Apply job at The World Food Programme (WFP)

Position: Programme Policy Officer (Head of Small Holder Farmer Unit) (109711)

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.

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

WFP Tanzania is implementing its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2017-2021, which focuses on supporting the Government of Tanzania in its effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and in particular 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.

WFP aims to support farmers across Tanzania with arrange of initiatives aimed at increasing access to financing opportunities, quality inputs, technology and capacity on post-harvest loss management, and commercial markets. The Smallholder Farmer (SHF) unit brings together all of WFP’s on-going and planned agricultural projects including Kigoma Joint Agricultural Programme, Climate Smart Agriculture, Global Framework for Climate Services, and Beyond Cotton Project.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme and the general guidance of the Deputy Country Director, the consultant will guide the strategic direction of the smallholder farmer program, develop and foster internal and external partnerships, lead the smallholder farmers’ unit and manage its portfolio. The Consultant will supervise the smallholder farmers team and provide technical advice and support to the field teams implementing agriculture projects.
The Consultant will be based in Dar es Salaam, with frequent travel to the field.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Coordinate all smallholder farmers activities and its strategic expansion plan;
• Build,maintain and lead a specialized team to support the delivery of WFP's commitiments and to act as change agents to promote sustainable pro-smallholder value chains in multi-stakeholder contexts;
• Serve as SO3 Strategic Outcome and Activity 5 and 6 manager to effectively and efficiently implement the smallholder farmers activities,including financial management and monitoring resources utilization versus results;
• Identify and monitor risks and challenges in design and implementation of projects and propose mitigating actions and solutions;
• Coordinate monitoring and eveluation of activities for agriculture portfolion in collaboration with the country office 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;
• Identify and pursue programmatic and financial opportunities for WFP's engagement in the agriculture sector;
• Contribute to WFP's fundrising efforts by supporting proposal development,developing key messages and taking points, and preparing internal and external reports;
• Connect and establish partnerships including with private and public sector actors;develop MOUs and agreemenrts;
• Engage with partners implementing or complementing WFP's smallholder farmer projects;evaluate the performance of cooperating partners including utilization of resources,achievement of planned targets and KPIs and manage the cooperating partner relationships;
• Lead WFP engagement with the government, and serve as a focal point for coordination with relevant partners and stakeholders;
• Lead the coordination with other UN agencies in the KJP agriculture theme;represent the KJP agriculture theme at KJP steering commitees and with the regional government;
• Provide regular updates to management and raise issues requiring management attention in timely maner;
• Perform other related duties as required.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT

• Finalise WFP Tanzania Agriculture Strategic Plan and the approach to have impact at scale;
• The government, UN agencies and other actors in agriculture view WFP as a reliable and valued partner and convenor;
• The smallholder staff structure (in the country office and sub-offices) is in place to meet the expected results and staff are supported and capacitated to fulfill their responsibilities;
• Smallholder farmer projects incorporate elements of nutrition, social protection, gender, supply chain capacity and innovation;
• Project implementation (KJP, CSAP…), programmatically and financially, is aligned with the 2020 workplan and budget;
• Donor, WFP and UN reporting requirements (financial, narrative, results) have been met;
• Corporate and country office monitoring requirements have been met;
• WFP’s local procurement agreements and partnership opportunities are aligned with smallholder farmer activities and approaches;
• Donor proposals have been submitted;
• Program targets and budgets for 2021 have been approved.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Education: Advanced University degree in one or more of the following; Agriculture, Economics, International Development, Social Sciences or other related fields, with additional years of related work experience.
Experience: Six years or more of post graduate work experience.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Familiarity with planning and implementing smallholder farmer projects, including support and capacity building of partners and farmers at national or sub-national level.
• 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 experience.
• Strong oral and written communicate skills are necessary to ensure WFP strategies and projects are well articulated to all stakeholders including beneficiaries, partners, local governments, ministries, and donors.
• Ability to assimilate and analyze complex issues using independent judgment and anticipate potential impact.
• Negotiation and motivational 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 background.
• Resourcefulness, initiative and problem-solving skills, strong client orientation for value chain stakeholders.
• Knowledge of various aspects of financial services and modelling is a bonus.
• Experience with large international organization(s) or business(es) a plus.
• Ability to frequently travel within the country.

LANGUAGE
Fluency (level C) in English language. Advanced knowledge of Kiswahili language is an important advantage.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
31st December 2019 (Midnight New York time)
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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