-end digitization products roll out and scale up in collaboration with global CP Management and other relevant function ensuring data integrity and utilization as required.
• Oversee implementation of SOPs for CP management and updating/revising based on new changes/corporate guidelines and operational experience.
• Analyze partnership data and performance trends to inform management decisions.
• Lead the development of different tools, guidelines, and SOPs that can address audit and oversight recommendations and implementation of NGO guidance recommendations.
• Engage with partners on partnership matters as required. Provide trainings and orientation to other units, Field offices and partners on CP management processes.

Risk management:

• Contribute to embedding risk management in planning and decision-making across the office and all aspects of WFP operations through monitoring of key risk appetite metrics and risk indicators, and regular updating of risk registers, including progress towards implementing the risk mitigation actions. Facilitate organizing Risk Management Committee regularly to support these processes.
• Support relevant managers in their regular and ad-hoc risk assessments, identify and evaluate risks; contribute to the development and design of mitigation actions; assess effectiveness of the internal controls; and prepare risk information for management to share with external stakeholders.
• Utilize available risk management tools to link risk, oversight and evaluation information; review and analyze risk management activities, exposures and mitigation actions in Country Strategic Plan (CSP) budget revisions.
• Serve as Business Continuity Management (BCM) focal point and facilitate updating Business Continuity Plan (BCP) regularly.
• Support the completion of the annual Executive Director’s Assurance exercise survey, collect and review inputs.
• Support managers to prepare and plan for Internal Audit and External Audit, collect essential documents, organize briefing meetings and follow-up on recommendations.
• Support the promotion and dissemination of the 2021 Revised Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption (AFAC) Policy and WFP’s adherence to Zero Tolerance for Inaction, including assisting managers in their fact-finding reviews and fraud risk assessments by collecting and analysing data on fraud incidents, fraud risk metrics, and fraud risk appetite, supporting training in AFAC standards.
• Collect information/training needs and contribute to the preparation of training programmes or information sessions for colleagues and partners to enhance understanding of risk management and compliance with WFP policies, rules, regulations and procedures.

DELIVERABLES:

• Partnership agreements (FLAs, MoUs etc.) processed within agreed timelines in compliance with corporate requirements.
• Due diligence and capacity assessments, performance evaluations, spot checks routinely conducted as planned with follow up actions closed on time.
• Accurate and timely inputs provided for donor/management reports.
• Comprehensive partnership agreement tracking/database updated monthly with key elements.
• Coordinate regular risk assessments in line with corporate reporting requirements, including timely follow-up on mitigation actions and preparation of risk reports.
• Support managers in proactively assessing key risks and control issues across the operations to strengthen accountability and assurance.
• Serve as the risk management and AFAC focal point for the Country Office, participating in relevant meetings and forums, and coordinating with the Risk Management Division.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

• Advanced University degree in law, development studies, public administration, international development, audit or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional 4 years of relevant work experience and/or training/courses in audit, performance and risk management or other field relevant to international development assistance.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of progressive experience in risk management, partnership management, contracts management, or programme implementation in humanitarian or developmental context.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong analytical skills, ability to assess and take initiative; maturity of judgment, negotiation skills, oral and written communication skills, ability to work in a team. Ability to develop and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders, professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders; Appetite for exploring and experimenting with innovative ideas and approaches; previous work experience in partnership/stakeholder management with UN agencies is an added advantage Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, knowledge of standard WFP systems is an added advantage.

Languages:

• Fluency in both oral and written communication in English. Fluency in Kinyarwanda preferred.

Application instructions

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