Food Technologist P3 - Kinshasa, DRC

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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, physical or mental disability.

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.

COUNTRY CONTEXT

DRC remains the world’s second largest food crisis for a second year. Successive waves of violence, mass displacements and poor harvests have resulted in a protracted humanitarian crisis. With 27.3 million people facing crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity, WFP and its partners significantly expanded operations in 2020, reaching a record 6.9 million people. In 2021, WFP is targeting 8.7 million people and has reached an estimated 2.7 million people by 31 May 2021.

Within this context, WFP continues its corporate Level 3 emergency response covering the most populous and conflict-affected provinces in eastern DRC, Tanganyika, Haut Katanga and the Greater Kasai region. In addition to its emergency response, WFP continues to respond to other acute crises, including the DRC’s epidemic outbreaks like measles and monkey pox. WFP continues to play a key role in the fight against COVID-19, by providing vital critical logistics and transport support to help contain the spread of the virus.

The organizational structure of WFP in the DRC includes 18 offices in practical all regions of the country, divided in 4 areas: Nord-South Kivu, Tanganyika-Katanga, Kasai, and Equateur. The HQ of the country office is in Kinshasa. Some 650 staff work from the offices to implement food assistance - in-kind or cash based - and resilience programmes. Within the context of a strong interest in strengthening the local food purchase capacity, shared by WFPs major donors, as well as an increased demand to cater for more complex response to the needs of beneficiaries with diverse food baskets, Food safety and quality has been identified as a major priority for WFP.

WFP's operations in DRC contribute to the global efforts to reach Sustainable Development Goals 1 (End Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality) and 17 (Partnerships). (For your reference Source: Democratic Republic of the Congo | World Food Programme)

JOB PURPOSE

The role of the Food Technologist will be to support the effective design and the practical implementation of local food system projects, integrating Food Safety and Quality Management System across all activities.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The Food Technologist will report directly to the Head of Supply chain. The incumbent will work in close collaboration with various internal stakeholders (Supply chain, Programme / Resilience, Food Quality and Safety units in WFP headquarters) as well as external stakeholders (Government, UN agencies, Private Sector, SUN Business Network, suppliers, and farmers). The incumbent will work on following tasks:

• Lead the project aiming to reinforce WFP’s local food sourcing activities by strengthening and diversifying WFP’s supplier roster, with the aim to increase procurement from validated small and medium sized enterprises and smallholder farmers. • Enhance local resilience projects throughout the country, building the capacity of small holder farmers with regards to food quality, supply (transport, warehousing, pest-control) and post-harvest management. • Develop the collaborate with the national quality control agent, Office Congolais de Controle (OCC) and prepare a roadmap that helps raising awareness and reinforcing the Food Safety & Quality procedures and testing capacity in DRC. • Co-lead (jointly with the Nutrition unit in WFP) local fortification projects supplying WFP’s food pipeline, involving the private sector with the aim to identify opportunities for commercial market development. • Advise the multi-stakeholder national and provincial coordination platforms for food fortification, including the private sector, ensuring legislation, standards, and directives for the fortification of certain food products. • Implement effective Food Safety and Quality Management System (e.g., procedures, instructions, specifications, etc.). • Implement the food incident management system with the CO’s operation and participate in the response of food incidents. • Establish productive relationships and partnerships with institutions and organizations (Government, UN agencies, NGOs, private sector) in key functions working on food safety and quality; build / strengthen local capacity for quality management / assurance in relation to activities with WFP suppliers and inspection companies. • Perform any other duties as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A university degree (or equivalent relevant experience) in Food Technology / Food Processing, Agronomy, or a related field. • At least 5 years professional experience in food technology and nutrition / fortification related project implementation, building capacity of and working with complex and high-level networks of stakeholders (Government, international organisations, private sector, farmers). • At least 3 years professional experience in project coordination and management. • Experience in developing and managing food safety and quality related projects operational supply chain strategies in a country. • Demonstrated ability to work productively in remote and high-pressure environments, maintain morale and deliver on objectives in difficult circumstances. • Willingness to share expertise, experience and knowledge in the form of manuals, trainings, lectures and practical hands-on intervention in the field. • Intermediate knowledge (level B) in French language and Intermediate knowledge (level B) in English language. • Previous experience working in the Democratic Republic of Congo is an asset.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has worked in emergency response capacity. • Has worked with counterparts in supply chain function. • Has experience monitoring and assessing food safety and quality issues. • Has experience building strong external relationships. • Has experience working on developing food assistance programmes.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Mobility is, and continues to be, a core contractual requirement in WFP. The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term as well as a rotational contract with a probationary period of one year.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. For more details, please visit icsc.un.org.

This is an International Professional position that is open to all nationalities. Nationals of the country where the position is based are not eligible to apply.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Application deadline: 16 January 2022

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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.