The WFP Is Hiring two Legal Officer with salary exceeding 60000usd annually. Apply now

May 17, 2024Last Updated: May 17, 2024

7 minutes read

The WFP Is Hiring two Legal Officer with salary exceeding 60000usd annually. Apply now

Background

The World Food Programme is an international organization within the United Nations that provides food assistance worldwide. It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization and the leading provider of school meals. Founded in 1961, WFP is headquartered in Rome and has offices in 80 countries.

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About WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide. Here’s some information about WFP:

Mission: WFP’s mission is to save lives and change lives by delivering food assistance in emergencies and working towards sustainable solutions to hunger. It aims to ensure that everyone has access to nutritious food, particularly in times of crisis.
Mandate: WFP operates under the authority of the United Nations and is the largest humanitarian agency focused on hunger and food security. Its mandate is to provide food assistance to those in need, support nutrition programs, build resilience to shocks, and promote sustainable development.
Operations: WFP operates in more than 80 countries, providing food assistance to millions of people affected by conflicts, natural disasters, and other emergencies. It also supports communities in improving their access to food, nutrition, and livelihood opportunities.
Emergency Response: WFP is often at the forefront of emergency response efforts, providing food aid and logistical support in the immediate aftermath of disasters. It works closely with governments, NGOs, and other partners to ensure that food reaches those who need it most.
Hunger Solutions: WFP’s approach goes beyond immediate food assistance. It implements programs that address the root causes of hunger, such as promoting agricultural development, supporting smallholder farmers, and improving access to education and healthcare.
Nutrition: WFP recognizes the critical link between hunger and malnutrition. It implements nutrition programs that aim to prevent and treat malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.
School Feeding: WFP’s school feeding programs provide meals to children in schools, encouraging attendance and improving their nutrition. This approach helps to break the cycle of hunger and poverty by supporting education and child development.
Logistics and Innovation: WFP is known for its expertise in logistics and supply chain management. It utilizes innovative technologies and approaches to ensure the efficient delivery of food assistance, even in challenging and remote locations.
Partnerships: WFP works in collaboration with governments, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sector partners, and local communities. These partnerships are crucial for maximizing the impact of its operations and achieving sustainable solutions to hunger.
Funding: WFP relies on voluntary contributions from governments, organizations, and individuals to fund its operations. Donations and partnerships are essential for enabling WFP to respond to emergencies and implement long-term programs.

Why work at WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) operates worldwide for several reasons:

Global Hunger Crisis: WFP recognizes that hunger is a global issue affecting millions of people across different regions and countries. By operating worldwide, WFP can respond to the urgent needs of those facing hunger and food insecurity in various parts of the world.
Emergencies and Conflicts: WFP is often called upon to provide immediate food assistance in response to emergencies such as natural disasters, conflicts, and displacement. These crises can occur anywhere in the world, and WFP’s global presence allows for a rapid and effective response.
Reach the Most Vulnerable: By operating worldwide, WFP can reach the most vulnerable populations, including those in remote areas, conflict zones, and regions with limited infrastructure. Its extensive network and logistical expertise enable it to deliver food assistance to those who are hardest to reach.
Collaboration and Partnerships: WFP collaborates with governments, NGOs, and other partners worldwide to address hunger and food security. By operating globally, WFP can work closely with local institutions and organizations, leveraging their knowledge and expertise to implement effective programs.
Addressing Root Causes: Hunger and food insecurity are complex issues influenced by various factors such as poverty, climate change, and lack of access to resources. By operating worldwide, WFP can address the underlying causes of hunger, working towards sustainable solutions and long-term food security.
Sharing Knowledge and Expertise: WFP’s global presence allows it to share knowledge and expertise gained from working in diverse contexts. It can transfer best practices, innovative solutions, and lessons learned from one region to another, promoting efficiency and effectiveness in its operations.
Advocacy and Policy Influence: Operating worldwide gives WFP a platform to advocate for policies and interventions that address hunger and food security on a global scale. It can engage with governments, international organizations, and stakeholders to raise awareness and shape agendas related to food assistance and nutrition.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): WFP aligns its efforts with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 2: Zero Hunger. By operating worldwide, WFP contributes to the global efforts to achieve this goal, working towards a world where no one suffers from hunger.

