Programme Policy Officer, NOB (141447)

Are you ready for SAVING LIVES CHANGING LIVES of the world’s most vulnerable people?

If yes, this opportunity is for you!

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Job Title: Programme Policy Officer
Vacancy Number: 141447
Contract type: Fixed Term
Duration: 12 months extendable
Duty Station: Thimphu, Bhutan

ABOUT WFP
The United Nations World Food Programme is a leading organization delivering food assistance and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience to natural disaster and climate change.

The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to WFP is recognition that ending hunger is a critical first step towards global peace. WFP recognizes that one of the greatest contributions it can make to humanity is to provide a voice to the 690 million hungry people in the world. The Nobel Peace Prize gives us a platform to make their needs heard and to mobilize support for the assistance they need.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been in Bhutan since 1974. After 45 years of support to school meals in Bhutan, WFP, through the Country Strategic Plan (2019 – 2023) is shifting its focus from food support for school feeding to providing institutional strengthening and capacity development in nutrition, agriculture and with building greater national resilience to natural disasters and climate change.

WFP is leading the UN Sustainable Development Partnership Framework (UNSDPF) (2019 – 2023) outcomes on setting up national rapid post-disaster needs assessment capacity; national rice fortification programme; transition of the national school feeding programme to a national school nutrition and feeding programme; and strengthening national capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters.

In Bhutan, the agriculture sector continues to be a predominant player in improving the country’s economy, livelihood and environment. It contributes 17.4% to national GDP (NSB 2018) and employ about 49.1% (NSB, 2017) of the total population, of which 59.3% are female. With a population that is largely agrarian and rural based (62.2% of total 735,553 persons in 2017), the agriculture sector in Bhutan has the potential to expand its role as a key driver of food security, economic diversification and growth, wealth creation, employment generation and poverty alleviation.

WFP supports the transition of the school feeding programme into a national school nutrition programme through an intersectoral approach of education, agriculture, and health. The project supports an important activity – the “Farm to School” linkages that promotes nutrition sensitive agriculture production by small holder farmers. The local produce is then supplied to be part of the student’s menu in the local schools and institutions, and the local market. WFP promotes agriculture sector transformation and enhanced food self-sufficiency in support of the national Agriculture Stimulus Plan and livelihoods. WFP has rolled out its strategy for climate-resilient food systems in partnership with the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The strategy promotes sector transformation through assistance across the entire agriculture value chain, boosting demand for local food, building production capacity, and enhancing post-harvest management, marketing, knowledge management and coordination across the sector.

PURPOSE
The job holder will report directly to the Head of Office (P4) of WFP Bhutan. The job holder will lead the Food Systems / Agriculture portfolio in WFP Bhutan CO and implement activities together with implementing partners, UN agencies, development partners and other stakeholders.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Contribute to strategic positioning of Food Systems/ Agriculture portfolio of the Country Office vis-à-vis the wider WFP country program and national development strategy, plans and programs
2. Contribute to partnership development with key government agencies, UN agencies, development partners such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Union , KOICA, MAFRA, and others for business development and resource mobilisation, in addition to technical collaboration
3. Technical lead in designing and implementing WFP CO programs in food systems/ agriculture portfolio under thematic programmes such as commodity value chains, digitisation and ICT services in agriculture, and scaling-up successful agriculture programs and models.
4. Technical lead in scoping new business development and resource mobilisation for WFP CO programmes. Act as focal point for agriculture opportunity scoping, proposal formulation and submission.
5. Project management lead for food systems/ agriculture programmes and projects and act as WFP focal contact for all implementing and cooperating partners.
6. Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on agriculture programmes and activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders and donors.
7. Liaise with internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery
8. Research and analyse a range of policy and operational issues to inform the development of policies, programmes and activities.
9. Support the capacity building of WFP staff, partners and government staffs in technical areas related to agriculture programs.
10. Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries
11. Other as required

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS
The National officer will undertake the following specific duties with regard to ongoing and proposed programs:

1. Project manager for WFP projects and activities as determined under the UNSDPF work plans and for any other WFP supported agriculture programs and projects.
2. Technical lead and focal point for agriculture programs providing technical support to implementing partners at national, regional, district or geog level, in areas such as production planning, post-harvest management, processing, agriculture marketing, and trainings associated with farmer groups and cooperatives.
3. Review of various capacity building programs targeted at farmer groups and cooperatives and suggest revisions
4. Provide hands-on support to farmer groups and cooperatives, schools, extension officials and other value chain actors to strengthen the ‘Farm-to-Schools’ and ‘Farm-to-markets’ business linkages through workshops, advice and capacity building activities
5. Provide technical support to development of ‘RNR Statistical and Monitoring and Reporting System’ in collaboration with MOAF agencies and districts.
6. Provide technical support to implementation of PLUS menu design roll out in schools and capacity strengthening of agriculture officials in organising nutrition sensitive agriculture production.
7. Provide inputs to capacity strengthening of technical government staffs and farmers/ entrepreneurs in areas of postharvest management and processing, agriculture marketing and business development

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION

Education & Work Experience:

• First University degree in Life sciences or Agriculture with demonstrated experience of more than 5 years in leading, implementing and managing various agriculture and natural resources projects especially in donor funded programmes.

• Proven experience in capacity building of farmer groups and cooperatives, agriculture marketing and rural business development.

• Advanced degree or professional trainings in agriculture marketing and business development would be an advantage.

Desirable experience & knowledge:
• Has deepened technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams.
• Has taken leadership of implementing programmes.
• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.

Language:
• Fluency in English language and good command in Dzongkha and other local dialects of Bhutan.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
Tuesday 6 April 2021 at 23:59 Bhutan Time

This vacancy announcement is for Nationals from Bhutan. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Female applicants and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organisation. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection & recruitment process, and for work-related needs upon joining the Programme. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. 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.