United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) 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. In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their lives. On average, WFP reaches more than 80 million people with food assistance in 80 countries each year.

Brief description of WFP in Uganda

WFP delivers food assistance in emergencies and work with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. WFP provides life-saving food assistance and livelihood opportunities to refugees in Uganda. In addition, WFP assists the most vulnerable people in Uganda with food and nutrition assistance. Finally, WFP works with smallholder farmers and links them to markets.

As Uganda strives to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030 and become a middle-income country by 2040, WFP is also assessing its relevance and repositioning its role in Uganda.

ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?

We are seeking qualified individuals for the position of  Business Support Assistant (Nutrition) Intern to be based in Kampala. Selected candidates will be employed on Special Service Agreement.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

These jobs are found in Country Offices (COs), Regional Bureaux (RBs), and Headquarters (HQ). Job holders typically provide administrative support to team(s) and/or support a specific business stream, and report to the relevant Associate. At this level, work is carried out under close supervision or immediately available assistance. Job holders are expected to produce organised and accurate work.

JOB PURPOSE

The World Food Programme (WFP), 2020 Noble Peace Prize winner, is the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against hunger. It is the largest and longest serving humanitarian agency in Uganda. The focus of WFP’s nutrition programming is to provide specialised nutritious foods in treatment and prevention of malnutrition; and promotion of nutrition-sensitive interventions. The nutrition programme portfolio has applied a food systems lens to nutrition programming, particularly in the shift from treatment to prevention of malnutrition. WFP contributes to government systems and institutional mechanisms to engage government and non-government stakeholders, and technical assistance for government staff implementing nutrition policies. WFP works with the government and partners to identify holistic approaches to nutrition.

To build technical capacity of the intern in effective nutrition programme implementation, coordination and management.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Participate in the development of nutrition projects, workplans, ensuring alignment with wider government and WFP nutrition policies and guidance.
2. Engage in nutrition field level activities to gain depth understanding of WFP operations
3. Support nutrition programme management ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes/projects that comply with WFP standards and procedures as well as national policies and guidelines
4. Engage in documentation and evidence generation for nutrition programmes
5. Support internal and donor reporting for the nutrition programmes, projects and activities
6. Participate in relevant nutrition coordination and technical forums at national and subnational level
7. Identify and develop a group innovation challenge at the end of the internship period

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Builds an understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives.
•  Be a force for positive change: Approaches individual tasks and responsibilities with a positive attitude and demeanor.
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Understands the impact of WFP activities in beneficiary communities.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Connects individual tasks and responsibilities to unit’s goals and mission.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people’s skills: Seeks opportunities to build and enhance individual skills.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Demonstrates respect and understanding for diversity and cultural differences.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Identifies and approaches colleagues or supervisors to serve as coaches.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Sets clear goals and measurable targets for own tasks and responsibilities.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Assesses own tasks and responsibilities to find ways to be more efficient.
•  Focus on getting results: Maintains accurate records of completion times and tasks in own areas of responsibility.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Understands responsibilities and the metrics associated with own tasks.
•  Be Decisive: Notifies supervisors of dangerous situations or potential issues that may arise while in the field or office.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Understands WFP’s organizational structure, including the purpose and mission of each unit.
•  Build strong external partnerships: Supports team in working with colleagues and WFP’s partners in the field toward common goals.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Maintains a professional and courteous relationship with other WFP employees and partners in the field.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Understands own team’s contributions in its partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education : University degree in Human Nutrition, public health, community health, food science or any other related field

Experience: A recent graduate from a bachelor’s programme from a recognized university in Uganda within the last 3 years 2019-2021 prior to the application for the internship programme.

Knowledge and Skills: 

1. Strong organizational skills, with an ability to effectively manage multiple tasks simultaneously
2. Good knowledge of Nutrition is an essential requirements for this position
3. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, in English
4. Ability to work both independently and as part of a diverse team

Languages: Fluency in oral and written English, including strong writing skills