WFP is the largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Our mission is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every single day, we work 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. For more information please go to https://www.wfp.org/.

Organizational context

The project “Enhancing Family Farmers’ Access to Local Markets in the Republic of Congo through South-South Cooperation” is the result of a partnership between the India, Brazil and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund), the Government of the Republic of Congo (RoC), and the World Food Programme (WFP). The overall purpose of this initiative is to contribute to improving the food security and nutritional status of smallholder farmers, particularly women, and school children.

Driven by the Government of RoC’s demand to engage in South-South Cooperation (SSC) to advance progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, this project will enable RoC’s Ministries to tap into the wealth of expertise and innovations available in Brazil and other IBSA partners, with a focus on smallholder farming and school feeding programmes. Brazil’s successful strategies in school feeding and in making family farming more sustainable and profitable holds many lessons for RoC.

The project will focus its actions on two main components: (i) institutional capacity strengthening for policy makers and technical officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and of the Ministry of Pre-school, Primary, Secondary Education and Literacy, at central and local levels, through a “training of trainers” approach and on-the-job coaching; and (ii) capacity strengthening at the grassroot level for family farmer associations/cooperatives in targeted districts, through delivery of equipment, tailored training, and in-field demonstrations by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries staff trained by their peers from IBSA countries.

The project execution activities in the RoC will be carried out by the WFP Country Office, with the support of the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil and the WFP HQ South-South Cooperation Unit (PRO).

Job purpose

To provide specialized technical assistance to project activities in home-grown school feeding and smallholder farmer support, leading the development of key deliverables and knowledge products in coordination the the relevant WFP units and staff.

Accountabilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator, the project consultant will have, among others to be agreed in contract, the following primary responsibilities:

Conduct in-depth analysis of existing policies, programmes and other guiding frameworks on school feeding and smallholder farming in Brazil and Congo, as well as good practices from the Global South and development partners. The research will be done mainly through literature reviews, analysis of primary and secondary data and interviews with stakeholders from the governments and development partners (Rome-Based Agencies, civil society, academia).
Contribute to strategy design to achieve the project's planned products and activities with the Project Coordinator and technical team, ensuring a high-level of quality and alignment of project deliverables and timeliness in the completion of activities.
Support and facilitate relevant activities at the central, departmental and local levels for the development and dissemination of technical products (including trainings and validation workshops). Accompany the development of the project's territorial actions and make any necessary adjustments and recommendations in coordination with the government partner.
Support and articulate with the WFP offices the liaison with government partners in Congo and in Brazil for core knowledge products. Consolidate and systematize policy learnings and recommendations from the South-South exchanges between Brazil and Congo, including online workshops, study visits, and field missions.

Deliverables

Based on the above accountabilities, the consultant will prepare and complete the following deliverables:

Report with recommendations for the Congolese national policy framework to strengthen local food value chains;
Manual for rural extension agents;
Capacity needs assessment of targeted farmers associations;
Training of trainers manual for farmers associations on the provision of effective services;
Needs assessment in the project target schools;
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for local purchases for school feeding;
National school feeding programme strategy.

Qualifications and experience

Education: Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, International Affairs, Political Sciences, Economics, Agricultural Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance. Or university degree with additional years of experience

Experience:

A minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience in school feeding or smallholder farmer support programmes;
Proven experience in working with UN agencies, government, donors and/or NGOs partners;
Working experience related to food and nutrition security programmes, including school feeding, smallholder farming, food assistance or South-South cooperation;
Experience in conducting assessments and analyzing data to inform programme design and decision-making;
Prior experience in government capacity strengthening activities.

Knowledge:

• Strong technical expertise in designing and implementing school feeding and smallholder farmer support programmes.

• Knowledge of food security, nutrition, and rural development.

• Sound knowledge of project cycle, programme and resource management, humanitarian principles and tools, programmes and transfer modalities.

• Ability to translate understanding of programme principles into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches;

• General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures. Training and/or experience utilizing computers, including word processing, spreadsheet, and/or other standard WFP software packages and systems.

Language: Fluency in written and oral communication in Englishand French. Knowledge of Portuguese is highly desirable.

