Programme Policy Officer (Virtual Farmers Market Project) Full-Time

About WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations is the largest humanitarian organization engaged in the global effort to achieve Zero Hunger worldwide. In Mozambique, WFP’s Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2017-2021 supports the national Government’s commitment to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SGD 2: end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture and SDG 17: partnership strengthening among sectors. Through implementation of its Country Strategic Plan 2017-2021, WFP in Mozambique aims to increase smallholder productivity and income (Strategic Result 3 of the CSP and SDG target 2.3) and to enhance livelihoods of targeted smallholder farmers in northern and central Mozambique (Strategic Outcome 5 of the CSP). This will be achieved through two outputs: (i) targeted smallholder farmers (SHF) benefit from WFP value chain support to improve access to profitable markets and increase their incomes; and (ii) targeted smallholder farmer households benefit from improved knowledge in nutrition, care practices and healthy diets to improve their nutrition status.

Organizational context

Over the past years, WFP in Mozambique has implemented a range of initiatives targeting smallholder farmers in efforts to enhance the aggregation, marketing and decision-making opportunities of smallholder farmers, with a focus on women, while improving access to profitable markets and increasing incomes. These initiatives include Purchase for Progress (P4P), Purchase from Africans for Africa (PAA Africa), the UN Joint Programme involving WFP, IFAD and FAO (Building Commodity Value Chains and Market Linkages for Farmers’ Associations), the EU funded Support to Accelerate Progress Towards MDG1c in Mozambique (MDG1c Project); and Cartier Foundation funded Zero Post Harvest Loss project. Through these projects, WFP supported the formation/creation of more than 20 farmers organisations in Tete, Manica, Zambezia and Nampula provinces (around 30 thousand farmers) including capacity building (through trainings focusing on the production cycle, from pre- to post-harvest as well as commercialization and marketing and the provision of labour-saving technologies) to improve the quality of agricultural produce and increase income from their surplus harvest. Other interventions included facilitating a series of price negotiation workshops between farmers and buyers to build farmers confidence to receive better prices for their produce. Furthermore, WFP Mozambique has invested in women farmers to ensure their meaningful participation in these organisational structures, has demonstrated the cost-benefit of using hermetic storage to reduce postharvest losses, improving grain quality.

Job purpose

WFP will implement a 3-year pilot project (2020-2023), in which the private sector company obtains record of income and expenditure of individual farmers. Analysis of those transaction data enables them to provide credit to the farmers. Through the platform, this project aims to promote and strengthen market linkages among smallholder farmers and traders by facilitating the establishment of partnerships to support smallholder farmers’ access to vital information on market prices, weather forecasts, availability of agricultural inputs and services through a virtual market place. This project fits within the context of the strategic outcome 5, activity 6 of the WFP Country Strategic Plan: Enhance the aggregation, marketing and decision-making capacities of smallholder farmers, with focus on women. Strategic outcome 5 is aligned with WFP Strategic Result 3, SDG target 2.3, priority 2.

WFP seeks a Project Coordinator for this initiative who will play a lead role in guiding the implementation of technically sound and innovative approaches, in close collaboration with Government of Mozambique and other stakeholders. At central level the Project Coordinator, with oversight from the Activity 6 manager (smallholder farmers support unit) will coordinate the overall project in collaboration with stakeholders such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of industry and commerce, private sector, to ensure that this project is well coordinated, and the framework of integrated programming impressed upon its members. Likewise, the project coordinator will liaise with WFP units involved at Country office to support the implementation of the activities in their respective areas and with Sub-office to guarantee effective progress during the project implementation.

Key accountabilities (not all-inclusive)

1. Reporting to the Activity 6 Manager, the Programme Policy Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
2. Oversee the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the project: Maintaining and monitoring project plans, project schedules, work hours, budgets and expenditures;
3. Supervise day-to-day implementation of the programme including operational and financial execution, awareness raising on program objectives and procedures, interaction with programme stakeholders (such as Government and other WFP partners, as well as within WFP units) and coordination with on-going programmes;
4. Supervise the project activities, ensuring its quality, efficiency and effectiveness, according to WFP standards, methodologies and procedures;
5. Set-up and follow up data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained;
6. Research and analyse policy and operational issues to support activities, as well as carry out frequent field missions to targeted districts and assess programme outputs; and draft regular monitoring report on status of implementation and progress and contribute to the data analysis.

Key accountabilities cont.

1. Assess project risks and issues and provide solutions where applicable;
2. Ensure the programme remains compliant with all WFP policies and procedures;
3. Organizing, attending and participating in stakeholder meetings;
4. Responsible for coordinating with counterparts -cooperating partners, local governments, etc;
5. Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting to different stakeholders (management, donors, and partners);
6. Contribute to evidence-based decision making on programme design and implementation, through making monitoring and evaluations findings accessible, developing innovative, user-friendly and informative product;
7. Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships;
8. Support in project proposal writing;
9. Perform other functions that, within their specialty, are required.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Standard minimum qualifications

Education:

• First level or advanced Degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Food Security, Nutrition, ICT4D or related field.

Experience:

• A proven track record in programme/project management or implementation, particularly multi-sectoral programs with emphasis on Agriculture and community engagement;
• Strong understanding of the private sector oriented to rural market, food security and nutrition context, gender inequalities and agriculture development in Mozambique;
• Demonstrated significant expertise providing technical assistance to the field project team and government staff;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide range of partners with varying interests and priorities;
• Prior experience in the Mozambique rural market, food security and/or nutrition sector desirable, preferably including experience at the community, district, sub-national and national levels.

Languages:

• Working knowledge (proficiency/Level C) of English is required; Fluency in Portuguese is essential; Other UN languages are an added value.

Other specific job requirements

Knowledge & Skills:

• Excellent inter-personal, communication and facilitation skills;
• Ability to work independently in a timely and organised manner;
• Ability to develop and maintain networks with a variety of stakeholders;
• Flexibility and adaptability to shifting goal posts and evolving client needs;
• Analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has gained experience in implementing technical programs (i.e. nutrition, etc.);
• Has implemented programmes and provided input into designing operations;
• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.