Details About The Post

Legal Officers
Posting Date: May 15, 2024
Vacancy Type: Fixed Term
Location: Europe, Western – Italy – Rome

Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, June 5, 2024 (11:59 PM CET).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the supervision of more senior Legal Officers, the P2 Legal Officers will be responsible for a variety of the following duties:

•   Undertake legal research and analysis, handle a range of multi-disciplinary legal matters including interpretation and application of various national laws and international legal instruments to facilitate the provision of quality and timely legal services;
•   Review and draft a variety of legal documents, to identify relevant legal issues and risks, propose mitigating measures and to ensure compliance with the applicable legal framework and jurisprudence (including, for the LEGC position, Basic Agreements and other agreements concerning the status of WFP in the countries in which it has operations);
•   Assist in preparing legal advice on the interpretation and application of WFP’s legal framework, both for Headquarters and Field Offices;
•   Review legal documents, identify and analyze issues, presenting findings and recommendations;
•   Provide support towards the negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes involving WFP to meet unique client needs;
•   Identify potential liabilities, particularly vis-à-vis other parties, and assist in the management of risks in WFP’s activities to contribute to well-informed decisions;
•   Prepare and assess briefs of evidence to contribute to legal analysis and solutions;
•   Contribute to building productive partnerships within the legal team and with other Legal Offices across the UN system;
•   Assist more senior Legal Officers in servicing internal and external committees, task forces, expert working groups and other bodies with legal advice and preparation/review of legal documents to contribute to the formulation of WFP’s position;
•   Provide support towards dispute resolution, including liaising with external counsel or assisting in the representation of WFP in administrative proceedings and arbitration as instructed; (including, for the LEGM position, disputes arising from WFP supply chain and common services operations);
•   Facilitate legal training sessions for other Units and Divisions; and
•   Perform other related duties as required by the Legal Office.

The Legal Officer P2, LEGC position will primarily involve:

•    Support in preparing legal advice on governance matters pertaining to the interpretation and application of the constitutional texts of WFP, including the General Regulations, General Rules, Financial Regulations and Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board of WFP, delegations of authority and other norms issued thereunder, and the decisions of the Executive Board;
•    Support to the negotiation and advice on Basic Agreements and other agreements concerning the status of WFP in the countries in which it has operations;
•    Contribution in preparing legal advice on the privileges and immunities of WFP, where appropriate in coordination with the UN Office of Legal Affairs and the Legal Office of FAO;
•    Contribution in preparing legal advice on all other matters of public international law, including but not limited to international humanitarian law, international human rights law, the law of treaties and other fields as appropriate;
•    Assistance in advising and providing legal support on matters involving public-sector resource mobilization and partnerships;
•    Assistance in advising and providing legal support on matters involving collaboration and partnerships with governments, UN system agencies, other intergovernmental organizations, and nongovernmental organizations; and
•    Assisting senior lawyers representing WFP in dispute resolution, proceedings involving matters that fall under LEGC’s competence.

The Legal Officer P2, LEGM position will primarily involve:

•    Assistance in providing legal support and advice in connection with contracts relating to procurement of food, goods and services, shipping, aviation, logistics, overland transport, service provision, construction, engineering, office and premises lease contracts, real estate property, and insurance;
•    Assistance in providing legal advice on the interpretation of WFP norms pertaining to supply chain operations and service provision;
•    Assistance in providing legal and technical support to mitigate legal risks arising from commodity loss, establish liability and pursue third parties to recover financial damages;
•    Support in providing advice and participating in the preparation, pursuit, negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes with public and private entities;
•    Assisting senior lawyers representing WFP in dispute resolution proceedings involving matters that fall under LEGM’s competence (WFP supply chain and common services operations); and
•    Facilitating awareness of potential liability exposure and proactive minimization of risk within the organization.

While LEGC and LEGM will be the respective base branches for the Legal Officer P2 positions, please note that the Legal Office is adopting a pooled service arrangement for posts at this level aimed at promoting inter-branch engagement and expanding staff knowledge and skills. This includes an expectation to undertake up to 50% of work on matters pertaining to the other branches of the Legal Office.

QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Advanced university degree in law, or first university degree in law with additional relevant experience and training in private, commercial, or public law.
Must be qualified to practice or admitted to practice law by a recognized national or state bar or law society or have equivalent professional legal practice experience.

Experience:

A minimum of three (3) years relevant progressively responsible experience as a lawyer or in the provision of legal services.

Languages:

Fluency in oral and written (Level C) English
Intermediate knowledge (Level B) of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages).