International Consultant - Value chains and food systems Specialist

Logistics & Procurement

Overview

Provide technical support for value chains and food systems analysis.

You have:

• University degree in agricultural economics, economics, agronomy, development studies or related fields.
• At least 3 years of postgraduate professional experience in agriculture, food value chain analysis, rural development, and development projects for smallholder agricultural market support.
• Knowledge of food value chains, smallholder agricultural support and food systems.
• Ability to establish priorities and plan, coordinate, and supervise own work plan.
• Excellent analytical skills with ability to compile, analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data, prepare reports and draw conclusions and recommendations.
• Knowledge of relevant actors in the agricultural development sector (government institutions, international organizations, NGOs, academia, etc).
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Good command of MS Office.
• Willingness to travel to remote regions, if necessary, on short notice.
• Excellent written and spoken English. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

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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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Over the years, WFP has steadily increased the share of food procurement that it carries out locally. In 2019, 31% of WFP’s total food purchases (1.07 million MT) were bought locally with an increased percentage of commodities purchased in developing countries and in the country where they were grown. By injecting cash into local economies, local and regional food procurement can significantly strengthen smallholders’ livelihoods and the sustainability of food systems. Hence, the Local and Regional Food Procurement Policy (“Policy”) was developed and approved in 2019, triggering the implementation phase, that has since then been co-led by the Programme and Policy and Supply Chain divisions at HQ.

The implementation of the Policy is underpinned by eight basic components that require new systems, tools and new methodologies. One of these components focuses on value chain assessment of target crops to understand their initial conditions as a first step that will steer the development of subsequent decisions and activities. Sudan is one of the selected pilot countries where an interim methodology developed for value chain analysis will be tested, and which results, jointly with development objectives identified, will guide the selection of appropriate and context-specific contract modalities and programmatic interventions.

JOB PURPOSE

The consultant will provide technical support (in coordination with the staff from the country office) on smallholders, procurement and food systems work supporting the implementation of the methodology developed to analyze different value chains in Sudan, such as sorghum, sesame and ground nutes. After the value chain analysis is completed, the support of the consultant will be key during the development of intervention plans, as well as to foster partnership to execute these initiatives.

The consultant will also support finding ways for better collaboration between procurement and programme to support small scale farmers and the revised components to be integrated into the work plan. Smallholder farmers linkages with the market are different in each state, and linkage between Small farmers with big farmers/traders should also be highlighted.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Provide technical support to the implementation of the methodology developed to analyze sorghum and other food value chains of interest in Sudan, including data collection, registration and analysis;
2. Contribute to the identification of aggregation system in place and implementation of potential interventions to address some of the inefficiencies identified in the value chain analysis of target crops of interest, acting as link between Procurement and Programme, farmers group structure and its capacity gaps;
3. Support team members on activities related to the value chain analysis methodology to ensure that deliverables are made within the agreed terms;
4. Within the specific area of responsibility, prepare reports and data analysis and make recommendations to supervisors;
5. Collaborate closely with internal counterparts in the Sudan Country Office to enable effective collaboration, implementation and monitoring of ongoing activities related to value chain analysis;
6. Identify, establish and foster operational local partnerships to implement collaborative initiatives that will contribute to addressing some of the inefficiencies identified in the target value chains
7. Follow-up action plan with clear actions, owners and timelines;
8. Other duties as required

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

University degree in one of the following fields: agricultural economics, economics, agronomy, development studies or other related fields.

Experience:

At least 3 years of postgraduate professional experience, specifically in agriculture, food value chain analysis, rural development, and development projects in the field of smallholder agricultural market support

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of food value chains, smallholder agricultural support and food systems
• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and supervise own work plan
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to compile, analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data, prepare reports and draw conclusions and recommendations
• Knowledge of relevant actors in the agricultural development sector (government institutions, international organizations, NGOs, academia, etc)
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Good command of MS Office
• Willingness to travel to remote regions, if necessary, on short notice

Languages:

Excellent written and spoken English. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

CLOSING DATE FOR THE APPLICATION

8 March 2021

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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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 5 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wfp.org