Programme Assistant SC 5 (kandy)

Organizational Context

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives and building a pathway to peace and prosperity. We operate in diverse, inclusive, and multicultural environments, investing in employee development and offering opportunities for global impact. Our mission is to ensure effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions worldwide.

Job Purpose

The Programme Assistant (Field) will support the implementation of WFP's vital programs in Sri Lanka, focusing on disaster preparedness and response. This role is crucial in assisting 87,000 people affected by natural disasters through cash transfers, anticipatory support, and pre-positioning of essential items. The assistant will work closely with government counterparts and cooperating partners to monitor project activities, verify distributions, and collect field-level data. They will contribute to enhancing community resilience and disaster risk financing systems, ensuring timely and effective assistance reaches vulnerable populations and supports recovery efforts in a disaster-prone region.

Responsibilities

The Program Assistant (Field) plays a crucial role in supporting World Food Programme (WFP) operations at the local level. Key responsibilities include fostering close collaboration with government counterparts and actively participating in coordination and planning meetings relevant to WFP's Country Strategic Plan. The role involves providing essential monitoring, implementation, and coordination support for all WFP projects within the field location. This includes verifying the movement and distribution of food and non-food items, resolving on-site issues, and escalating complex problems as needed to ensure adherence to WFP standards. A significant part of the job involves collecting, compiling, and analyzing field-level program data to generate reports that inform decision-making and program reviews. The assistant acts as a liaison with cooperating partners, community leaders, and internal counterparts to gather feedback, discuss distribution and capacity-building efforts, and maintain effective communication. They are also responsible for suggesting improvements to field monitoring processes and operational procedures for enhanced program efficiency. Furthermore, the role entails organizing and participating in meetings with stakeholders on commodity pipelines and food entitlements, allocating tasks to field staff, and providing on-the-job training and guidance. The assistant also delivers training to cooperating partners on WFP operational practices and monitoring tools, ensuring accurate data recording and acting as a primary point of contact for operational queries. They support communication and coordination with local partners, NGOs, and government institutions, prepare detailed field mission reports, follow emergency preparedness procedures, and facilitate the timely sharing of financial data and reconciliation by partners to ensure accountability and compliance.

Work Experience

Requires five years of progressive experience, including one year at a lower grade. Must have experience facilitating communication with technical teams, contributing to program implementation, observing or assisting with policy discussions, and engaging in field coordination.

Skills

Field Coordination, Data Analysis, Report Preparation, Stakeholder Communication, Programme Monitoring, Emergency Preparedness, Capacity Building, Operational Support, Financial Reconciliation, Risk Assessment

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