Programme Policy Officer (Drought Recovery)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is 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.

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WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

In July 2023, the World Food Programme (WFP) Zambia commenced a new five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP), informed by, and aligned with national and United Nations priorities and global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It embraces the Government’s long-term Vision 2030; aligns with 16 key strategic areas of the 8th National Development Plan (NDP8); and contributes to the joint Zambia-United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

WFP Zambia’s integrated and pragmatic CSP shifts away from unsustainable localized and micro-level interventions, to embrace more effective advocacy and engagement with national policies, systems, and programmes to achieve national impact on SDG2. Given the Government’s commitment to budgetary support for nutrition, social protection, and agriculture, despite the constraints in the country’s fiscal position, WFP’s overarching strategy seeks to strengthen the government’s capacities to meet its national priorities through stronger systems, expertise, and resources for implementation. This means a decisive shift of WFP’s country positioning towards the provision of innovative, sustainable, upstream technical assistance to support nationally owned solutions.

The El Niño-induced drought of 2023-2024 significantly affected food production in Zambia, leading to widespread food insecurity for an estimated 6.6 million people. The drought has exacerbated underlying long-term challenges related to poverty, malnutrition, and low agricultural productivity due to poor farming techniques and limited access to inputs.

WFP is therefore supporting the Government of Zambia to respond to the drought following the Government’s appeal for humanitarian assistance in May 2024. The response includes food assistance for immediate humanitarian needs and recovery support (inputs, tools, training, and market access) to boost household resilience, restore agricultural productivity supported by markets and improve capacity to cope with future climate shocks.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the Activity 3 Manager, the Programme Policy Officer (Drought Recovery Project Manager will be responsible for managing implementation of interventions under the Strengthening Resilience of Smallholder Households in Drought Prone Areas of Zambia project. The incumbent will work closely with and across WFP Programme Units and other functional teams to achieve the short-term recovery and long-term resilience and nutrition outcomes of the project.  Specific tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

Lead the design and implementation of the emergency input package to smallholder farmers, through a market-led approach in collaboration with selected agro-dealers and identified beneficiaries. Provide guidance to NGO partners, agrodealers including aggregators to ensure timely procurement and distribution of input packs to targeted farmers and off taking their produce after harvest. Build and manage partnerships with input suppliers, agro dealers, off takers and industry stakeholders to enhance timely access to appropriate inputs and facilitate end markets for commodities. Provide technical oversight to the implementing partners through relevant farmer groups to adopt the production of drought tolerant value chains and facilitate markets through the established aggregation networks. Provide complementary technical support to implementing partner NGOs, and Ministry of Agriculture through the existing extension structures in ensuring smallholder farmers increase adoption and practice regenerative agricultural practices and have access to predictable markets. Provide technical support to Government and partners at field level in training smallholders in the post-harvest loss management, appropriate utilization of hermetic storage technologies such as the Purdue Improved Crop Storage bags including capacity in market systems development approach. Support capacity enhancement of agro dealers and aggregators in establishing a private sector led distribution input and output network.   Support on the enhancement of the financial inclusion and market access models to smallholder recovery from the drought. Facilitate linkages to finance service providers, input players, off takers, mechanization services and seed growers/banks for enhanced resilience building. Provide technical guidance and ensure compliance of the project’s Environmental and Social Standards (ESS). Collaborate with the nutrition unit on mainstreaming nutrition within project activities with enhanced SBCC to influence positive nutrition behaviours. In collaboration with the research, assessments and monitoring unit, manage process monitoring of project activities and outputs within the project’s timeframe. Collaborate with the District Education Board Secretaries to operationalise the Decentralized Procurement Strategy and promotion of school gardens using low-cost modern farming technologies in target schools, to enhance production of vegetables in liaison with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture and the Parent Teachers Committee (PTC). Perform other tasks as required.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

• Postgraduate Degree in one or more of the following disciplines: Agriculture/Agronomy, Horticulture, Agriculture Economics, Agribusiness, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Education Range management, or University degree with relevant experience.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of post-graduate progressively responsible professional experience in project management experience in managing projects focusing on resilience, post-harvest management practices/ technologies, market systems development, and innovation.
• Experience working with international organizations, NGOs, or government agencies is an advantage.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrate ability to analyze and write reports as well as engage with external stakeholders such as Government, UN Agencies, NGOs, and private sector.
• Has lead programme implementation.
• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.

• Proficiency in project management tools.
• Strong understanding of development work around food security, PHL, market access and overall resilience building interventions.
• Excellent organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

Languages:

• Fluency (level C) in English.

WFP is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at global.inclusion@wfp.org Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at global.inclusion@wfp.org. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

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.