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7 April 2025-23:59-GMT+03:00 East Africa Time (Addis Ababa)
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CONTRACTUAL INFORMATION
Job title: Programme Policy Officer (Resilience & Food Systems), CST-2
Grade: Consultant Level 2
Type of Contract: Regular Consultant
Unit: Programme/Resilience
Duty Station (City, Country): Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Duration: Eleven (11) Months
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to end global hunger. 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, access and consume diverse nutritious food to avert double burdens of malnutrition. In Ethiopia, an estimated 70 percent of the population are employed in the agriculture sector (crops and livestock). In addition, much of the arable land is rain-fed with only 2 percent irrigated while with much of the cultivated land occupied by smallholder farmers (96 percent). Furthermore, an estimated 15.5 million people in Ethiopia require humanitarian assistance of which 9.8 million people are largely due to severe drought effects. Ethiopia, like any other sub-Saharan country remains extremely prone to cyclic effects of climate change with impacts varying across the different regions.
Amhara Region is one of the regional states located in the northern part of Ethiopia. The main source of livelihood for the population is agriculture with most of the areas dependent on Meher seasonal rainfall, a major rainy season from June to August. The humanitarian situation in the region has deteriorated since the northern conflict in 2021, which exposed many to related food security, health, nutrition and protection concerns. Currently, drought, conflict, disease outbreaks, seasonal floods and landslides, livestock and crop diseases, displacement, and refugees are the major drivers of humanitarian needs in the region. Amhara Disaster Prevention and Food Security Programme Coordination Commission (ADPFSPCC) estimated over 756,000 IDPs across the region of which 69,000 are hosted in IDP sites. People in need of emergency food assistance in the region for the period 6 -9 months starting from jan 2025 is 2.7M (Dec. 2024 Maher assessment).
WFP Ethiopia Country Office (CO) is looking for a Programme Policy Officer CST2, based in Bahir Dar Area Office, whose main responsibility will be to oversee implementation of an integrated resilience programme guided by two CO strategies, focused on the transformation, and strengthening of pastoral livelihoods and the other on transforming food systems for smallholder farmers in more productive parts of the country. The incumbent will also over-see the design and implementation of programme work streams such as nutrition interventions, social protection, school feeding and other related interventions targeting vulnerable and food insecure vulnerable communities in Amhara region. The incumbent will lead the program operations team and will supervise programme implementation for the geographical location, especially on resilience related activities, ensure transition and streamlining of activities and responsibilities with the technical support team, and oversee and guide Bahir Dar and Dessie FO Programme team.
JOB PURPOSE: This assignment will involve providing strategic oversight, coordination and lead in integrated programme design and implementation including food systems strengthening specifically focusing on enhancing productivity, production, post-harvest management and market access, school feeding and nutrition interventions. In addition, the position will also ensure adequate integration of cross-cutting issues such as gender, disability, women, youths and ensuring that aspects of strengthening Accountability to Affected Populations is fully adhered to.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):
Under the direct supervision of the Head of Area Office, the incumbent will be responsible for implementing the following tasks and responsibilities:
Supervise programme implementation in Amhara region and provide technical support to Sub offices to deliver a complex portfolio of programmes through integrated approach and ensure that policy and programme operations are consistent with WFP policies and Ethiopia Country office priorities
Contribute to formulate and Developing concept notes in line with both organizational strategy and the practical realities of the Amhara region
Supporting the area office in providing strategic technical oversight on facilitating adoption and practice of environmentally sustainable, climate resilient agricultural practices in close liaison with the Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (BOANRM).
Provide operational support on tailored services and information that includes extension to the participating farmers that includes investor and model farmers.
Support adoption and utilization of appropriate post-harvest technologies by farmers and market actors to increase safety, quality and marketability of commodities grown and aggregated.
Support and facilitate access to affordable financing to procure agricultural needs that include seed, implements, and post-harvest management technologies.
In close liaison with the Head of Area Office, support strengthening of capacities for Agro-dealers and establish an efficient private sector supply chain hermetic solution.
Support the development and rollout of appropriate financial products that are accessible and affordable particularly for intermediaries including aggregators to increase their off-taking capacity.
Provide technical support to the Country Office resilience team in facilitating the transition of R4 Rural Resilience Initiative to a more broader food systems driven model in close liaison with relevant technical teams in the CO.
Support documentation of lessons learnt and best practices emanating from the implementation of Food Systems and Resilience.
Provide oversight for Field Level Agreements (FLAs) management and contribute to the design or update of Plans of Operations in close liaison with Head of Area office.
In close liaison with Head of Area Office and relevant staff, provide oversight for the monitoring of Cooperating Partner (CP) profiling, capacity assessment and evaluation based on WFP guidelines including maintaining data and records on evaluation.
Provide periodical oversight visits and engagement with CPs to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the integrated food systems and resilience interventions.
Occasionally and when delegated, participate in inter-agency coordination meetings and missions covering resilience food systems encompassing crop and livestock value chains.
Support the tracking of expenditures through periodical reviews of fund consumption reports, undertaking of reconciliations as well as raising of advance payment for the Cooperating Partners.
Perform any other duties as assigned by the Head of Area Office and team leads in the Country Office.
Job Requirements:
STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Advanced University degree in Development Studies, Economics, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience.
Experience: At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in programme related functions of which significant experience (2 or more years) must be related to resilience building, agricultural value chains, market linkages for smallholder farmers/(agro) pastoralists, social protection to achieve food security and/or nutrition objectives.
At least two to three years of postgraduate professional experience in programme related functions including resilience building, agricultural value chains, market linkages for smallholder farmers/(agro) pastoralists.
Experience working with government in implementing resilience, social protection, climate risk management and disaster risk reduction interventions.
Experience in developing, establishing, strengthening, and maintaining relationships with a variety of stakeholders: governments and/or humanitarian & development stakeholders, preferably related to livelihoods and social protection programming.
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:
Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.
Strong analytical and negotiation skills.
Resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgement.
Ability to work with minimum supervision as well as ability to supervise and train support staff; and to work effectively with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with counterparts and staff within the office, host government, donors, other UN agencies, private sector and NGOs/CSOs.
Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English (Level C).
How to Apply:
Interested and qualified applicants can apply online using THIS LINK
