Programme & Policy – External Partnership Consultant, Tamale – Ghana

Job Title: Programme & Policy – External Partnership Consultant

Type of Contract: Regular Consultancy (CST)

Duty Station: Tamale, Ghana

Duration: 06 months

Deadline to apply: 23 May 2022 midnight (GMT)

BACKGROUND AND JOB PURPOSE:

The United Nations World Food Programme with the kind support of the Government of Japan is facilitating the implementation of a sustainable nutrition project that leverages livelihoods, Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) and food support to build the resilience of vulnerable populations to food and nutrition insecurity in Karaga district. The district is the second most food insecure in Ghana, according to the 2020 Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis.

The project seeks to draw synergies with the government’s social safety net programmes for maximum impact by targeting LEAP beneficiaries and vulnerable women, children and adolescent girls on the Ghana National Household Registry. It also highlights the critical role of Public-Private Partnerships in addressing malnutrition in Ghana.

Targeted beneficiaries will receive food assistance through value vouchers.

In addition, Mother-to-mother and father-to-father support groups will be formed as a platform for nutrition and health education.

Some of these beneficiaries or eligible adults in their households will also be supported in the production of diversified nutritious crops. To increase productivity and prevent post-harvest losses, beneficiaries will also be supported with farm inputs.

Market linkages will be created or strengthened between the smallholder farmers and commercial buyers to motivate them to cultivate crops all year round.

Crops produced by beneficiaries will be part of the food basket for the voucher programme to provide direct market and further improve dietary diversity and micronutrient intake.

Results from a needs assessment will inform the selection of beneficiaries for other income-generating initiatives apart from nutrition-sensitive agriculture. Beneficiaries will be equipped with the requisite skills for a start-up or expansion of existing livelihoods. Beneficiaries will also be introduced to transformative Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) to pool resources as an alternative source of income.

WFP is soliciting the services of a consultant to support the implementation of the livelihoods programme, which will be led by a local Non-governmental Organization (NGO).

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Sub-Office in Tamale, the Consultant will be expected to perform the following duties:

1. Liaise with the NGO to set milestones, implement and follow up on specific activities under the livelihood initiative.

2. Propose innovative ways of delivering the livelihood support, including digitalization of VSLAs to ensure digital financial inclusion of beneficiaries

3. Monitor progress of implementation and offer technical support to the NGO as required

4. Work closely with designated research institutions in designing appropriate methodologies for evaluating the livelihoods component of the project.

5. Follow-up for timely submission of reports from NGO, review the reports and provide feedback to NGO and WFP teams.

6. Collaborate with WFP’s Research, Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation (RAME) team for timely and accurate data entry into corporate databases.

7. Any other tasks as identified by the Head of Sub-Office or Deputy Country Director.

Minimum Academic Qualifications

• The candidate shall have an advanced University degree in Agricultural Science, Agricultural Economics, Nutrition, Community Development, or a related field.
• A first degree with additional years of professional experience is acceptable

Desired Experiences for Entry into the role:

1. Minimum of three years experience working in agriculture, food systems, nutrition-sensitive or related activities
2. Experience working in a developing country is an advantage
3. The candidate must be willing to work in a diverse team, innovative and versatile.
4. Must have strong IT skills to support project delivery
5. A previous role in managing women’s economic empowerment and digital financial inclusion initiatives is highly desirable
6. Experience working with a United Nations Agency, or an international humanitarian and/or development organization is desirable

Language:

• Fluency in the English language is essential
• Japanese native speaker, desirable

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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.