Programme Policy Officer (SAMS)

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WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

JOB PURPOSE

The Rwanda Country office is currently implementing its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2019 - 2023. In support of the Government of Rwanda's efforts to develop the agricultural sector as stipulated in the National Strategy for Transformation (NST) and other sectoral Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation (PSTA IV), smallholder farmer support forms an important pillar of WFP implementation under the CSP through strategic outcome 4.

WFP Rwanda is also supporting the government to transform the natural food system to ensure equitable access to healthy and nutritious diets for all, in line with the outlined priorities in the post food systems dialogue National Strategic Pathways, elaborated in the 2021 following the conclusion of the un Food System Summit.

The current focus areas of the SAMS unit include ( but not limited to):

• The Shora Neza (Invest Well) Project funded by the Mastercard foundation, which aims at enhancing employment opportunities for the youth and women through the establishment of Farmer Service Centres (FSCs) , which will lead to the enhancement of access to markets , effective post-harvest management (PHM) and access to finance through blended finance modalities.
• The Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA), which is an initiative hosted by WFP but comprises 5 other organizations ( including other public and private sector aims to establish pro-smallholder agricultural value chains in partnerships  with public and  private off-takers , credit and input providers and other commercial actors to enhance the livelihoods of SHFs.
• Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF), which is supported by USDA through the McGovern Dole (MDG) and Local and Regional Purchase (LRP), which aims at promoting peace through enhanced cross border trade between communities.
• The joint-programme for Accelerating Progress Rural Women Economic Empowerment ( JP RWEE) , which bring together the Rome based agencies and the UN Women to help uplift the agricultural livelihoods of women in 5 districts of Rwanda .
• The Peace Building Fund (PBF) -funded project , which aims at promoting peace through enhanced cross border trade between the communities.

The Post Harvest loss reduction (PHLR) initiative which is mainstreamed across all the above mentioned activities to help improve quality and reduce losses centric approach aimed at expanding access to effective PHM.

JOB PURPOSE CONT...

The activities are implemented in partnership with a diverse group of stakeholders including government line ministries   and sub national institutions , NGO partners (local and International ), financial service providers (UNCDF, Banks and micro- finance institutions ) value chain service providers such as input providers , aggregators and logistics providers as well as food -commodity traders , processors and commodity exchanges

WFP  Rwanda is seeking a qualified candidate to support SAMS unit achieving its objectives to contribute to the achievement.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the head of SAMs unit. However, given the cross cutting nature of school feeding and the multi-functionality of the development of a national programme , the consultant will closely collaborate with the HGSF(SO2), Nutrition (SO3) and supply chain units.

Under the direct supervision of of the Head of SAMS unit the consultant is expected to:

Operational Support

• Coordinate efficient and collaboration among key stakeholders (including Government , private sector and others ) and plan the execution of activities,
• In collaboration with relevant units , formulate programmatic approaches and initiatives that strengthen food systems into other WFP programme areas of work;
• Drive the implementation of innovative finance initiatives , including engagement with external partners such as the UN Capital Development Fund - UNCDF and Financial institutions , In close collaboration with relevant technical staff.
• Coordinate the development and implementation of the Farm Service Centre (FSC) , business models and entrepreneurship support strategy /approach  including the development of tools and processes for FSC performance;
• Provide key support to the SAMS  unit monitoring , Evaluation and Learning , including innovative initiatives related to access to finance (SheCan) and home grown school feeding ;
• Provide key support to the head of of unit in the management of local NGO cooperating partners and oversee activities.
• Explore with relevant technical staff , opportunities for digital scale up of SAMS activities 
• Conduct regular field visits to project sites 

Strategic Support

• Establish  and maintain  operational and strategic partnerships to complement the activities of the SAMS unit on market access , post harvest management , innovation and financial inclusion;
• Represent  the  Rwanda country office in the design and strategic design and strategic planning in technical working groups with WFP units ( including Finance -FIN, The Innovation and Knowledge accelerator (INKA)  and the Food Systems and Smallholder support Unit - PRORF)
• Engage with key technical staff at relevant government institutions , including Ministries of Agriculture , Commerce and Education to ensure the government buy-in and ownership of SAMS initiatives;
• Prepare and present high level reports on various topics related to the SAMS portfolio to a wide variety of actors and stakeholders;
• Identify  and coordinate the development of funding proposals and concept notes within SAMS Unit and Home Grown School Feeding 
• Drive innovation in the SAMS portfolio o work , including new project development ,
• Support and build national staff capacity
• Perform other related duties as required

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

STANDARD MINUMUM QUALIFICATION CONT...

Knowledge & Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of SMEs, pro smallholder procurement and commercial agriculture models.
• Ability to explain strategies and projects to field counterparts and communicate with local governments and partners clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to coach and motivate teams for efficient and effective delivery of results.
• Ability to assimilate and analyze complex issues using independent judgment and anticipate potential strategic impact.
• 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.

Languages

Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of French will be an added advantage.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Duration : 11 months extendable depending on satisfactory performance and available funding

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Apply by  19th August 2022.

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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.