Programme Policy Officer (Market Linkages), SB4, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

.

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.

VACANCY DETAILS

Type of Contract: Service Contract (SB-4) 
Location: Bhubaneswar, Mission Shakti Department, Goverment of Odisha
Duration of Contract: One year (Renewable, depending upon availbility of funds)
Reporting to and under direct supervision of : Head, Supply Chain & PDS Unit, WFP India Country Office 

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization that is committed to saving lives in emergencies and changing lives through sustainable development. WFP is working with 83 countries around the world, supporting governments in their efforts to reach the targets under Sustainable Development Goal 2 – improving access to food, ending all forms of malnutrition, improving incomes, and promoting sustainable agriculture. In India WFP has been closely working with national and state Government of Odisha since 1963.  Since 2012, WFP has been providing technical assistance and capacity development to Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, School & Mass Education, and Planning and Convergence Departments to ensure improved access food through transformation of TPDS, access to nutritious food through food fortification, and analysis of food and nutrition security scenario respectively. In addition to closely working with Odisha, understanding the working and aspiration of the state, WFP also brings in its vast global expertise gained by undertaking innovative programmes for promoting women’s social and financial mobility.
In line with its global commitment, WFP India’s current Country Strategic Plan (CSP), 2019-23, too articulates a strong commitment to enhancing livelihoods, gender equality and women’s empowerment by incorporating gender as a cross-cutting theme across all components of the plan and adopting a gender-transformative approach in its programmes. WFP aims to focus its efforts on promoting policies and interventions that interweave gender, women’s empowerment, and food security and nutrition at multiple levels.
Recognizing the role played by women small and marginal farmers, and Women Self Help Groups (WSHG) in enhancing the well-being of the population, the Government of Odisha has taken pioneering steps to empower women and ensure their equal participation in the development process. Mission Shakti, the dedicated department for women empowerment, has prioritized enhancement of women’s livelihoods and incomes as a broad-spectrum strategy for empowering women. WFP and Mission Shakti, Government of Odisha, have collaborated to provide technical assistance in the thematic areas of improved livelihoods, women empowerment, and nutrition to support Mission Shakti in achieving its outcomes. A series of activities will be implemented under the partnership to build capacities of Mission Shakti and the WSHGs to enhance women’s economic participation, market linkages, incomes, and empowerment.

JOB PURPOSE

The Programme Policy Officer (Market Linkages) will be placed in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, at the Mission Shakti Department, and work under the direct technical guidance from the Head Supply Chain & PDS Unit (SO1) in the WFP Country Office, New Delhi, and in close coordination and consultation with Head of State Office in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha (who will be the de-facto project coordinator) on programmatic, administrative, and other issues as required.  She/he would be required to undertake business development activities, create linkages to private sector and inter alia support preparation of business proposals. She/he will complete the assigned tasks in consultation with the supervisor(s) and will be required to liaise with colleagues in other units, partners in Mission Shakti and the Odisha Field Office (FO) team on a regular basis, and other external partners as required. She/he will also be required to extensively travel to project field sites.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the direct supervision of the Head, Supply Chain & PDS Unit (SO1) WFP, New Delhi, the Programme Policy Officer (Market Linkages) will be responsible to perform the following duties: 
1.    Explore and enhance market linkage opportunities
a.    Support the creation of a scoping document of the available and potential market opportunities within Odisha as well as at national and international levels for WSHG produced goods and services.
b.    Identify and initiate dialogue with potential buyers of WSHG produced goods and services, including both private sector and government departments and facilitate engagement and initiate partnership with them for WSHG produced goods and services. 
c.    Proactively meet with key informants from industry and relevant public sector entities and representative of producers, processors, retailers, and other stakeholders to understand market demand, trends, and opportunities. 
d.    Liaise with external partners and stakeholders including government officials to facilitate market linkage. 
e.    Develop linkages with service providers such as insurance companies, banks, and transport and logistical companies and provide oversight during service delivery on behalf of members.
f.    Periodically collect feedback from current/potential buyers on product quality, quantity, purchase transactions, receiving, shipping, etc. to maintain market linkage.
g.    Coach and mentor WSHGs and liaise with buyers to sustain producer – buyer relationship. Also motivate WSHGs to maintain volumes and quality to meet buyer requirements. 
h.    Support the department in organizing market linkage related workshops, seminars, and field visits.  
2.    Support M&E, reporting, analysis, information, and communication
a.    Regularly analyse data on sales/volumes etc.to understand markets and market opportunities, existing and potential market conditions, and identify areas to strengthen market linkages.
b.    Provide monitoring, capacity building and handholding support for all market linkage activities, including capacity building, data collection and other field activities. 
c.    Provide inputs to all operating procedures, formats, templates, dashboards, etc. to enhance implementation and monitoring of the market linkages component.
d.    Document and monitor progress on market linkage component of the programme on a regular basis
e.    Contribute to the preparation of periodic reports and provide timely progress updates for sharing within WFP (with senior management, regional office, or HQ), or with Mission Shakti or other partners as required.  
f.    Prepare articles, briefs or other communication material based on market linkage activities and support its dissemination through various communication media.
3.    Other responsibilities
a.    Provide background notes, data and updates on the market linkage component as required.
b.    Document project processes, as required. 
c.    Participate in external partner meetings on the theme, as required, and support in related activities. 
d.    Support in any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor.
 

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.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
Advanced University Degree or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses from an institute of repute in any of the following disciplines: Business Administration, Sales and Marketing, Project Management, Development Studies, Engineering, Rural management, and social science would be acceptable.
Experience:
Minimum seven years of progressively responsible professional experience working in business development, sales, marketing, rural livelihoods projects, particularly in market systems design, development, and facilitation. Knowledge and experience in value chain and supply chain analysis and development is desirable.

Knowledge:
Knowledge of the Indian Government bureaucracy and livelihood operations required. Sound Knowledge of market linkage and facilitation.
Languages: 
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English. Working knowledge of Odiya is preferred.
 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. A written test will be used as a form of screening. In the event your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide in advance a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/ certificate(s) required for this position.
This is a national position therefore candidates who are non-Indian nationals will not be considered.
Mode of Engagement: The salary for this position is INR. 2,192,953/- per annum (depending upon the last drawn remuneration of the candidate), plus medical benefits as per WFP's plan. All tax liability for payments from this contract are to be borne by the subscriber.

Female applicants and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organisation. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection & recruitment process, and for work-related needs upon joining the Programme. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Applications for the positions are to be submitted online on the E-recruitment links as mentioned below: https://www1.wfp.org/careers/job-openings Note: Candidates are requested to Create an account in the system before applying. Candidates curriculum and applications will be registered and allows them to update their profile and apply for a job through wfp careers website. 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Deadline : 26 September, 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.