The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline humanitarian agency addressing hunger and malnutrition worldwide. WFP tackles poverty and hunger through a range of interventions: saving lives and protecting livelihoods in emergencies; investing in the prevention and mitigation of disasters; restoring and rebuilding lives and livelihoods in post-conflict or post-disaster situation; and other interventions to tackle hunger. Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in over 80 countries.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

As ongoing efforts to increase, compliance and risk management and introduce mitigation measures for WFP cash and food distribution through partners in Malawi, a full time Risk and Compliance officer on consultancy contract will be engaged. The consultant will prepare an overall risk management approach for CO; that includes identification of risk areas, provide recommendations on mitigations and follow up/help different units and field operation on the implementation of recommendations. The job will include a focus on internal process, and partners risk mitigation, and will require frequent travel in the field (about 40%/50% of the overall time). The officer will be reporting directly the Country Director.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Internal Processes for Malawi CO

• Provide advice to CO management and staff on risk & compliance issues and creation of viable control environment to support operational efficiency.
• Assist in ensuring that the use of all WFP resources is in conformity with approved CO strategic plans and donor agreements, including resources transferred to all partners (cooperating partners, private sector counterparts, academic institutions, governmental entities, etc.).
• Provide advice on enhancement and/or initiate establishment of adequate internal control systems including performance and risk management systems, monitoring and oversight plans and support their implementation.
• Planning, designing and implementation of overall risk management policy for WFP related to food and cash transfer to the WFP partners.
• Contribute to the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for managing the risk and compliance function, including criteria for conducting risk and compliance missions, training materials and modules, etc. following the best international practices.
• Undertake periodic and ad hoc reviews independently or with relevant managers in country and field offices to assess effectiveness of the internal controls, identify risk areas, assess the potential for fraud and corruption in operational activities and recommend required actions to the relevant units or management level.
• Facilitate accountability across functional units, prepare comprehensive reports and formulate sound recommendations on required actions in areas of compliance vulnerability including procedural and regulatory amendments.
• Review and provide advice on internal policies and procedures and monitor their consistent and correct application.
• Perform risk assessment and update CO risk registers and follow up on progress towards implementing the risk mitigation actions and the preparation of annual performance planning and reviews.
• Assess information/training needs and prepare and deliver training programmes or information sessions for managers and staff in CO to enhance compliance with WFP policies, rules, regulations and procedures.
• Carry out other programmatic and administrative tasks related to the risk-management function, such as providing guidance to components/sections/units in the preparation of budgets (including results-based budgeting) and the preparation of inputs for audits.
• Focal point for education and training on risk, ethics and fraud prevention of staff.
• Inform management on any suspected fraud or major discrepancies; that could potentially lead to full audit/investigation according to WFP rules and regulations.

Partner Risk Mitigation

• Support program sub/units in Malawi CO in reviewing all partners (cooperating partners, private sector counterparts, academic institutions, governmental entities, etc.) reporting requirements, timeliness and provide guidance and training to achieve efficiency.
• Provide advice on financial management procedures as well as reporting procedures and requirement of the partners (cooperating partners, private sector counterparts, academic institutions, governmental entities, etc.) to programme sub/units in order to strengthen the financial management procedures and improve accountability to donors.
• Lead capacity building trainings in districts with regular visits/ collaboration in particular, but not exclusively, with CPs and government counterparts.
• Assist in building a risk mitigation strategy to enhance the operational efficiency of the CSP.
• Lead discussions with government institutions and CPs on risks; review their internal control procedures; identify risk areas, assess their likelihood, impact; and provide solutions and recommend appropriate mitigation actions.
• Prepare a plan for the regular spot checks in particular, but not exclusively, for the CPs and government institutions working with WFP; in order to verify that food and cash transfers and associated expenditures are properly taken care of to support the beneficiaries as per established field level agreement (FLA).
• Provide advice and training to programme units as well as CPs, government institutions and other partners on financial reporting and procedures in order to improve transparency and accountability of the WFP and its partners.
• Design and run specific trainings tailored towards WFP field staff on basic control procedures to improve the transparency and accountability of district-based interventions and monitoring activities undertaken in particular, but not exclusively, by the local government institutions.
• Prepare reports for each spot check mission, identify high, medium and low risk areas with mitigating actions. Follow up on the implementation of the recommendations.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Advise management on the risk issues related to WFP cash and food distribution.
• Prepare and help management to implement overall CO risk management approach.
• Prepare reports on the outcome of spot checks and prepare mitigation actions plan.  
• Review internal control procedures of the CPs, identify risk areas, assess their likelihood, impact and suggest workable solutions/ mitigation measures to the WFP management.
• Prepare reports for each spot check missions, identify high, medium and low risk areas with mitigating actions. Follow up on the implementation of the recommendations.
• Review of relevant SOPs in CO to ensure consistency and adequacy.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced University degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting or related fields, or First University degree in the same subject(s) with additional years of related work experience.

