Programme Policy Officer – Climate Resilience and Food Security

The World Food Programme (WFP) Zambia is implementing a five- year Country Strategic Plan (CSP), which is a result of rigorous consultations with the Government, donors, and other stakeholders, and reflects their intent to support and partner with WFP in the country. The CSP is informed by, and strongly aligns with national and United Nations priorities, and global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It embraces the Government’s long-term vision 2030; aligns with key strategic areas of its 8th National Development Plan (8NDP); and contributes to the joint Zambia-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDPF). The CSP is informed by WFP’s long standing and broad experience in the country, embracing lessons from evaluations and reviews which call for greater synergy, a consolidation of pilot initiatives, and improved gender sensitive approaches to programme design. Finally, it is guided by the Zero Hunger Strategic Reviews (ZHSR).

Advancing the WFP Corporate Strategic Plan (2022-2025), the CSP addresses both SDG2 and SDG17 and WFP’s strategic results 1,2,3, and 5. WFP is implementing six activities to achieve four Strategic Outcomes (SO). The SO will: respond to crises and shocks including support to refugees (SO1); address root causes of malnutrition (SO2); build the resilience, enabling environment and market access for smallholder farmers especially women (SO3) and support Government institutions to provide social protection systems (including home grown school meals), disaster preparedness and response SO4.

Zambia is experiencing increasing food insecurity driven by climate change, recurrent droughts, and economic shocks affecting agricultural production and food supply chains. In response, WFP, in collaboration with the Government of Zambia and UN Volunteers (UNV), pans to implement a project under the Japan–UN Collaboration for Food Security initiative.

The UN Volunteer will support climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and digital transformation in agriculture, with a strong focus on strengthening national and local capacities, improving food production efficiency, and enhancing food value chains. The assignment will also leverage innovative approaches and partnerships inspired by Japanese private sector expertise.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Programme Policy Officer – Innovations, Transformation and Field Coordination or hers/his designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will:

• Support Climate Resilient Food Production and Digital Agriculture:

- Support WFP Zambia in implementing and following up on digital transformation initiatives related to sustainable and climate resilient food production;
- Assist national and local authorities, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture, in strengthening systems to monitor food production and climate impacts;
- Promote the adoption of data driven and climate smart agricultural practices among local stakeholders.

• Strengthen Food Value Chains and Market Linkages

- Contribute to the design and implementation of food value chain strategies, including supply chain mapping and stakeholder analysis;
- Support WFP and government counterparts in identifying and developing new or improved market and supply chain opportunities for smallholder farmers;
- Facilitate engagement and negotiations with potential buyers, retailers, cooperatives, and private sector actors to expand access to markets;
- Promote innovations in infrastructure and technology (e.g. cold chains, traceability, logistics systems) to reduce post harvest losses and increase incomes.

• Capacity Development and Knowledge Transfer

- Strengthen the capacities of government officers, agriculture extension officers, farmers, and agribusiness actors through on the job coaching, technical backstopping, and regular follow up sessions;
- Organize or support workshops, meetings, and online training sessions on food production monitoring, value chains, and sustainable agricultural practices;
- Ensure that technical knowledge and skills transferred to national counterparts are institutionalized and sustainable beyond the duration of the assignment.


• Coordination, Monitoring and Reporting

- Support inter agency coordination at national and local levels, aligning activities with WFP’s Country Strategic Plan and government priorities;
- Contribute to monitoring and reporting on progress against project outputs and outcomes;
- Prepare technical inputs, briefs, and progress updates for WFP, UNV, and donors, including the Government of Japan;
- Promote knowledge sharing and visibility of project results within WFP and among partners.