Programme Policy Officer NOD - Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA)

.

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. WFP Kenya Country Strategic Plan is based on the National Zero Hunger Strategic Review, as well as the United Nations Development Assistance Framework. It contributes to Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 17, as well as WFP Strategic Results 1, 4, 5 and 8, through four specific outcomes:

• Refugees and asylum seekers living in camps/settlements and populations affected by natural and man-made disasters have access to adequate food to meet their food and nutrition needs.
• Targeted smallholder producers, food-insecure and vulnerable populations benefit from sustainable, inclusive food systems and increased resilience to climate shocks to meet food and nutrition needs by 2023.
• National and county institutions in Kenya have strengthened capacity and systems to assist food-insecure and nutritionally vulnerable populations by 2023.
• Government, humanitarian and development partners in Kenya have access to and benefit from effective and cost-efficient logistics services, including air transport, common coordination platforms, and improved commodity supply chains.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Background

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.

WFP is the host agency of The Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA), a consortium of six agri-focused organizations (Bayer, Syngenta, Yara, Rabobank, AGRA and WFP) committed to the transformation of smallholder value chains. Globally, WFP manages the FtMA trust fund and Executive Board. At country level, FtMA operations are integrated into WFP CSPs in countries where it is present (Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia), using WFP offices and mandates as an operational foundation for implementation, and also integrating strategies with WFP programmes and outcomes. In WFP Kenya, FtMA forms part of CSP Outcome 2: 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 2023.

In Kenya, FtMA works through partnerships with a range of value chain actors to overcome existing bottlenecks in smallholder value chains and enable sustainable food systems. The approach is holistic and demand-led with Farmer Service Centres (FSCs) as the entry point for engagement. These agri-entrepreneurs act as hubs of agricultural-know-how and product/service provision for SSPs, earning income through direct sales and commissions.

This is a senior leadership role (FtMA Country Coordinator) that will operate with the oversight of WFP Senior Management, in regards to representation to the national government and key WFP partners (such as the World Bank), while also having a high degree of autonomy in planning and delivering work and representing FtMA (and by extension WFP) to external stakeholders.

JOB PURPOSE

This position is expected to work independently while consulting and seeking strategic direction from the Senior Programme Policy Officer and FTMA Managing Director. The incumbent is expected to provide regular updates to these positions and the WFP Country Director and other managers as required.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Develop a country implementation plan by identifying appropriate aggregation models and risk mitigation tools based on existing structures and partners in the country.
2. Lead the country level implementation engaging key value chain stakeholders: farmers, aggregators, buyers, input providers, financial institutions, extension service providers.
3. Connect and establish partnerships with the requisite private and public sector actors including relevant MOUs and agreements, and the government.
4. Build capacity of Cooperating Partners and value chain actors to enable their engagement with structured trade.
5. Build the skill capacity of and manage a locally recruited team to act as change agents to promote sustainable pro-smallholder value chains in multi-stakeholder contexts.
6. Review the country M&E system and lead monitoring activities in coordination with regional M&E focal point to allow for timely identification of emerging issues and informing ongoing interventions for mitigation measures.
7. Link and collaborate with relevant WFP units within CO and HQ technical teams to create synergy to pursue the pro-smallholder goals
8. Provide regular updates to KECO management and raise issues requiring management attention in a timely manner.
9. Serve as a daily focal point for the local and regional stakeholders.
10. Represent the interests of FtMA and WFP in agriculture-related forums.

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.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of postgraduate, progressively responsible professional experience in agribusiness, including expertise in one or more areas of agri-finance, production, logistics, business planning and execution.
• Three (3) years’ experience in leading and managing teams and improving performance, developing, and managing strategies in agribusinesses and/or value chain analysis with exposure to smallholders, SMEs and last mile delivery.
• Three (3) years’ experience in managing public-private sector partnerships in agriculture.

       Language

• Fluency (oral and written) in English and Kiswahili a must; proficiency in other languages spoken regionally in Kenya is an asset.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge and skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of SMEs, pro smallholder procurement and commercial agriculture models.
• Demonstrated experience in setting up sustainable rural agripreneurs to deliver last mile and first mile interventions to rural farming communities.
• 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 sub-national level.
• Ability to lead, coach and motivate teams for efficient and effective delivery of results..

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS.. cont

Knowledge and skills

• Ability to assimilate and analyze complex issues using independent judgment and anticipate potential strategic impact.
• Negotiation and motivational skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels within and beyond the organization.
• 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.
• Knowledge of various aspects of financial services and modelling is a bonus.
• Ability to frequently travel within the country

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Agricultural finance and financial services including insurance.
• Good agricultural practices including conservation agriculture and post harvest loss reduction technologies and practices.
• Input supply chains and delivery.
• Aggregation and offtake in private and public markets.
• Youth engagement and mentoring.
• Digitisation of agricultural and financial service delivery.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.
•  Be a force for positive change: Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Is able to identify, support and encourage focused on-the-job learning opportunities to address gaps between current skillsets and needed future skillsets for WFP.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios)

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries.
•  Focus on getting results: Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.
•  Be Decisive: Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning
•  Build strong external partnerships: Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships 
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• The World Food Programme DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
• WFP embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that celebrates diversity and inclusivity in all ways. 
• All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications and merit.
• Applicants profile MUST match the C.V attached. Any discrepancies between the C.V and the profile will lead to automatic disqualification.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

The Deadline to receive applications for this position is 22 June 2021.

.

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.