Programme Policy Officer, Bertoua, Batouri and Ngaoundere, Cameroon

Closing date: Tuesday, 29 August 2023

•  Proficiency in Windows MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
•  Strong analytical skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources and statistics.
•  Advanced skills using database, statistical analysis, and data visualization software, such as SPSS, Stata, R, Tableau, etc. Experience with data collection using ODK/ONA a plus.
•  Behavioral competencies such as Action Management, Client Orientation, Cognitive Capacity, Innovation, Partnering and Teamwork.
•  Experience in humanitarian context as well as relevant experience within the UN system is desirable.
•  Ability to quickly establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different cultural backgrounds and languages, willingness to strengthen capacities of partners and colleagues, share best practices and lessons learned.

Area(s) of expertise

Economics and finance, Development programmes, Agriculture

Driving license

–

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required French, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Master degree or equivalent 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.

Competencies and values

•  Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to WFP; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to WFP procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
•  Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and WFP in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority.
•  Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;
•  Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
•  Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
•  Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
•  Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary.
•  Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance, and commitment towards WFP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

These positions are located within the WFP field Offices of Bertoua Batouri and Ngaoundere. Bertoua: is the capital city of the East region of Cameroon, located in the Lom-et-Djérem division and erected as an urban council in 2008. Located 350 km from Cameroon capital, Yaoundé, Bertoua has a population of around 300,000 people. Together with neighboring communities, Bertoua hosts a considerable number of refugees fleeing conflicts in Central African Reublic. It is mainly accessible by a road drive of around four hours and offers all acceptable commodities for a city, including a young state university created in 2022 (University of Bertoua). WFP has a Field Office in Bertoua overseeing two antenna offices in Batouri and Garoua Boulai and implementing emergency and development programmes using General Food for Assistance, Cash Based Transfers and resilience-focused activities Food for Assets in favour of refugees from Central African Republic and host communities. Batouri: is a main town of to the Kadey department in the East region of Cameroon. From a two-hour drive from Bertoua, and a seven-hour drive from Yaounde, Batouri is host to around 50,000 people, living mainly from agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry, petty trade and widespread artisanal mining of precious minerals. WFP has an antenna office in Batouri supporting with the implementation of emergency and development programmes using General Food Assistance, Cash Based Transfers and resilience-focused activities Food For Asset in favour of refugees from Central African Republic and host communities. Ngaoundere: is the capital city to the Adamawa region of Cameroon. It enjoys mild temperatures most of the year and is host to one of the largest universities in Cameroon, University of Ngaoundere, with over 25,000 students. With an estimated population of 230,000 people in 2020, Ngaoundere is located in the north of the Adamawa plateau and offers interesting attractions such as the Benue Natural Park. It offers a variety of hotels of good standard as well as medical facilities. Ngaoundere is accessible by road (12 hours’ drive from Yaounde), by train (14 hours’ trip from Yaounde) or via weekly local flights of around 50 min. WFP has a Field Office in Ngaoundéré which oversees two antenna offices in Touboro and Meiganga, implementing emergency and development programmes using General Food for Assistance (GFA), Cash Based Transfers(CBT) and resilience-focused activities Food For Assets (FFA) in favour of refugees from Central African Republic and host communities. Cameroon is a unique country with a mix of Development-Humanitarian unique operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live, work and travel in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy