Programme Officer - Large-Scale Rice Fortification Project (SSA-8)

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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

Position Title: Programme Officer - Large-Scale Rice Fortification Project

Contract Type: Special Service Agreement (SSA-8)

Contract Duration: 11 months

Duty Station: Colombo, Sri Lanka

Nationality: Sri Lankan only

Vacancy Number : 829183

Date of Publication: 26.08.2023

Deadline of Application: 09.09.2023

This vacancy announcement is for Sri Lankan Nationals only.

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following website for detailed information on working with WFP: http://www.wfp.org

Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

JOB PURPOSE

Programme Officer - Large-Scale Rice Fortification Project who has specific knowledge and work experience in rice fortification is pivotal for the execution of the above-mentioned project supporting the start-up, and implementation of the project. And also, to provide effective specialized support and technical knowledge by coordinating and providing technical to strengthen fortified rice production and quality assurance throughout the various processes.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Planning and management: Develop comprehensive project execution plans, outlining objectives, timelines, and resource allocation. Collaborate with stakeholders specially with the National Food Promotion Board to define project scope and goals, ensuring alignment with fortification guidelines and regulations. 2. Coordination: Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team (internal and external), especially with Government officials, food technologists, nutritionists, quality control experts, and production staff. Facilitate effective communication, delegate tasks, and foster a collaborative environment to achieve project milestones. In addition, liaise with RB and HQ teams as needed to ensure timely delivery of project activities as per the timelines agreed in the proposal and respective CO workplan 3. Fortification Process: Apply your specialized knowledge to design and optimize rice fortification processes. Collaborate with food scientists and technologists to determine the most suitable fortification methods, ensuring proper nutrient content and preservation. 4. Quality Assurance: Implement rigorous quality control measures to ensure consistent and accurate fortification. Develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs), conduct regular inspections, and address any deviations or non-compliance promptly. 5. Regulatory Compliance: Stay updated on relevant food safety regulations and standards governing rice fortification. Ensure adherence to local and international regulations, certifications, and labeling requirements throughout the production and distribution processes. Support the Government of Sri Lanka in the development of rice fortification standards and ensure the legal notification of rice fortification standards for Sri Lanka. 6. Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish monitoring mechanisms to track project progress and performance indicators. Conduct periodic evaluations, analyze data, and generate reports to measure the impact of fortification efforts and identify areas for improvement. 7. Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivate strong relationships with governmental bodies, NGOs, research institutions, and industry partners. Collaborate with them to advocate for rice fortification, promote awareness, and facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity-building initiatives. Manage partnerships entered under the BMGF project and also build new strategic partnerships to advance large scale food fortification in Sri Lanka. 8. Continuous Improvement: Continuously seek opportunities to enhance fortification processes, considering technological advancements, emerging research, and best practices. Drive innovation, foster a culture of learning, and explore ways to maximize the effectiveness and scalability of rice fortification projects. 9. Capacity strengthening: Support the capacity building of the relevant government staff, WFP staff, and cooperating partners. 10. Supervision: Oversee and/or review the work of other support staff, providing practical advice and guidance, to contribute to delivering objectives to agreed standards and deadlines. 11. Act as a point of contact for the resolution of a range of operational queries and problems related to rice fortification and specifically the project. 12. Perform other related duties as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Masters Degree in Food Science and Technology, Agriculture Technology, or equivalent

Experience:

• Minimum of at least five (5) years of postgraduate professional experience in project management.
• Five (5) years experience in project management in an international development context with a master’s degree or bachelor's degree in Management, Agriculture, nutrition, or Food technology or a related field desirable.
• Specific technical knowledge and working experience regarding rice fortification.
• Proven experience in managing complex projects, preferably in the food industry or public health/nutrition sector. Demonstrated ability to plan, execute, and monitor projects, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Proficiency in analyzing scientific data, conducting research, and translating findings into actionable strategies.
• Experience in engaging and building relationships with diverse stakeholders, such as government agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and industry partners.
• Has worked with technical teams (i.e., Food safety, Food quality, nutrition, Agriculture technology, VAM, etc.) and contributed to the implementation of programmes.
• Has experience participating in policy discussions and policy formulation.

Languages:

• Proficiency in both oral and written communication skills in English. Written and oral communication skills in Sinhala and/or Tamil are preferred.

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], cc’ing [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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Sri Lanka is experiencing an unprecedented macroeconomic, political and social crisis, compounded by lasting effect of COVID-19. It has seen a significant reduction in agricultural production and yield, a sharp decrease in foreign exchange reserves, and a steep rise in inflation and food prices. The intensifying economic crisis continues to threaten food security. The persistence of high food and fuel prices has pushed food further out of reach. More than one-third of the population (37 percent) is currently facing acute food insecurity, according to WFP’s remote household food security surveys done in August 2022 in Sri Lanka. Within this perspective, WFP’s economic crisis response aims to reach a total of 3.4 million people across three main activities: (1) unconditional food assistance through cash or in-kind; (2) school meals; and (3) nutrition support, and overall, through social protection lenses. The CSP aims to contribute to four Strategic Outcomes that are aligned to four Strategic Results of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for Development). A total of 4 Activities are planned to be implemented to achieve the contributions to the four Strategic Outcomes, which are the following:

• Strategic Outcome 1. People are better able to meet their urgent food and nutrition needs.
• Strategic Outcome 2. People have better nutrition, health & education outcomes
• Strategic Outcome 3. People have improved & sustainable livelihoods
• Strategic Outcome 4. National programmes & systems are strengthened

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Saturday, 9 September 2023

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 (SDG 2) 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. WFP has been present in Sri Lanka since 1968 providing assistance to the country in emergency situations and conducting protracted recovery interventions in the aftermath of man-made disasters such as the 27-year conflict and recurrent natural disasters (droughts and floods/landslides). The country’s on-going economic crisis -- the worst in decades – has triggered a spike in the cost of living, along with lost jobs and reduced incomes. Coupled with the lingering effects of COVID-19 and impacts of climate change, the country is experiencing a concerningly high level of food insecurity. These challenges threaten to reverse years of development gains, undermining the country’s ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Even before the ongoing crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lankan women and children had very high rates of malnutrition: 17 percent of children under 5 were too short for their age (stunted) and 15 percent were too thin for their height (wasted), a figure which is considered 'very high’ in WHO classifications. The current economic crisis will likely aggravate this further. WFP commenced its second-generation five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for the period 2023 – 2027 (CSP 2018-2022) which aims to address immediate food and nutrition needs while building medium to long-term solutions through four strategic outcomes.

All WFP Employees are expected to demonstrate the competencies and standards of behaviour aligned with our core values and defined in the WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK, namely:

Leading by example with integrity,

Driving results and delivering on commitments,

Fostering inclusive and collaborative teamwork,

Applying strategic thinking,

Building and maintaining sustainable partnership.

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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.