Programme Policy Officer- Smallholder Access Market Support-SAMS Coordinator

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 25 years old. Nationals of the country of assignment are not eligible, except the assignments in Headquarters duty stations.

Description of task

Under the supervision of the Head of Field Office, the UNV will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing the implementation of livelihood, resilience and SAMS activities in the Far North. More specifically, the staff member will build and strengthen partnerships between WFP and local and international, public and private organizations and institutions working in market-focused agricultural development, post-harvest handling, good agricultural practices for the overall goal to improve access to markets for smallholder farmers/farmers’ organizations.

The UNV will perform the following tasks for the Country Office and Field Offices:

1. Develop and lead the implementation of livelihood, resilience and SAMS strategy in coordination with CO units and partners.
2. Review current livelihood and resilience activities with a food system strengthening lens in line with the development of tailored SAMS strategy for the Far North and North regions
3. Lead the development of business linkages amongst targeted smallholders, farmers organizations, cooperatives, low-income farmers and other potential markets beyond WFP;
4. Develop the capacity of supported households and smallholder farmers through targeted trainings and workshops to ensure they gain valuable skills in production, marketing and business development;
5. Put in place farmer-friendly mechanisms and systems to reach smallholder farmers to encourage local food procurement from surplus producing farmers and support rural aggregation network for increased market access for smallholder farmers.
6. Enhance the linkages between WFP and relevant line ministries to support smallholder farmers;
7. Collaborate closely with FAO in the implementation of all activities supporting smallholder farmers and build synergies between the different projects;
8. Prepare donor proposals, reports and visibility materials to highlight and advocate for the programme and to document good practices and lessons learned;
9. Build capacity of WFP sub-office staff and partners to support the implementation of the resilience and SAMS activities;
10. Support integration of nutrition sensitivity and enhanced gender and protection mainstreaming within the SAMS portfolio, through linkages with other units
11. Contribute to the development of homegrown school feeding through linkages between SAMS, school meals, and other WFP programmes & activities.
12. Identify and promote new tools, methods and solutions to mitigate post-harvest losses at household level while putting in place a PHL demonstration model at all Rural Centers and a barter system for the provision of the tools.

Qualifications/Requirements Required degree level: Master degree or equivalent Education – Additional Comments:

Advanced university degree or university degree with experience and training/courses in one or more of the following disciplines:

agricultural economics, social policy, rural development, agronomy, civil engineering, or related discipline(s).

Required experience: 60 Months Experience remark:

• At least 5 years post graduate, progressively responsible, job related experience in rural development, agriculture, programme management, or fields related to the above disciplines.
• A demonstrated ability to prepare concise and well-written reports and documents is critical.
• Proficiency in utilizing computers MS Office, including word processing, spreadsheet, power point, and other office software packages and systems.
• Experience working with farmers groups and providing capacity enhancement and training.
• Intimate understanding of designing and conducting primary data gathering and research including monitoring, survey design and implementation, facilitating focus groups, research interviews, etc.;
• Demonstrates the ability to engage key stakeholders (e.g., WFP units, external partners) in policy dialogue to strengthen national government food and nutrition security, resilience strategies and programmes.
• Demonstrates the ability to incorporate technical information into programme design and implementation and appropriately communicate it internally and externally.
• Possesses strong analytical and writing, including the ability to produce high quality reports, presentations and knowledge products;
• Knowledge of WFP’s mandate, systems and tools in the area of food security and nutrition as well as extensive experience working on livelihood and resilience strengthening and food systems/value chain development

Language skills:

• French(Mandatory), Level – Fluent
• English(Mandatory), Level – Working Knowledge

Area of expertise: Agricultural economics, Civil engineering and construction supervision, Other civil society or community development experience Driving license: No Competencies values:

Communication, Creativity, Empowering Others, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Judgement and Decision-making, Knowledge Sharing, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Working in Teams

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