Programme Policy Officer – Food Systems and Livelihoods SC-9

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, color, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

Do you want to work for the world’s largest humanitarian organization? This is your opportunity to join our diverse and passionate organization that is contributing to saving & changing millions of lives around the globe.

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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

WFP established a Multi-Country Office in Barbados to provide technical assistance and capacity-strengthening programming across 22 countries and territories in the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. Across the Caribbean, WFP is applying its global expertise to a programme of cross-functional activities designed to improve regional and national preparedness and strengthen systems to deliver rapid and appropriate assistance to people impacted by shocks and disasters.

The regional programme of work includes technical assistance on social protection (e.g. data analysis/collection, digitalisation, payments), vulnerability and risk analysis, integrated supply chain management, food security/food systems and disaster risk financing. The office also responds to emergencies in support of governments and CDEMA as needed, including previous responses in the Bahamas (2019) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (2021), which both included cash-based transfer responses.

WFP Caribbean plans to deepen its work on food systems and livelihoods, building on the momentum of the 2021 Food Systems Summit and recognizing the impacts of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine on supply chains, food systems and food prices. With the Caribbean heavily dependent on extra-regional imports, the issue of strengthening food systems is more urgent than ever. This includes support to the CARICOM Secretariat efforts to reduce food imports by 25 percent by 2025. WFP Caribbean also plans to explore and expand activities to support small-holder farmers, including through linkages with institutional markets. This role will be essential in identifying and taking forward opportunities and activities to strengthen food systems within countries and regionally. It will report to the Disaster Risk Management Officer or Head of Programme.

JOB PURPOSE

To provide support to policy and programme activities that effectively meet food assistance needs.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Provide timely and effective technical assistance to governments on the design and implementation of activities to support food systems and small-holder farmers.
2. Support the coordination the implementation of the food systems and interventions to support small holder farmers’ access to institutional markets, in close collaboration with other relevant units.
3. Support the strengthening the integration of food systems and related interventions with the other system-level interventions in particular social assistance and nutrition.
4. In collaboration with teams work on climate change adaptation and resilience, help identify entry points for integrated approaches to design interventions that contribute to build sustainable food systems.
5. Coordinate and liaise with other MCO division/units such as Supply Chain to develop an interoperable and coherent food systems framework.
6. Support the design of specific food systems interventions in urban and peri-urban context and as part of shock-responsive safety nets.
7. Support the MCO to engage with other UN agencies, private sector, research centres and relevant actors to establish partnerships and collaboration.
8. Liaise with other division/units to ensure coherence and coordination.
9. Other duties as needed.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Analysis of regional and country-level opportunities to support food systems and small holderfarmers.
• Short documents/presentations on key issues related to food systems and small holder farmers in the Caribbean and target countries.
• Activity workplans on food systems and smaller holder farmer support, developed in consultation with relevant colleagues posted in target countries.
• Monthly updates on activities related to food systems and small holder farmers and monitoring of these activities in coordination with monitoring/reporting colleagues (e.g., outputs, outcomes).
• Introductory sessions for existing and new colleagues on food systems and identification of key internal and external documents and resources for sharing.
• Missions, as needed, to provide technical support to outposted team members in relevant countries (e.g., Jamaica, Dominica, Guyana).

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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

Experience: Three years of postgraduate working experience in the field of smallholder farmers, food systems, agriculture market access and partnership or another related field. Relevant experience in managing, designing, and implementing relevant related programmes, strategies and strategic partnerships.

Knowledge & Skills: Proficiency in Windows MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Behavioural competencies such as Action Management, Client Orientation, Cognitive Capacity, Innovation, Partnering and Teamwork.

Language: Fluency in English.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK: COMMON STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR

Leads by Example with Integrity

• Upholds WFP values, principles, and standards. – Demonstrates and encourages others to uphold the WFP values, principles and standards.
• Respects others and values diversity. – Values diversity using respectful and inclusive language, and encourages others to do the same.
• Stays focused and calm under pressure. – Stays focused and calm when under pressure, encourages others to do the same, and offers guidance and support to manage difficult situations.
• Demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn. – Demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn and share knowledge, frequently seeking and acting on feedback, and pursuing opportunities to develop.

Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments

• Delivers results for maximum impact. – Identifies and aligns objectives to the required outcomes, holding self and/or others accountable for the delivery of results for maximum impact.
• Delegates appropriately. – Delegates responsibly and provides appropriate support empowering others to deliver results.
• Adapts readily to change. – Responds readily to change in different contexts and adapts accordingly.

Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative

• Is inclusive and collaborative. – Promotes inclusive teamwork and psychological safety by. encouraging colleagues to collaborate by sharing ideas and openly raising issues.
• Gives timely and constructive feedback. – Supports development for others by giving timely and constructive feedback.
• Builds and shares new perspectives. – Seeks out, trusts and listens attentively to diverse views to capture, learn, build and share new perspectives.

Applies Strategic Thinking

• Communicates and fulfils WFP’s vision. – Communicates and fulfils WFP’s vision and operational outcomes to deliver meaningful solutions.
• Embraces curiosity and new ways of doing things. – Demonstrates curiosity, designs and implements new ways of doing things when relevant.
• Analyses and evaluates data. – Gathers data and different perspectives, shares knowledge and uses evidence to inform decision making.
• Considers the impact of decisions. – Implements decisions, considering the risks and implications of actions for teams, projects and other initiatives.

Builds and Maintains Sustainable Partnerships

• Builds partnerships. – Initiates and builds partnerships by identifying and promoting opportunities for mutual areas of interest and benefit.
• Collaborates to deliver common objectives. – Collaborates with partners to deliver common objectives by sharing information and co-creating innovative solutions with beneficiaries when appropriate.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Who Can Apply?

• This position is open to nationals of Barbados and CARICOM member states and associate members. CARICOM Nationals applying for National position outside of their home country bear sole responsibility for required actions or expenses related to relocation, accommodation, repatriation and any other living expenses, etc. A CARICOM Skilled National Certificate is a pre-requisite of employment for successful candidates who are not from the country for which the position is advertised.

Employment Particulars

• Type of position: Short Term, Full Time.
• Type of Contact: Service Contract Level 9 (SC-9).
• Duration on Contract: 12 months with the possibility of extension, based on organisational requirements.
• Duty Station: Bridgetown, Barbados.
• Remuneration: The salary for this role starts at BBD 9,600.89.
• Travel Requirements: The WFP Caribbean Office cover the 22 English and Dutch speaking Caribbean countries. The selected candidate may be required to travel from time to time, both regionally and internationally, to support missions, emergency responses, training etc. As such, medical clearance is required.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Application should be submitted by March 09, 2023, Easter Daylight Time.

Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be considered and only short-listed qualified candidates will receive an acknowledgement.

WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment.

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.