Programme Policy Officer (Resilience/Food System)

CONTEXT:

Côte d’Ivoire is considered a low-middle-income country and ranks 171st of 188 countries in the Human Development Index. It is subject to pervasive food insecurity, malnutrition and gender inequalities, which severely affect smallholder farmers as they struggle with issues of land access and frequent climate-related shocks. Côte d’Ivoire has a population of 25 million people, of which 48.4 percent are female1 and 46 percent live below the poverty line. It is ranked 155th on the Gender Inequality Index.

WFP’s Strategic Plan for Côte d’Ivoire (2019 – 2025) focuses on capacity strengthening with a view to shifting WFP-led programmes to government and community ownership. At the core of this strategic approach is the sustainability of the national school meals programme, in which WFP assists 613 schools, or 10 percent of the schools covered by the programme, as a platform for promoting education, nutrition and gender equality and stimulating local food production and rural economies. The country strategic plan constitutes an opportunity to support smallholder farmers (SAMS), particularly women, in a holistic way and to diversify food consumption by introducing policies and practices to reduce post-harvest losses and promote sustainable access to markets. By applying the SAMS methodology, WFP aims to lay the foundations for a more robust economy that is less reliant on imports, offers better livelihood options for vulnerable populations and fosters resilient and sustainable national food systems.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The Country Office (CO) is seeking an experienced international Consultant to oversee the resilience activities and position WFP as a key actor in resilience and food systems in Côte d’Ivoire. This will entail strong programme analysis skills, experience in design and execution of interventions with main stakeholders (government, UN agencies, NGOs, communities and beneficiaries). In addition to programme management, the Consultant will contribute to the development of the overall strategy and represent WFP at technical coordination fora at the capital and the field levels, building partnerships with key ministries, UN agencies and other development actors at all levels. Support for resource mobilization efforts will be essential to the scale-up agenda, requiring the Consultant to contribute to the development of funding proposals and donor reports.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme, the Consultant will oversee the implementation of the resilience pillar of WFP CSP focusing on the following priorities:

1. Programme and Strategy Development

• Develop and communicate a strategy and work plan for the design and implementation of an integrated resilience programme, including SAMS and focusing on promoting sustainable school feeding, food security, nutrition and local economies;
• Develop and structure Resilience and SAMS activities to lead to greater post-harvest losses reduction and promote sustainable access to market by smallholder food producers, especially women and youth;
• Identify opportunities to integrate into SAMS programme appropriate post-harvest management technologies, natural resource management best practices to contribute to beneficiary communities’ resilience building against climate shocks, and diversification of livelihoods, especially in small-scale food processing (value addition) and commercialization.
• Ensure effective funds management of resources allocated to resilience activities in close coordination with budget and programming and the finance teams;
• Represent and active participation in inter-agency strategy and joint programme design and implementation, in particular ensure WFP’s participation in the joint resilience programme in the North-East.

1. Information and knowledge management

• Ensure accurate management of information related to the resilience programme in close coordination with the M&E team;
• Develop and incorporate monitoring formats outlining project activities, achievements and overall project status in collaboration with M&E Unit;
• Prepare analytical and operational reports on the implementation progress of the resilience programme, as well as develop case-studies on specific thematic areas;
• Ensure visibility products are available to promote WFP work and compile best practices;
• Contribute to corporate reports (such as ACRs) and donor-specific reports.

1. Resource mobilization and Partnerships

• Provide technical input for the development of communication materials, funding proposals and donor reports;
• Identify funding opportunities through agriculture specific funds and grants (e.g. Africa Climate Change Fund);
• Establish and maintain operational and strategic partnerships with Government ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, private sector and research institutions;
• Support advocacy work, in the areas of climate change, resilience, livelihood pro-smallholder agriculture and market support programmes;
• Enhance WFP’s leadership status in fora related to food security, livelihoods, resilience, pro-smallholder agriculture and market support or engagement in humanitarian, transition and development contexts through direct participation, briefings, information products and other materials.

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