Terms of Reference

IBSA Fund Project in Congo – Consultant (Home-Grown School Feeding and Smallholder Farmer Support)

Location: Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

Type of Contract: International Consultant

Duration of Contract: 11 months

Level: I

Number of positions: 02

About the World Food Programme

WFP is the largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Our mission is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every single day, we work 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. For more information please go to https://www.wfp.org/.

Organizational context

The project “Enhancing Family Farmers’ Access to Local Markets in the Republic of Congo through South-South Cooperation” is the result of a partnership between the India, Brazil and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund), the Government of the Republic of Congo (RoC), and the World Food Programme (WFP). The overall purpose of this initiative is to contribute to improving the food security and nutritional status of smallholder farmers, particularly women, and school children.

Driven by the Government of RoC’s demand to engage in South-South Cooperation (SSC) to advance progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, this project will enable RoC’s Ministries to tap into the wealth of expertise and innovations available in Brazil and other IBSA partners, with a focus on smallholder farming and school feeding programmes. Brazil’s successful strategies in school feeding and in making family farming more sustainable and profitable holds many lessons for RoC.

The project will focus its actions on two main components: (i) institutional capacity strengthening for policy makers and technical officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and of the Ministry of Pre-school, Primary, Secondary Education and Literacy, at central and local levels, through a “training of trainers” approach and on-the-job coaching; and (ii) capacity strengthening at the grassroot level for family farmer associations/cooperatives in targeted districts, through delivery of equipment, tailored training, and in-field demonstrations by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries staff trained by their peers from IBSA countries.

The project execution activities in the RoC will be carried out by the WFP Country Office, with the support of the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil and the WFP HQ South-South Cooperation Unit (PRO).

Job purpose

To provide specialized technical assistance to project activities in home-grown school feeding and smallholder farmer support, leading the development of key deliverables and knowledge products in coordination the the relevant WFP units and staff.

Accountabilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator, the project consultant will have, among others to be agreed in contract, the following primary responsibilities:

Conduct in-depth analysis of existing policies, programmes and other guiding frameworks on school feeding and smallholder farming in Brazil and Congo, as well as good practices from the Global South and development partners. The research will be done mainly through literature reviews, analysis of primary and secondary data and interviews with stakeholders from the governments and development partners (Rome-Based Agencies, civil society, academia).
Contribute to strategy design to achieve the project's planned products and activities with the Project Coordinator and technical team, ensuring a high-level of quality and alignment of project deliverables and timeliness in the completion of activities.
Support and facilitate relevant activities at the central, departmental and local levels for the development and dissemination of technical products (including trainings and validation workshops). Accompany the development of the project's territorial actions and make any necessary adjustments and recommendations in coordination with the government partner.
Support and articulate with the WFP offices the liaison with government partners in Congo and in Brazil for core knowledge products. Consolidate and systematize policy learnings and recommendations from the South-South exchanges between Brazil and Congo, including online workshops, study visits, and field missions.

Deliverables

Based on the above accountabilities, the consultant will prepare and complete the following deliverables:

Report with recommendations for the Congolese national policy framework to strengthen local food value chains;
Manual for rural extension agents;
Capacity needs assessment of targeted farmers associations;
Training of trainers manual for farmers associations on the provision of effective services;
Needs assessment in the project target schools;
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for local purchases for school feeding;
National school feeding programme strategy.

Qualifications and experience

Education: Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, International Affairs, Political Sciences, Economics, Agricultural Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance. Or university degree with additional years of experience

Experience:

A minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience in school feeding or smallholder farmer support programmes;
Proven experience in working with UN agencies, government, donors and/or NGOs partners;
Working experience related to food and nutrition security programmes, including school feeding, smallholder farming, food assistance or South-South cooperation;
Experience in conducting assessments and analyzing data to inform programme design and decision-making;
Prior experience in government capacity strengthening activities.

Knowledge:

• Strong technical expertise in designing and implementing school feeding and smallholder farmer support programmes.

• Knowledge of food security, nutrition, and rural development.

• Sound knowledge of project cycle, programme and resource management, humanitarian principles and tools, programmes and transfer modalities.

• Ability to translate understanding of programme principles into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches;

• General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures. Training and/or experience utilizing computers, including word processing, spreadsheet, and/or other standard WFP software packages and systems.

Language: Fluency in written and oral communication in Englishand French. Knowledge of Portuguese is highly desirable.

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Added 5 months ago - Updated 5 months ago - Source: wfp.org