Consultant Programme Policy

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WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

POSITION TITLE: Programme Policy Officer Food Systems
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Consultancy CST II
ORG UNIT: Food Systems Coordination Unit, POCF, Headquarters
DUTY STATION: Rome, Italy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
Under the supervision of the Deputy Head of Food Systems Coordination (POCF), the incumbent will provide, in coordination with other team members, support to expand resilient food systems work in the field, ensuring programmatic coherence and alignment with WFP's corporate strategies and thinking as well as post Food Systems Summit work. This includes review and support to design Country Strategic Plans (CSPs), ensuring Food Systems are effectively integrated under the various Strategic Objectives (SOs), as well as support for the team developing integrated approaches for resilient food systems.
Additionally, the incumbent will support resilient food systems integration approaches by working closely with other teams in the Programme Department, Supply Chain and CBT division and other relevant teams in HQ. The incumbent will also support the Food Systems programme officer with the actions and activities connected to the Global Response to support and strengthen food systems as required. The incumbent is also expected to support Regional Bureau and Country Offices with remote and in-person support to design and implementation of programmes that contribute to strengthening and rebuilding food systems. This includes integration with resilient, smallholder agriculture market access and postharvest losses, home-grown school feeding, nutrition-sensitive interventions, and other relevant programmes.
Additionally, the incumbent is expected to support the efforts to establish effective mechanisms to coordinate the relevant food systems programmes and activities with relevant stakeholders in the Regional Bureau, Country Offices and HQ. Finally, the incumbent will also support the Food Systems Programme officer in establishing partnerships with research centers and academia (e.g. CGIAR) at the global and local levels to support operationalizing conceptual models to the different contexts in which WFP operates.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the work on resilient food systems and integration of operationalizing concepts and theories for greater impact in vulnerable and shock-prone contexts.

• Provide strategic and technical assistance to Country Offices and Regional Bureau to design and implement food systems programmes, including close support to CSP design and implementation. This includes travelling to COs to support the efforts of the Global Response and their efforts to operationalize the response.

• Coordinate and support the LRFP Policy integration into broader food systems programming in the field, providing strategic inputs and technical assistance to RBs and COs.

• Support the production of corporate guidance material and technical notes, particularly on resilient food systems, CSP design and other relevant guidance and strategies. This includes developing relevant sections and providing advice on key issues.

• Contribute to the research and learning efforts in the areas of food systems, in particular best programming practices, providing advice on how capturing lessons learned on food systems work in different contexts (e.g. protracted crisis; unstable and fragile etc.).

• Identify capacity development needs in the area of food systems in the RBs and at the COs level and identify capacity-building efforts and develop plans to address them.

• Support the Food Systems Summit Hub, including attending meetings, ensuring coherence with WFP's programming and providing technical advice as required.

• Coordinate and maintain effective relationships with other relevant units and divisions by providing inputs, attending meetings and ensuring the flow of information between relevant parties as required.

• Perform any other duties as required or assigned.

SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Advanced university degree in Agriculture, Food Systems, Rural Development, Agronomy, International Affairs, Economics, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other related fields; or First university degree with additional years of related work experience.

Experience:
At least 6 years of experience in areas related to food systems, smallholder support, agriculture market access, resilience building. Relevant experience in providing technical assistance to develop and implement programmes. Strong field experience and willingness to travel are required for this position.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent skills in designing and implementing food systems, smallholder support and resilience programmes and strategies.

• Extensive field experience combined with skills to engage with relevant actors, internal and external, including management at CO level.

• Strong experience in providing technical assistance, in-person and remotely, to Country Offices and Regional Bureau including advice to leaders.

• Excellent interpersonal skills to build effective relationships with key stakeholders.

• Track record of strong performance.

Languages: Fluency in English.
 

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

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• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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