Programme Policy Officer (Markets & Supply Chain Support) NOB

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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

The Kenya Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2018–2023 is accelerating a shift from direct provision of transfers and services to the strengthening of national systems and capacities to deliver food and nutrition security. The CSP calls for increased community resilience by focusing on food systems through the development and modelling of integrated solutions along the food production, transformation and consumption chain that can be scaled up by the Government and the private sector.

Outcome 2 of the WFP CSP endeavours to ensure that targeted smallholder producers, food-insecure and vulnerable populations benefit from more sustainable, inclusive food systems and increased resilience to climate shocks to meet food and nutrition needs by 2023The Kenya Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2018–2023 is accelerating a shift from direct provision of transfers and services to the strengthening of national systems and capacities to deliver food and nutrition security. The CSP calls for increased community resilience by focusing on food systems through the development and modelling of integrated solutions along the food production, transformation and consumption chain that can be scaled up by the Government and the private sector.

JOB PURPOSE

To enhance the impact of the SAMS interventions and complementary initiatives by planning project activities that delivery quality support to smallholder producers, processors and other market actors taking a food system approach. To enhance smallholder access to markets with the objective to transform food systems by strengthening the ability of smallholders to do business and support government capacity to design smallholder friendly policies. Technical lead in developing and overseeing value chain assessments to inform project design and implementation.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Provide project management support for SAMS activities, ensuring a coordinated approach with other WFP programmes and public and private partners
2. Technical lead in the management of value chain assessments/analysis
3. In collaboration with WFP Field Offices, work with county governments study the opportunities available for smallholders in each target county to develop strategies for linking farmers to both private and public procurement opportunities. Operationalize sustainable off-taker aggregation systems
4. Contribute to the development of local milling and fortification for smallholder farmers and youth groups as a business opportunity and post-harvest loss management pathway. This involves sensitization, capacity strengthening sessions and proposing applicable technology in collaboration with WFP Field Offices and private sector partners,
5. Support thein the identification of opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve assistance packages and support advocacy work and in turn forge and maintain partnerships (including private sector)
6. Ensure that reporting, data gathering and monitoring systems for SAMS are in place and maintain quality standards are maintained. This will entail the design of reporting and data collection tools and systems in close collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation unit, timely review and feedback on technical reports submitted by cooperating partners.
7. Other as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced university degree in Economics, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Social Sciences or other related field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience: Typically, five years or more of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience formulating and managing Programme strategies in agribusinesses and/or value chain analysis with exposure to the bottom of the pyramid/last mile. Three years of experience in managing public-private sector partnerships and rural farming communities. Language: Fluency (oral and written) in English and Kiswahili is a must; proficiency in other languages spoken regionally in Kenya is an asset.

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.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance Displays ability to identify the main hunger problem at the national or subnational level to design and implement context-specific programmes that integrate complex analysis and the full range of food assistance tools. Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Voucher) Demonstrates ability to analyse and consolidate quantitative and qualitative information from different sources (e.g., market studies) to inform transfer modality selection and programme development. Broad Knowledge of Specialized areas (i.e. Nutrition, VAM, etc.) Demonstrates the ability to interpret basic data in the context of WFP specialised fields to contribute to technical programme design, implementation and monitoring. Emergency Programming Displays ability to translate understanding of programme principles in emergencies and protracted conflict situations into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches. Strategic Policy Engagement w/ Government Develops thorough recommendations using multiple inputs (e.g., government counsel, research, own experience) to strengthen national or subnational entities and government owned food and nutrition security programmes.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated knowledge of SMEs, pro smallholder procurement and commercial agriculture models.
• Ability to explain strategies and projects to field counterparts and communicate with local governments and partners clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Familiarity with planning and implementing small-holder market support and capacity building programs at national or county level.
• Tact and ability to work harmoniously with people of different national and cultural background.
• Resourcefulness, initiative and problem-solving skills, strong client orientation for value chain stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and presentation skills and ability to participate in and facilitate meetings and/or trainings
• Good understanding of WFP program, objectives and strategic priorities.
• Ability to frequently travel within the country

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

WFP is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge fees from applicants at any stage of the recruitment process. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Qualified female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. For any queries write to: [email protected]

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

The deadline for application is 9 August 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.