Programme Policy Officer, Cooperating Partner And Risk Management

Background and Purpose of the Assignment

WFP Rwanda provides food and nutrition assistance to refugees and supports the implementation of national priorities for achieving zero hunger and sustainable development. WFP Rwanda also works with the Government to make the latter’s social protection system more inclusive and shock-responsive, in line with Rwanda’s national planning processes and development programmes. WFP Rwanda works with a diverse range of Cooperating Partners (national NGOs, INGOs, community-based organizations, consortia) and Government entities to deliver programmes. This calls for effective partnership management of Field Level Agreements (FLAs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and related extensions and amendments in line with the corporate guidelines.

WFP Rwanda is looking to recruit a Cooperating Partner and Risk Management Officer who will:

• Provide both operational and strategic leadership in managing partnerships, ensuring cross-functional alignment and strengthening partner capacity to maximize efficiency and accountability.
• Provide support in the establishment of risk management activities; contribute to the application of controls and compliance with policies and procedures and to the overall effectiveness of operations and optimization of WFP resources.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities

Partnership Lifecycle Management

• Oversee and coordinate the use of the UN Partner Portal (UNPP) for the registration, identification, and selection of potential Cooperating Partners (CPs). Provide training 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 the 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, and ensure Field Level Agreements (FLAs) and MoUs are prepared in a timely and accurate manner.
• Ensure CP oversights and spot checks are conducted routinely in collaboration with risk & compliance, Finance, and other relevant units, both WFP and CP. Follow up on the implementation of CP oversights and spot checks recommendations for better partnership management.
• Track progress of the FLAs/MoUs implementation and ensure timely submission of programmatic and financial reports. Prepare a 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 functions, 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 training 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 the 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 the 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 the 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 analyzing 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, and spot checks are 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 a 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, and 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 and Excel, knowledge of standard WFP systems is an added advantage.

Languages

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

Skills Required:

• Hr / Public / Admin
• Legal / Law
• Social / Science / Project / Management / Development