Programme Policy Officer (Resilience and Food Systems) – Head of Programme

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 or disability.

CONTRACTUAL INFORMATION

JOB TITLE: Programme Policy Officer (Resilience and Food Systems) – Head of Programme
CONTRACT TYPE: Consultant Level II
UNIT/DIVISION: Programme
DUTY STATION: Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
DURATION: 11 months

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.

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

This assignment will involve providing strategic oversight, coordination and lead in integrated programme design and implementation including food systems strengthening specifically focusing on enhancing productivity, production, post-harvest management and market access, school feeding and nutrition interventions. In addition, the position will also ensure adequate integration of cross-cutting issues such as gender, disability, women, youths and ensuring that aspects of strengthening Accountability to Affected Populations is fully adhered to.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Area Office, the incumbent will be responsible for implementing the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate all programme implementation in Amhara region and provide technical support to Sub offices to deliver a complex portfolio of programmes through integrated approach and ensure that policy and programme operations are consistent with WFP policies and Ethiopia Country office priorities
• Contribute to formulate and Developing concept notes in line with both organizational strategy and the practical realities of the Amhara region
• Supporting the area office in providing strategic technical oversight on facilitating adoption and practice of environmentally sustainable, climate resilient agricultural practices in close liaison with the Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (BOANRM).
• Provide operational support on tailored services and information that includes extension to the participating farmers that includes investor and model farmers.
• Support adoption and utilization of appropriate post-harvest technologies by farmers and market actors to increase safety, quality and marketability of commodities grown and aggregated.
• Support and facilitate access to affordable financing to procure agricultural needs that include seed, implements, and post-harvest management technologies.
• In close liaison with the Head of Area Office, support strengthening of capacities for Agro-dealers and establish an efficient private sector supply chain hermetic solution.
• Support the development and rollout of appropriate financial products that are accessible and affordable particularly for intermediaries including aggregators to increase their off-taking capacity.
• Provide technical support to the Country Office resilience team in facilitating the transition of R4 Rural Resilience Initiative to a more broader food systems driven model in close liaison with relevant technical teams in the CO.
• Support documentation of lessons learnt and best practices emanating from the implementation of Food Systems and Resilience.
• Provide oversight for Field Level Agreements (FLAs) management and contribute to the design or update of Plans of Operations in close liaison with Head of Area office.
• In close liaison with Head of Area Office and relevant staff, provide oversight for the monitoring of Cooperating Partner (CP) profiling, capacity assessment and evaluation based on WFP guidelines including maintaining data and records on evaluation.
• Provide periodical oversight visits and engagement with CPs to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the integrated food systems and resilience interventions.
• Occasionally and when delegated, participate in inter-agency coordination meetings and missions covering resilience food systems encompassing crop and livestock value chains.
• Support the tracking of expenditures through periodical reviews of fund consumption reports, undertaking of reconciliations as well as raising of advance payment for the Cooperating Partners.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Head of Area Office and team leads in the Country Office.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education:

Advanced University degree in Development Studies, Economics, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience.

Experience:

At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in programme related functions of which significant experience (2 or more years) must be related to resilience building, agricultural value chains, market linkages for smallholder farmers/(agro) pastoralists, social protection to achieve food security and/or nutrition objectives

• At least two to three years of postgraduate professional experience in programme related functions including resilience building, agricultural value chains, market linkages for smallholder farmers/(agro) pastoralists.
• Experience working with government in implementing resilience, social protection, climate risk management and disaster risk reduction interventions.
• Experience in developing, establishing, strengthening, and maintaining relationships with a variety of stakeholders: governments and/or humanitarian & development stakeholders, preferably related to livelihoods and social protection programming.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills.
• Resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgement.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision as well as ability to supervise and train support staff; and to work effectively with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with counterparts and staff within the office, host government, donors, other UN agencies, private sector and NGOs/CSOs.

Language:

Fluency in both oral and written communication in English (Level C).

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

18 May 2023

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

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.