Program Assistants Verified listing

BACKGROUND

These 4 positions are based in the Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sargodha and Bahawalpur Divisions. The Programme Assistants will report directly to the Programme Policy Officer and support the implementation, coordination, oversight, reporting, and quality assurance of activities under the BISP Stunting Prevention Project at divisional and district levels.

The incumbents will work closely with divisional and district representatives of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), District Health Authorities, the Lady Health Worker Programme (LHWP), Maryam Nawaz Community Health Inspectors (CHIs), Cooperating Partners (CPs), facilitation centre staff, and other relevant stakeholders to support effective delivery of services through Benazir Nashonuma Programme (BNP) Centres.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

To perform specialized and/or standardized policy and programme-related processes and activities to support the effective delivery of assistance packages. The positions will contribute to strengthening programme performance, stakeholder coordination, accountability, data quality, service delivery standards, and achievement of programme objectives through regular field oversight, partner engagement, capacity strengthening, reporting, and operational support.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

Programme Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

1. Coordinate and maintain effective liaison with divisional and district BISP representatives, District Health Authorities, the Lady Health Worker Programme (LHWP), Maryam Nawaz Community Health Inspectors (CHIs), Cooperating Partners, facilitation centre staff, district administrations, and other relevant stakeholders to support implementation of BNP activities and strengthen inter-agency coordination.

2. Participate in divisional, district, and tehsil-level coordination meetings and ensure timely follow-up on agreed actions and recommendations.

3. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with government counterparts like NADRA, implementing partners, and community-based structures to support achievement of programme objectives.

4. Serve as a focal point for routine operational coordination and facilitate resolution of implementation issues at field level.

Programme Implementation Support and Service Oversight

1. Support implementation of programme activities at BNP Centres and within assigned districts in accordance with approved operational procedures and implementation plans.

2. Conduct regular oversight visits to BNP Centres and programme sites to assess service quality, operational effectiveness, and compliance with programme standards.

3. Review programme records, reports, and supporting documentation to verify adherence to programme requirements and operational procedures.

4. Facilitate coordination between BNP Centres, Cooperating Partners, district authorities, and health facilities to address issues affecting programme implementation.

5. Support awareness-raising and beneficiary engagement activities related to maternal, infant, and young child nutrition and programme services.

6. Assist in addressing beneficiary concerns through established accountability and feedback mechanisms.

Capacity Building and Technical Support

1. Organize and facilitate orientations, workshops, refresher sessions, and capacity-building activities for project staff and stakeholders.

2. Provide operational guidance and implementation support to Cooperating Partners and frontline workers on programme requirements, oversight tools, and reporting procedures.

3. Support dissemination of programme guidelines, standard operating procedures, reporting formats, and implementation updates.

4. Contribute to strengthening capacities of implementing partners and relevant stakeholders in programme implementation, monitoring, reporting, and compliance.

Nutrition Commodity and Cash Assistance Support

1. Facilitate preparation and review of monthly Specialized Nutritious Food (SNF) distribution plans based on approved caseloads and operational requirements.

2. Monitor receipt, storage, handling, distribution, and reporting of SNF commodities to support accountability and compliance with established procedures.

3. Monitor and support the effective utilization of the Benazir Nashonuma Programme application and related information systems, including verification of beneficiary information, review of case management records, monitoring of entitlement processing, data quality checks, and coordination with relevant stakeholders to address operational and system-related issues.

4. Review commodity movement records, stock reports, distribution documentation, and related records to support accountability and reporting requirements.

5. Coordinate with supply chain and logistics teams to support uninterrupted availability of programme commodities at BNP Centres.

6. Identify and promptly report commodity-related issues, shortages, losses, bottlenecks, or operational challenges requiring management attention.

Oversight, Reporting and Data Management

1. Conduct regular field visits to BNP Centres, health facilities, and programme implementation sites using approved oversight tools and checklists.

2. Conduct random spot checks of Cooperating Partner/FC activities to assess programme quality, compliance, and operational performance.

3. Review and verify programme data, distribution reports, service delivery records, and other programme information to support data quality and reporting accuracy.

4. Consolidate, analyse, and present programme information from multiple sources to support planning, implementation, reporting, and operational decision-making.

5. Prepare and submit weekly, monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc reports within established timelines.

6. Review programme performance against agreed targets and indicators and provide recommendations for programme improvement.

7. Document lessons learned, best practices, operational challenges, and recommendations to strengthen programme effectiveness.

8. Maintain organized programme files, monitoring records, reports, correspondence, and supporting documentation.

9. Support assessments, surveys, verification exercises, monitoring missions, and data quality reviews conducted under the project.

Accountability, Compliance and Quality Assurance

1. Support implementation of beneficiary feedback and complaint management mechanisms and facilitate appropriate follow-up on reported issues.

2. Promote compliance with WFP operational procedures, donor requirements, safeguarding principles, and accountability frameworks.

3. Identify implementation risks and recommend mitigation measures to improve programme performance and service quality.

4. Support transparency, integrity, and accountability across programme activities and operational processes.

5. Contribute to quality assurance initiatives and compliance reviews across programme implementation sites.

Visibility and External Engagement

1. Support advocacy, communication, and visibility activities for the BISP Stunting Prevention Project in accordance with approved communication guidelines.

2. Facilitate donor missions, monitoring visits, assessments, evaluations, reviews, and other external engagements.

3. Assist in preparation of briefing notes, presentations, factsheets, success stories, programme updates, and other communication materials.

4. Facilitate field visits by government officials, development partners, donors, and other stakeholders.

Other Duties

1. Perform any other duties assigned by the Programme Policy Officer, Head of Office, or designated supervisor in support of programme implementation and achievement of project objectives.

Education:

Completion of secondary school education(Grade 12). A post-secondary certificate in Nutrition,Public Health, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Community Development, Public Administration or another relevant field. First University Degree in the relevant field is an advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in nutrition, public health, maternal and child health, social protection, food security, community development, or related programmes.
• At least two (2) to three (3) years of relevant experience supporting nutrition interventions, stunting prevention programmes, CMAM, maternal and child health initiatives, or related public health programmes.
• Demonstrated experience working with government departments, development partners, NGOs, and community-based service delivery structures
• Experience in programme implementation, field monitoring, reporting, capacity strengthening, and stakeholder coordination.

Knowledge and skills

• Strong programme implementation and coordination skills.•Sound knowledge of maternal, infant, and young child nutrition programming.
• Experience in programme oversight, monitoring, reporting, quality assurance, and partner coordination.
• Strong analytical, communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to engage effectively with government counterparts, health workers, Cooperating Partners, and communities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Strong organizational, planning, documentation, and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of the Benazir Nashonuma Programme (BNP) and nutrition-sensitive social protection programmes will be an advantage.

Languages:

Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Urdu.