Programme Associate (SO4 Food System) - SC6 - Kandahar

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide. WFP has been working in Afghanistan since 1963. WFP food assistance aims to help the most vulnerable, food-insecure Afghans, including women and children, and families affected by conflict and natural disasters. In the approved Country Strategic Plan (2018-2022), WFP Afghanistan is well placed to provide comprehensive support to the country in achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 via its six closely interrelated outcomes, which range from emergency response to livelihoods creation, as well as nutrition Programmes based on a life-cycle approach, and the strengthening of national food systems.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are 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.

JOB PURPOSE

Programme Associate for Sustainable Food Systems will be responsible for planning, implementation and reporting on all activities under Strategic Outcome 4.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

-    Lead the overall SO4 activities, from planning, design, approval of the projects, coordination and overall implementation of the relevant projects
-    Undertake daily communication and creating interface with stakeholders; with partners, the government departments, and other participating agencies  
-    Coordinate with the CO SO4 focal points and other functional units to identify potentials and translate them into proposals and tangible opportunities for WFP
-    Organize project planning mission, meetings and briefing sessions to identify and analyze problems and recommend feasible solutions
-    Facilitate the minutes for records for all relevant meetings, foster improve filing; both hard and soft
-    Lead the expansion of Kandahar province activities related to Sustainable food system/SO4
-    Assess project performance including utilization of resources and achievement of planned targets.
-    Monitor the receipt of necessary shipping, freight or other documents and notify the appropriate WFP officer of non-receipt.
-    Analyze and prepare projections for food commodities and non-food items to ensure timely call forward and/or local procurement. 
-    Providing project PO, PR, SES, and other actions in WING 
-    Processing payments to the SO4 projects related partners in WINGs
-    Support development of comprehensive monitoring plans for Sustainable Food System (SO4) activities at field office level including the relevant partners.
-    Monitor the market trends on food systems and identify potentials for WFP engagement 
-    Maintain records of programme activities, form formulation stage though completion, by extracting relevant information from reports, project committees, budget records and other documentation; make information available for country briefs, country profiles, and other related purposes; ensure project cycle deadlines are met. 
-    Analyze contract terms and conditions and correct any observed discrepancies between contract rates and invoices amounts.
-    Carry out advocacy and information related tasks for project/programme activities such as making interventions and presentations in meetings, workshops, seminars, missions, etc.
-    Prepare status and progress reports by providing information and background material for use in discussions and briefing sessions. 
-    Compile and provide daily, weekly and month briefs on the program activities for dashboard
-    Provide guidance, on-the-job training and assistance to relevant partners 
-    Evaluate, develop, recommend procedures, Particpates in discussions on new/revised procedures and practices; interprets and assesses the impact of changes and makes recommendations on follow up actions.
-    Perform other related duties as required.
-    Productive representation of WFP in food security related meetings and other provincial level coordination related to Sustainable Food System. 
-    Any other task assigned by the relevant supervisor to foster the WFP mandate/operations in the region

Main Responsibilities

Main Responsibilities Specific to P4P/SO4: 

-    Assist the P4P coordinator in the implementation of P4P activities in Afghanistan including tendering, contracting and payment of food commodities under P4P purchasing modalities
-    Identification of potential reliable local food suppliers
-    Actively undertake negotiation with local food suppliers such as farmers’ organizations and or traders in order to facilitate WFP local procurement of locally produced agricultural commodities (Wheat, HEB, oil…)
-    Perform field missions in provinces to supervise the sequence of the local procurement ‘from the field to the warehouse’ in order to ensure that the commodities are being locally procured match with the required WFP quality standards
-    Assist the P4P unit by actively build and engage new partnership with I/NGOs, rural finance institutions, donors, farmers’ organizations, private sector representatives as well as government authorities at different levels. 
-    Organize missions, meetings and briefing to inform local authorities and stakeholders, identify and analyze problems
-    Carry out project assessment and conduct project performance including utilization of resources and achievement of planned targets
-    Monitor, update and track data related to project issues, commodity pipeline and financial allotment status reports, informing the relevant divisions accordingly and ensure accuracy of data.
-    Monitor and report, through commercial sector contacts, activities under fortification pillar and supply sufficient micronutrient fortificant and equipment for WFL fortification project 
-    Follow up with cooperating partners on projects’ activities such as assessment, reporting, payment, monitoring etc.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Knowledge of WFP programmes and policies, nutrition and food security and food systems.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Experience working in a United Nations agency, and preferably with WFP.
• In-depth field experience in Afghanistan.
• Computer skills in Word processing, Excel, PowerPoint, typing English/Pashto/Dari

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: First university degree (Bachelor's or equavelant) in industrial engineering, food technology, agriculture, nutrition or food security.
Language: Fluency (level C) in English language, plus Pashto and/or Dari, preferably both.

Experience:

• At least 3 years experiences in agriculture, food processing/fortification or communications in both public and private sector.
• Demonstrated experience in most pillars of food systems such as smallholder production, processing or fortification or marketing or communications.
• Experience working with private sector in Afghanistan.   

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Position Title: Programme Associate (SO4 Food System)

Grade: SC6

Contract: Service Contract - One-year renewable

Duty Station/travel: Kandahar, Afghanistan with travel inside Afghanistan

Medical Plan: International valid medical plan valid also for staff, spouse and dependents children under 18 years

Annual leave: 30 working days per annum

WFP Work Envirionment

WFP is committed to ensuring that all its workplaces are free from abuse, offensive behaviour, harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. WFP is also committed to promoting a work culture in which every employee understands, and is able to carry out, his/her personal responsibilities for maintaining the dignity of work colleagues. WFP seeks to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. We believe our mission of fighting global hunger worldwide can only be achieved if women, men, girls and boys are offered equal opportunities in terms of access to resources and services and participation in decision making roles.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Wednesday, 19 January 2022