Membership in an international recognized professional accountancy body such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Institute of Certified Public Accounts (ICPA); Chartered Institute of Management Accounts (CIMA) or equivalent is desirable.

Experience:

Strong experience in Finance/Audit and Risk.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong analytical skills.
• Knowledge of WFP rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to prioritize work and handle multiple tasks at the same time.
• Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to work in challenging areas of the country for a prolonged period of time.

Languages:

Fluency in English

• Provide advice to CO management and staff on risk & compliance issues and creation of viable control environment to support operational efficiency.
• Assist in ensuring that the use of all WFP resources is in conformity with approved CO strategic plans and donor agreements, including resources transferred to all partners (cooperating partners, private sector counterparts, academic institutions, governmental entities, etc.).
• Provide advice on enhancement and/or initiate establishment of adequate internal control systems including performance and risk management systems, monitoring and oversight plans and support their implementation.
• Planning, designing and implementation of overall risk management policy for WFP related to food and cash transfer to the WFP partners.
• Contribute to the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for managing the risk and compliance function, including criteria for conducting risk and compliance missions, training materials and modules, etc. following the best international practices.
• Undertake periodic and ad hoc reviews independently or with relevant managers in country and field offices to assess effectiveness of the internal controls, identify risk areas, assess the potential for fraud and corruption in operational activities and recommend required actions to the relevant units or management level.
• Facilitate accountability across functional units, prepare comprehensive reports and formulate sound recommendations on required actions in areas of compliance vulnerability including procedural and regulatory amendments.
• Review and provide advice on internal policies and procedures and monitor their consistent and correct application.
• Perform risk assessment and update CO risk registers and follow up on progress towards implementing the risk mitigation actions and the preparation of annual performance planning and reviews.
• Assess information/training needs and prepare and deliver training programmes or information sessions for managers and staff in CO to enhance compliance with WFP policies, rules, regulations and procedures.
• Carry out other programmatic and administrative tasks related to the risk-management function, such as providing guidance to components/sections/units in the preparation of budgets (including results-based budgeting) and the preparation of inputs for audits.
• Focal point for education and training on risk, ethics and fraud prevention of staff.
• Inform management on any suspected fraud or major discrepancies; that could potentially lead to full audit/investigation according to WFP rules and regulations.
• Support program sub/units in Malawi CO in reviewing all partners (cooperating partners, private sector counterparts, academic institutions, governmental entities, etc.) reporting requirements, timeliness and provide guidance and training to achieve efficiency.
• Provide advice on financial management procedures as well as reporting procedures and requirement of the partners (cooperating partners, private sector counterparts, academic institutions, governmental entities, etc.) to programme sub/units in order to strengthen the financial management procedures and improve accountability to donors.
• Lead capacity building trainings in districts with regular visits/ collaboration in particular, but not exclusively, with CPs and government counterparts.
• Assist in building a risk mitigation strategy to enhance the operational efficiency of the CSP.
• Lead discussions with government institutions and CPs on risks; review their internal control procedures; identify risk areas, assess their likelihood, impact; and provide solutions and recommend appropriate mitigation actions.
• Prepare a plan for the regular spot checks in particular, but not exclusively, for the CPs and government institutions working with WFP; in order to verify that food and cash transfers and associated expenditures are properly taken care of to support the beneficiaries as per established field level agreement (FLA).
• Provide advice and training to programme units as well as CPs, government institutions and other partners on financial reporting and procedures in order to improve transparency and accountability of the WFP