Programme Officer, Agricultural Value Chains (SC-8)

Programme & Policy

Overview

Support agricultural value chains to enhance food security and nutrition.

You have:

• Advanced University degree (Masters) in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics / Agri. Business / Development Studies or related fields or bachelor’s degree with additional years of work experience
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in the English language.
• Fluency in local language/s.
• Postgraduate progressively responsible relevant professional experience (Masters qualification with 3 years or Bachelor’s degree with 5 years) at national or international organizations in the field of agriculture and rural development.
• Experience with value chain approaches in the agricultural and natural resources sectors, having conducted a number of value chain assessments.
• Proven experience in project management, administration, or related fields.
• Experience in working with government and private sector counterparts.
• Previous experience with the UN System would be 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.

BACKGROUND

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.

In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. Present in nearly 80 countries, the organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to nutritious food and contribute to the lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas. In Sri Lanka. a lower-middle-income country, WFP is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in tandem with sister UN Agencies and the government, and in particular, SDG 2, Zero Hunger.

Despite sound health indicators in Sri Lanka, in comparison to its South Asian neighbours, maternal, new born and child malnutrition continue to pose major challenges for the country, which is characterized by a high level of acute malnutrition, mild to moderate level of chronic malnutrition and widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Further compounding the issue is the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity, as the country undergoes a dramatic nutritional transition influenced by economic growth, urbanization and shifts in the quality and quantity of diets.

A WFP five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP 2018-2022) was developed in consultation with the Government and other stakeholders and informed by contextual, gender and gap analyses, and recommendations from the 2017 National Strategic Review of Food Security and Nutrition towards Zero Hunger. It supports Sri Lanka’s national development vision with four major Strategic Outcomes:.

➢ Strategic outcome 1: Crisis-affected people have access to food all year round; ➢ Strategic outcome 2: School-age children in food-insecure areas have access to food all year round; ➢ Strategic outcome 3: Children under 5, adolescent girls and women of reproductive age have improved nutrition by 2025; and ➢ Strategic outcome 4: Vulnerable communities and smallholder farmers have strengthened livelihoods and resilience to shocks and stresses all year round.

Importantly, a nutrition lens is being integrated within the WFP-assisted School Meal Programme whereby WFP provides technical support to the national school meal programme implemented by the government. WFP is committed to augmenting the nutrition inputs and results of initiatives such as the school meal composition; piloting models to boost the agricultural production and livelihoods of communities linked to the provision of meals, including through improved value chains using community based groups; and integration of nutrition sensitive and nutrition specific approaches.

To support these efforts, WFP Sri Lanka is recruiting a National Programme Policy Officer (School Meals and Nutrition), with sound experience with designing and implementation of community based livelihood programmes and nutrition interventions through both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programming. Efforts include supporting the government to scale up rice fortification efforts, promoting positive nutrition practices through a forward-looking nutrition advocacy campaign and behaviour change communication. A multi-sector approach to both school meal programmes and nutrition initiatives is critical.

JOB PURPOSE

The Programme Officer - Agricultural Value Chains will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Policy Officer - Agriculture Specialist, working to support advancement of Strategic Objective 4 of the Country Strategic Plan. He/ She will closely work with WFP’s Activity Managers of Resilience Building and the Programme Associates in the districts. Moreover, the post holder will work with the Nutrition and RAM units to ensure integration with gender, nutrition-sensitivity, evidence-based programming.

Close collaboration with the government counterparts and other local partners, The Programme Officer, Agricultural Value Chains will be responsible for the technical planning of all project interventions in the GN Divisions and DS Divisions and districts, ensuring that the plans are according to the best standards and suited to local conditions.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Working under the direct supervision of the Programme Policy Officer - Agriculture Specialist, the incumbent will be responsible for a wide variety of assignments within the delegated authority, including – but not limited to – the following:

• Contribute to the designing and implementation of programmes and projects related to agribusiness, value chain development, and agricultural and rural development.
• Analyse value chains, assess market opportunities and establish new innovative business/market links in collaboration with relevant government agencies and private sector organizations to build resilient, inclusive, and robust Agri-value chains.
• Support designing of appropriate support packages to match the population of smallholder vulnerable farmers for WFP support.
• Prepare technical specifications, cost estimations and distribution plans for the inputs of WFP support in line with the cropping seasons to ensure the technical quality of the inputs.
• Liaise with the relevant technical departments at the sub-national level, introduce the WFP project activities and agree on/adjust the technical designs and plans.
• Contribute to the collection and dissemination of relevant data and information related to agricultural, agribusiness, food value chains and systems.
• Conduct/facilitate the capacity assessment of the Farmers /Community Organizations.
• Formulate detailed criteria for selection of beneficiaries for the WFP supports.
• Prepare technical contents for the trainings for the small-holder farmers in collaboration with the relevant government departments and WFP programme staff.
• Provide technical support and backstopping to Programme Associates who are based in the field.
• Conduct field visits to the WFP project sites to assure the quality of the support activities.
• Work closely with Nutrition unit of WFP to promote nutrition sensitive agriculture.
• Organize and/or participate in meetings, conferences, workshops, consultations, and field visits as needed;

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced University degree (Masters) in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics / Agri. Business /Development Studies or related fields or bachelor’s degree with additional years of work experience

Language:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in the English language.
• Fluency in local language/s.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

Postgraduate progressively responsible relevant professional experience (Masters qualification with 3 years or Bachelor’s degree with 5 years) at a national or an international organizational in the field of agriculture and rural development. The applicant must have experience with value chain approaches in the agricultural and natural resources sectors, having conducted number of value chain assessments, fostering vertical and horizontal relationships in the industry to increase quality of services and products, especially for smallholder farmers. Proven experience in project management, administration, or related field is required.

Added advantage

• Experience in working with government and private sector counterparts would be an advantage.
• Previous experience with the UN System would be an asset.

KNOWLEDGE

Strong knowledge of private sector operations in agribusiness and knowledge of the UN system and procedures would be an asset.

COMPETENCIES

• Ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with other agencies/organizations, donors, government counterparts and other NGOs/ INGOs • Ability to develop, plan and manage programmes • Good analytical, negotiation, communication and advocacy skills • Leadership and teamworking

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
• Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
• Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
• Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
• Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Initial contract will be for a period of one year which is renewable, depending on the performance of the post incumbent, financial feasibility and the organizational requirements.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Sunday, 17 October 2021

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Qualified female applicants 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.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wfp.org