Job Opportunity at WFP, Programme Policy Officer – Food Systems & Market Access

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

Job Title: Programme Policy Officer- Food Systems & Market Access: P4

Type of contract:   Limited Fixed Term Contract (LFT)

Duty station:  Dar-es-salaam Tanzania

Duration: 2 years renewable

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme 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 shattered lives. Present in nearly 80 countries, the organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to nutritious food and contribute to the lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas. We manage an operating budget of approximately $5.9 billion each year, distributing 12.6 billion rations to those most in need. We reach an average of 80 million people with food assistance in around 80 countries each year.

For more on WFP and what we do, please go to https://ift.tt/3xojDHj

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

WFP Tanzania is implementing its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2017-2022, which focuses on supporting the Government of Tanzania in its effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the Zero Hunger 2030 agenda. The Tanzania CSP aims to progressively shift the focus of WFPs work from direct implementation of food assistance programmes towards capacity strengthening and technical assistance to national partners.

As part of the CSP’s Strategic Outcome 3 (Targeted smallholders in prioritized districts will have increased access to agricultural markets by 2030), WFP aims to reach small holder farmers across the country with a range of initiatives and projects. Incorporating learning from the past three years of direct project implementation, WFP plans to further engage Government and partners, to provide accessibility of services including knowledge and skills development, inputs, and agri-technology on a national scale. The CO is embarking now in the formulation of the next CSP 2022 – 2027, and Resilience and Smallholder farmers market engagement is a key pillar of the next CSP and is expected to be even more central based on the findings from the CSP Mid-term review and other on-going evaluations.

WFP aims to support farmers across Tanzania with a range of initiatives aimed at increasing access to financing opportunities, quality inputs, technology, and capacity on post-harvest loss management, and link them to commercial markets. The Smallholder Farmer (SHF) unit brings together all of WFP’s on-going and planned agricultural projects including the Kigoma Joint Programme (KJP); the Climate Smart Agriculture Project and the Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA).

JOB PURPOSE

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme and the general guidance of the Deputy Country Director, the incumbent will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing the implementation of resilience, livelihood and value chain activities, develop and foster internal and external partnerships, lead WFP Tanzania Strategic Outcome 3 and manage its portfolio. In addition, the incumbent will supervise the team and provide technical advice on agribusiness, agriculture extension and post-harvest management, agriculture marketing and agriculture policy engagement, and support to the field teams in the areas of Climate Resilient Agriculture, Livelihoods and its linkages and integrations to nutrition and supply chain outcomes.

More specifically, the staff member will build and strengthen partnerships between WFP and local and international, public, and private organizations and institutions working in market-focused agricultural development, post-harvest handling, good agricultural practices for the overall goal to improve access to resilient livelihood and markets for smallholder farmers/farmers’ organizations.

The staff member will be based in Dar es Salaam, with frequent travel to the field.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Coordinate all smallholder farmer agriculture extension, market access and integrate with climate adaptation and natural resource management activities, ensuring full integration and coordination between the various sub activities under the resilient rural livelihoods outcome.
• Build, maintain and lead a specialized team to support the delivery of WFP’s commitments and to act as change agents to promote sustainable pro-smallholder value chains in multi-stakeholder contexts.
• Identify and monitor risks and challenges in the design and implementation of projects and propose mitigating actions and solutions.
• Coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities for agriculture portfolio in collaboration with the country office Monitoring & Evaluations (M&E) unit and partners.
• Maintain a strong profile for WFP’s work through active engagement in the agriculture policy space in Tanzania, and through participation in the main meetings and coordination groups, including the Agricultural Sector Working Group.
• Increase WFP’s visibility within the Ministry of Agriculture in Tanzania by growing the partnership with the Ministry at the national level through regularly sharing project updates and participating in relevant sectoral meetings;
• Contribute to WFP’s fundraising efforts by supporting proposal development, developing key messages, and talking points, and preparing internal and external reports.
• Develop and lead the implementation of livelihood and Smallholder Agriculture Market Support strategy in coordination with CO units and partners.
• Review current activities with a food system strengthening lens in line with the development of tailored Climate Resilience and Smallholder Agriculture Market Support strategy for Tanzania.
• Lead the development of business linkages amongst targeted smallholders, farmers organizations, cooperatives, low-income farmers, aggregators, off-takers and other potential markets beyond WFP.
• Develop the capacity of supported households and smallholder farmers through targeted trainings and workshops to ensure they gain valuable skills in production, marketing, and business development. Put in place farmer-friendly mechanisms and systems to reach smallholder farmers to encourage local food procurement from surplus producing farmers and support rural aggregation network for increased market access for smallholder farmers.
• Enhance the linkages between WFP and relevant line ministries to support smallholder farmers.
• Collaborate closely with relevant UN agencies such as FAO, IFAD, and other partners in the implementation of all activities supporting smallholder farmers and build synergies between the different projects.
• Prepare donor proposals, reports, and visibility materials to highlight and advocate for the programme and to document good practices and lessons learned.
• Build capacity of WFP staff and partners to support the implementation of the Smallholder Agriculture Market Support activities.
• Support integration of nutrition sensitivity and enhanced gender, youth and protection mainstreaming within the resilience and Smallholder Agriculture Market Support portfolio.
• Identify and promote new tools, methods, and solutions to mitigate post-harvest losses at household level.
• Provide regular updates to management and raise issues requiring management attention in a timely manner.
• Perform other related duties as required.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Finalise WFP Tanzania Climate Resilient Agriculture and Market Access Strategic Plan and the approach to have impact at scale.
• Mid-term results targets for relevant projects are achieved in line with plans.
• Project implementation is aligned with the approved workplan and budget.
• Project staffing structure is in place to meet the expected results and staff are supported and capacitated to fulfil their responsibilities.
• Projects incorporate elements of nutrition, social protection, gender, youth, supply chain capacity and innovation in line with the objectives of the Country Strategic Plan.
• Relevant reporting requirements have been met.
• WFP local procurement agreements and partnership opportunities are aligned with smallholder farmer activities and approaches.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, Agronomy, Business Administration, or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses

Language: Fluency (level C) in English language. Knowledge of Kiswahili language is an important advantage.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Eight years or more of post graduate work experience in agri-business or agriculture economics and agriculture value chains development.
• Proven experience in planning and implementing smallholder farmer projects, including support and capacity building of partners at national or sub-national levels.
• Ability to lead, coach and motivate teams for efficient and effective delivery of results.
• Demonstrated knowledge of small and medium enterprises, smallholder procurement and commercial agriculture.
• Strong oral and written communication skills to ensure WFP strategies and projects are well articulated to all stakeholders including beneficiaries, partners, local governments, ministries, and donors.
• Ability to assimilate and analyse complex issues using independent judgment.
• Negotiation skills with the ability to influence at senior levels within and beyond the organization.
• Tact and ability to work harmoniously with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Resourcefulness, initiative and problem-solving skills, strong client orientation for value chain stakeholders.
• Knowledge of various aspects of financial services and modelling.
• Strong analytical and writing capacity, including the ability to produce high quality reports, presentations, and knowledge products.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Limited Fixed-Term Appointment (LFT) position is a non-mobile staff appointment in the international professional category for a limited period for up to 4 years and is open to all nationalities. The position is based in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania and the selected candidate will be expected to relocate. Incumbents of LFT positions are not eligible to apply for other mobile positions advertised internally through the Reassignment.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package in line with ICSC standards (http://icsc.un.org) including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

09 December 2021

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

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