ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Food Security Cluster (FSC) has been established globally to coordinate the food response during a humanitarian crisis, addressing issues of food availability, access, and utilization. The FSC was established by the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) and is co-led by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Food Programme (WFP).

JOB PURPOSE

Under the overall supervision of the FAO and WFP Country Representatives in Bangladesh and direct supervision of the WFP-Deputy Country Director (Programme and Strategy), the Consultant will work as Food Security Cluster Coordinator. The Consultant will work in close liaison with the Global Food Security Cluster in Rome, as well as the FSC co-leads in Bangladesh, FSC members ensuring adequate coordination of all activities undertaken by the FSC in Bangladesh.

The objective of a country-level Food Security Cluster (FSC) is to ensure a timely, coherent, and effective food security response by mobilizing stakeholders to respond in a strategic manner to a humanitarian crisis.

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

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE)

• The role of the Food Security Cluster Coordinator, as set out in the IASC Generic Terms of Reference for Sector Leads at Country Level, is to lead and facilitate this process through:
• Engagement, establishment, and maintenance of appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms with all humanitarian partners on a coherent and robust humanitarian response for the food security sector- including food assistance, livelihoods/resilience programs, and agriculture-based initiatives;
• Coordination with national/local authorities, state institutions, local civil society, and other relevant actors as needed.
• Capacity building of national and international NGO partners on priority matters related to food security and livelihood response;
• Participating and supporting food security and interagency needs assessment and analysis, and  engagement with the IPC Technical Working Group in-country;
• Undertaking planning and strategy development- particularly leading on the Humanitarian Needs Overview and Humanitarian/Joint Response Plan- including reviews as needed;
• Advocate and fundraising on behalf of the cluster itself in addition to the sector and partners;
• Management of information management for the cluster and staff, ensuring the timely collection and dissemination of FSC data to all stakeholders;
• Ensure that cross-sectoral issues such as gender, age, early recovery, environment, accountability to affected populations, and HIV & AIDS are streamlined and appropriately reflected in all FSC programs;
• Provision of assistance or services as a last resort subject to access, security, and availability of funds.

The Cluster Coordinator in Bangladesh will work closely with the FSC Co-management Team (FAO Assistant Representative – Programme) and WFP Heads of Programme and Emergency Response Preparedness and will work impartially with all members of the Food Security Cluster, serving and representing the group as a whole, not an agency.

In absence of the FSC Cluster Coordinator, the Information Management Officer will be acting.

In case of emergency, and in consultation with Cluster Co-Leads, the FSC Coordinator will work closely with the Humanitarian Affairs Advisor (or Humanitarian Coordinator) to UN Resident Coordinator.

Specific tasks of the FSC coordinator are:

• Review, update, and disseminate the contingency plans (earthquake, floods, and cyclone) in response to FSC members ‘ expressed needs.
• Develop, monitor, and implement the FSC Work-plan, to ensure successful achievement of FSC Objectives.
• Develop reports and manage key information for the cluster ensuring timely contributions from all team members.
• Provide leadership in the organization of FSC and TWG Meetings.
• Liaise and coordinate with Humanitarian Affairs Adviser and other cluster coordinators.
• Manage and supervise all the project staff
• Participate in inter-cluster IM coordination working group.
• Participate in Cash Working Group meetings and coordinate with CWG coordinator.
• Participate in Needs Assessment Working Group meetings and coordinate with the NAWG coordinator.
• Support the Food Security Sector in Cox’s Bazar for the Refugees crisis.
• Supervise the Information Management Officer
• Liaise with gFSC as required on relevant issues.
• Any other tasks within their area of technical competence, as assigned by supervisor.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Maintaining a functioning FSC (e.g. organization of FSC and TWG meetings, regular update of the website)
• Regular coordination with FSC co-leads.
• Drafting of relevant FSC reports.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

​​​​​Knowledge and Skill :

• Demonstrated communication and conflict resolution skills, as well as the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment while responding to tight deadlines with resource constraints.
• Understanding of the international humanitarian response architecture, including coordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform and action, and funding mechanisms.
• Experience in coordination and chairing of meetings.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders, develop consensus, and support joint working.
• Excellent English communication skills, both verbal and written.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: University degree in food security, agriculture, economics, or related field.
• Experience: At least 5 years of professional experience in humanitarian response. Experience in the food security cluster. Experience in coordination.
• Language: English and Bangla