Consultancy - Supply Chain Systems Strengthening and South-South Cooperation - Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Duty Station: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Are you a Supply Chain specialist and interested in South-South Cooperation and System Strengthening work? If yes, then this opportunity is for you!

We are looking for candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles and values. We select our candidate on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity, inclusion and gender parity. We are currently looking for a candidate to support our work in Africa.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest humanitarian organisation delivering food assistance to over 100 million beneficiaries in 80 countries on a yearly basis. With over 5000 trucks, 50 ships and close to 100 planes on the move every single day, WFP, together with its partners, operates a global network to deliver life-saving food assistance to the most hard-to reach places.

This year, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2020 to the World Food Programme for its efforts to combat hunger and its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas.

SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN IN WFP

CERFAM, WFP's first centre of excellence in Africa, is a mechanism for fostering South-South Cooperation which aims to support efforts to accelerate achieving Zero Hunger while simultaneously responding to the growing demands of national governments and regional institutions for technical expertise, specialised training, and knowledge management. CERFAM’s priority thematic areas of support include school feeding based on local purchases (Home-Grown School Feeding - HGSF), post-harvest loss management, food safety, nutrition, community resilience, social protection, nutrition-sensitive food value chains, rural development, women's empowerment and strengthening of food supply chains.

CERFAM, in partnership with WFP country offices, regional bureaux, HQ, and external institutions, facilitates and mobilizes high-level expertise and promotes innovative solutions to fight hunger and malnutrition through the documentation and dissemination of good practices, innovative approaches and networking. CERFAM’s approach utilises the framework for South-South Cooperation whereby CERFAM has a service offer that is two-fold: (i) identify, document, promote and disseminate good practices in Africa, and (ii) deploy expertise through South-South Cooperation and/or development partners that strengthens the systems of the recipient institution or organization. Ultimately harnessing these good practices to achieve food and nutritional security in Africa.

Known for its leadership in promoting food security and nutrition to support SDG implementation, WFP has developed excellence in supply chain management and has been engaging with governments and partners to support them in their daily challenges in this area.

In March 2020, the CERFAM and WFP’s Supply Chain Division (SCO) signed a technical cooperation framework to promote joint actions in the areas of food systems and health product supply chains with a focus on country capacity strengthening and South-South Cooperation. A Regional Technical Training Centre (RTTC) in Accra is being rolled-out as a multi-stakeholder 5 years public private partnership (PPP) with Governments, the private sector, the UN, and other humanitarian organizations. CERFAM, RTTC, and SCO together offer a mechanism that strengthens multi-stakeholder engagement on innovative and effective solutions in supply chain management that impact positively upon sustainable food systems.

JOB PURPOSE

The assignment is part of the implementation of the technical agreement between CERFAM and WFP Supply Chain Division on South-South Cooperation and country capacity strengthening. The scope of work includes support in thematic areas such as supply chain, post-harvest loss management, value-supply-chain assessments and local food transformation (processing, warehousing, storage and transport). In conjunction, the consultant is expected to support expanded initiatives under the Regional Technical Training Centre (RTTC) in Accra, Ghana.

The position will be administratively based in CERFAM, Côte d’Ivoire, supporting governments and partners in the development of effective/efficient/sustainable supply systems. The consultant will also work to advance the collaboration between CERFAM and the RTTC for improving capacity in the region on transport management. She/he will support the operationalization of the RTTC by ensuring strong coordination and collaboration among CERFAM, WFP’s Supply Chain teams at headquarters, regional bureaux, country offices and RTTC. She/he will facilitate and coordinate relations with public actors in Côte d’Ivoire and other countries raising the profile of RTTC and CERFAM.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Under the supervision of the Director of CERFAM and technical supervision from Supply Chain Division in Rome, the consultant will work to build synergies and integrated approaches.

The consultant will perform the following functions:

• Facilitate the sharing of WFP and partners’ technical knowledge and experience in the field of supply chain, and coordinate with multiple actors - from governments, private sector, UN agencies, and other humanitarian organizations - to develop and deliver learning initiatives;
• Contribute to better knowledge management through the identification, documentation and dissemination of good practices, innovations and lessons learned and how these contribute to longer-term development;
• Conduct needs assessments and gap analyses that identify how to strengthen national supply chain systems, who the key stakeholders/institutions are, and how this will improve transport management and food value chains. (Conducting supply chain or value chain analysis/assessments as required);
• Facilitate consultations with national government partners and stakeholders to identify their needs;
• Contribute to planning and implementation of CERFAM and Regional Technical Training Centre action plan integrating key supply chain stakeholders;
• Strengthen linkages between stakeholders so that they can independently connect supply to markets, manage food systems and deliver to those in need.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Within delegated authority, the consultant will be expected to achieve the following:

1. Effective and regular collaboration and coordination among CERFAM, HQ Supply Chain and RTTC is maintained
2. Training modules and other learning initiatives are developed and implemented
3. Consultations with internal and external partners and stakeholders
4. Support the operationalization of the RTTC
5. Organize an event for public consultation – with those in Côte d’Ivoire that are involved in the RTTC
6. Good practices and lessons learned are documented and disseminated

STANDARD MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education

Advanced university degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Economics, Business Administration, Commerce, Logistics, or other related field, or first university degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience

• At least 5 years of work experience in logistics and supply chain and/or in international development environment, with expertise in at least one of the following topics: food and nutrition security, school feeding programmes, post-harvest lost, South-South Cooperation, agricultural development
• Experience in working in a development role, and/or institutional strengthening, and/or South-South activities
• Experience in drafting strategies, plans, and others related documents
• Experience in multicultural environments and working with staff from other cultures and backgrounds
• Experience in working with UN agencies, development partners, high level authorities, local governments and civil society organizations is desirable
• Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder or South-South Cooperation projects is a plus
• Demonstrated strong team skills, strong communication, writing and conceptual skills including ability to use knowledge in applied policy formulation
• Experience in developing countries, particularly in West Africa is a strong asset

Language

• Fluent in oral and written English and French

DESIRABLE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Solid understanding of end to end supply chain management
• Demonstrated in-depth technical expertise in supply chain areas (planning, warehouse management, transport, etc.)
• Understanding of logistics networks and challenges in West Africa is desiderable
• Ability to facilitate strategic/technical conversations and drive stakeholders’ consensus
• Ability to create and maintain strong relationships with key counterparts
• Ability to work independently in a timely and organised manner
• Strong coordination and problem-solving skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

WFP offers a competitive compensation package that will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP: and Click on: “Our work” and “Where we work” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

Application deadline: 30 May 2021

Your CV must be submitted in English

Women 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.