The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. As the international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030, one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. Food and food-related assistance lie at the heart of the struggle to break the cycle of hunger and poverty. For its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict, WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

Malawi is a small landlocked country in Southern Africa. With a population expanding rapidly at 3 percent per year and the majority of livelihoods dependent on agriculture, the population is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate-related disasters. Poverty is experienced by most rural families, with those headed by women suffering the most. Relying on small parcels of densely cultivated land for their livelihoods, rural Malawians are highly affected by climate change. Episodes of drought as well as severe flooding are increasing in frequency, intensity and unpredictability, giving the most vulnerable households inadequate time to recover.

Malawi’s challenges are also compounded by high rates of HIV infection (at 9.6 percent), low primary school completion rate (at 51 percent) and chronic under-nutrition (at 37 percent for children under 5). WFP continues to partner with the government, other UN agencies, NGOs, civil society and the private sector to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, with a particular emphasis on reaching Zero Hunger (SDG 2), addressing structural drivers of hunger wherever possible.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

WFP Malawi’s Country Strategic Plan 2019-2023 sets a results-oriented goal of putting Malawi on a sustainable path to food and nutrition security by 2030. WFP is focused primarily on technical assistance to well-resourced, well-coordinated, nationally owned government programmes.Among other priority areas, the Supply Chain Strategy 2020-21 builds on this principle and seeks to strengthen the local supply chain capacity of key partners such as the National Food Reserves Agency (NFRA) and the Agricultural Development and Management Corporation (ADMARC).

Strategic Priority 1- Internal optimization: Mapping existing supply chain capacities, strengths, and areas for improvement

Objective- Skills and activity development

Activities- Considering the current staffing structure and unit objectives, advise on targeted activities that will enable the unit transition into the new supply chain 2.0

Strategic Priority 2- External Optimization: Review and analyze Malawi’s Strategic Grain Reservice (SGR), food agencies and Government supply chain processes

Objective- Identification of weaknesses/gaps and potential commonalities with WFP to improve efficiency

Activities- Conduct a qualitative study of Government's supply chain organs and systems

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Within this framework, the Junior Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Consultant - Government Food System Analyst and in close coordination with the Head of Supply Chain. The consultant is expected to support with following key duties:

Participate in the definition of the evaluation approach and methodology by producing an inception report.
Contribute to the independent review of Government supply chain processes and make recommendations to improve the existing set up.
Contribute to the analysis and evaluation of the current operational and institutional set up of Malawi’s food agencies, specifically in relation to supply chain processes.
Assist with the food supply chain review exercise by conducting interviews, meetings, peer reviews, SWOT analysis, etc. and identify any impediments to the successful execution of supply chain objectives (within Government and WFP).
Enhance communication and relations between WFP and the food agencies by outlining the mutual benefits of the review exercise

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT

Submission of inputs to the Inception and Final reports
Food Supply Chain partner map and contact list
Presentation and communication strategy of findings and recommendations.
Other dissemination products as may be agreed and determined by the supervisor

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Degree in Economics, Food Systems, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Technology, Operations, Analytics or another relevant field

Experience: At least 4 years of relevant working experience in research and analysis, methods design, quantitative and qualitative research in social sciences, etc.

Experience in supply chain optimization studies or development
Solid experience in food logistics, procurement, and supply chain management
Experience in similar assignments, preferably within Southern Africa
Experience in working with Governments, regional bodies, and WFP

Knowledge and Skills:

Proven practical expertise of designing and implementing thorough supply chain evaluations and/or plans
Understanding of national development planning and programming processes including National Development Plans and strategies
Demonstrable networking and partnership building skills
Track record of excellent English report writing
Strong communication, interpersonal and diplomatic skills
Ability to work with people from different cultures and background.

Languages: Fluency in both oral and written English language.

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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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Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: wfp.org