Market System and Value Chain Specialist

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WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply. WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Job Title: Market System and Value Chain Specialist Grade: SC9 Type of contract: Service contract Duration: One year Duty Station: BRECSA PMU, Samtenling, Sarpang Vacancy Number: 829822 Date of Publication: 11 October 2023 Deadline of Application: 05 November 2023 at 23:59 Bhutan time

This vacancy announcement is for Nationals from Bhutan only.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been in Bhutan since 1974. After almost 50 years of support to school meals in Bhutan, WFP, through the country strategic plan (2024–2028), will strengthen and support government efforts to deliver equitable and inclusive economic growth and support human capital development. Key contributions will include expanding investments and capacities in resilient food systems, integrating food security and nutrition considerations into social protection, and strengthening systems for emergency preparedness and response. All WFP activities will continue to operate with and through WFP’s partnerships with the Government. A prominent feature of the country strategic plan will be to expand WFP’s capacity strengthening of government institutions and engagement of private sector partners while adopting a sharper gender focus.

The WFP is partnering with IFAD and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MOAL) in implementing the Building Resilient Commercial Smallholder Agriculture (BRECSA) Project. The project is supported by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) and IFAD and aims to to catalyze a 30% increase in resilient commercial agricultural production and improve food and nutrition security in 4 target Districts if Bhutan (Trongsa, Tsirang, Sarpang and Zhemgang) by 2030. The objective is to transform smallholder agriculture into inclusive and resilient agri-food systems that are increasingly profitable and food and nutrition secure. BRECSA targets subsistence, semi-commercial and commercial farmer households. The total direct beneficiaries of BRECSA interventions are 12,074 farmer households (47088 beneficiaries), out of which 60% will be women and 30% youth.

The purpose of the assignment is to ensure a proper market system development approach and to enhance commercialization of farmer groups to develop private sector enterprises and for engaging youth in lucrative commercial ventures. This outcome would be achieved through completed value chain specific intervention strategies and plans, established gender and youth inclusive hubs to support a robust agri-business sector and supported investments in effective and inclusive climate resilient infrastructure to support commercialization.

WFP seeks a suitable national market system and value chain development specialist for a period of 12 months to function as the technical assistance coordinator and thematic specialist. The project document and annual work plan and budget will guide the main areas of work and activities.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Function as the WFP technical assistance component coordinator. 2. Provide overall guidance to the Project Director and Project Management Unit on the effective implementation of the project, including inputs to project implementation manual (PIM) and other guidelines. 3. Prepare the WFP Technical Assistance (TA) Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) and revise as necessary. 4. Ensure timely implementation of TA activities and monitoring activities as per the AWPB and project guidelines. 5. Collaborate with WFP programme Manager and prepare TORs, tenders and contract documents for equipment, works and professional services required under TA component. 6. Ensure that an effective and participatory M&E system is established and effective. Develop clear monitoring and evaluation plan in consultation with the CO M&E Unit. 7. Monitor expenditure on monthly basis, against approved AWPB to prepare and send timely fund request GAFSP. 8. Coordinate and support WFP country office field missions including project supervision and review missions. 9. Prepare and submit reports in time to project, donor and WFP. 10. Facilitate and support auditing requirements of the project.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS (details to be determined by Post Managers):

1. Implement a market system approach to ensure different components of the project are articulated for an integrated approach to agricultural market system development. 2. Strengthen the capacities of government agencies in market-oriented planning based on economic (cost-benefit) analysis. 3. Strengthen capacity of government project officials in proper value chain development and creation of agri-enterprises. 4. Strengthen capacity of government project agencies in developing and delivering on small holder-based market access policies and programmes. 5. Lead a study on marketing strategy for the spice sector. 6. Undertake market study on product diversification, labeling and organic production. 7. Identify opportunities and potential of certain niche commodities (honey, tea, spice, MAPs) aligned with Agriculture Resilience Plans (ARPs) 8. Produce guidelines for FMCL for gender and youth inclusive hubs. 9. Undertake market research, exploration, trial marketing and establish linkages with international markets to enhance export, particularly of high-end specialty products. 10. Support the commercialization of agricultural/ livestock produce including advice on aggregation centres, post-harvest management, small-scale processing centres, grading, packing facilities and storage. 11. Support in developing digital platforms/ICT tools on markets and pricing based on assessment of existing digital technologies and needs assessment.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Master’s or bachelor’s degree in the field of agriculture, life sciences, business management/ administration, development studies or related field.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of professional experience (for master’s degree holder) or 5 years of professional experience (for bachelor’s degree holders) required in implementing or supervising agriculture related projects.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Experience in food system/ market system/ value chain development programmes • Experience in project and people management • Good knowledge and skills in providing capacity-strengthening services. • Skills in capacity strengthening of farmer groups and cooperatives in agriculture marketing and rural business development. • Experience working in collaboration with a diverse array of development stakeholders, including government, UN, development partners, civil society, etc. • Good communication skills including report writing. • Experience in coordinating the work of others and self and training and supporting others. • Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Languages:

Fluency in both oral and written communication in English (Level C) and Dzongkha

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.

Request for Disability related Reasonable Accommodations: It is important to WFP to create an accessible and inclusive workplace for everyone. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection and hiring process, please direct your request and inquiries to the Diversity and Inclusion team on: [email protected] or [email protected] . A member of the reasonable accommodation team will contact you to confidentially discuss your needs.

This email is only to be used for any disability related accessibility requirements, and not for sending the application itself. Due to volume of applications, any applications or CVs sent through this email address will not be considered as a formal application and will not receive a reply from WFP.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, 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.

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WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. WFP has zero tolerance for ****sexual**** ****exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including**** sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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.