Programme Associate, Market Access, SC6

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

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).

BACKGROUND:

WFP Tanzania is implementing a five-year (2022 – 2027) Country Strategic Plan (CSP), that aims at supporting the government’s efforts to deliver equitable and inclusive economic growth for the people of the United Republic of Tanzania through investments in human capital, resilient livelihoods, and nutritious diets. The CSP is firmly anchored in and guided by the Five-Year Development Plan III (FYDP III), the Government of Zanzibar’s medium-term development strategy for 2021–2025, the agricultural sector development programme (ASDP II), and the second national multisectoral nutrition action plan, covering 2021–2026 (NMNAP II), and the strategic priorities of the United Nations sustainable development cooperation framework.

Outcome 3 of the CSP supports smallholder farmers to achieve climate-resilient livelihoods, improved food security and nutrition through sustained smallholder access to markets, enhanced value chains and sustainable management of natural resources. Activity 5 of Strategic outcome 3, provides technical assistance smallholder farmers to diversify livelihoods, reduce post-harvest loss and improve access to market information and technologies.

The Programme Associate for Market access will therefore be responsible and support the achievement of overall objectives of activity 5 of SO3, working directly under the supervision of Activity 5 manager based in Dodoma office. The position will be responsible and support delivery of programme and interventions that enhance post-harvest handling and storage (PHHS), improve aggregation services, and collectives including development of Farmers services Centres (FSC), Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOS) and linkages through delivery of business development services (BDS) and linkages to viable predictable markets. The position holder will support implementation of various ongoing and pipeline projects ensuring key output and outcome results achievement including jobs creation, and livelihood opportunities for youths, and women, working with NGO implementing partners, local government authorities (LGA), community-based organisations and Private sector actors.

This position support strong WFP partnerships with local and international, public, and private organizations and institutions working on smallholder farmers market development, post-harvest handling and livelihoods development to enhance service access for smallholder farmers.

REPORTING

The Programme Associate will report directly to the Activity 5 Manager and will work closely across SOs and with other units such as supply chain to deliver an integrated programme delivery approach.

This position is based in Dodoma and with travel to other regions of project implementation in Tanzania as required.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES 

The Programme Associate will provide technical support to implementing partners, stakeholders and the community, ensuring quality of implementation, process monitoring and reporting on implementation status. Additionally, the position holder will support the activity manager to design, right fit, train and rollout implementation of activities and interventions on PHHS, aggregation, BDS, youth and women entrepreneurship and linkage to viable markets

Specific tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

• Provide technical support and assist in the design, coordination and analysis of market-based methodologies and approaches to improve productivity, PHL and access to viable market for smallholder value chains.

• Support project implementing partners to trouble shoot, identify gaps, market-based solutions, and incentives to link smallholder farmers to private sector market systems. 

• Act as a point of contact with local partners, agencies, NGOs and government institutions for inquiries on PHHS, Aggregation, and Market linkages for AMCOs, aggregators and smallholder farmers. 

• Contribute to the training of technical staff from implementing partners and service providers in project methodologies and implementation tools related to agriculture, food, and market systems including development of training and user manuals for Micro-Aggregators, AMCOS, and Traders.

•  Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities and ensure that there are strong linkages on gender transformation between program activities.

• Support the identification and targeting of farmer organizations and farmer-friendly aggregators through vetting, and due diligence process. Specifically, assess and analyze the profiles of target farmer organizations and their farm business management practice. 

• Coordinate and manage farmer training on good agronomic practices (GAP) and regenerative agriculture, post-harvest handling, logistics delivery planning Ensure effective knowledge transfer by instituting and leveraging the lead farmer structure within the supported farmer organizations 

• Support technical design and development of WFP training modules on business development for agribusinesses, aggregators, AMCOS on financial management, food safety, quality and quantity in collaboration with WFP nutrition, Supply chain, government, research organizations and academia.

• Provide specialized project management support on PHHS, aggregation, collectives including AMCOS and FCS development, and linkage to viable markets across all active and pipeline project activities ensuring timely and quality delivery in accordance with project plans and targets. 

• Coordinate and communicate with local partners, agencies, NGOs and government institutions to perform accurate analyses of services delivered and to ensure efficient delivery of PHHS and market linkage activities including Farm to Market alliance approaches.

• Provide information and guidance to cooperating partners to enhance services to farmers and increase livelihood opportunities by working closely with private sector.

• Support timely and accurate project monitoring, review for cooperating partner reports; compare content to field monitor reports; escalate significant issues; agree on actions; and ensure actions are implemented.  

• Act as a point of contact for resolution of a range of the field level operational queries and problems and timely resolve issues raised through the Complaints and Feedback Mechanism.

Other Tasks

• Perform any other tasks required by the activity and SO managers.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education: University Degree in one or more of the following disciplines:   Agriculture/Agronomy, Horticulture, Agriculture Economics, Agribusiness, Agricultural Extension, or equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.

Experience: Have minimum of 3 years working experience working in comparable and/or relevant position in the public service or private sector or an International Organization.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrate ability to analyze and write report as well as engage with external relevant stakeholders such as Government, UN Agencies, NGOs and Private Sector.

• Good understanding of food security vulnerability policies, strategies and operational framework of agricultural sector in Tanzania, and ability to link analysis to Programme design, in the context of WFP programmes.

Languages:  Fluency (level C) in both written and oral communication in English and Swahili languages.

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

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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

• Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application

• 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.

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.