Closing date: 15 August 2015
Background
The Country Programme Component III (Agricultural Market Access and Linkages Programme - AMAL) aims at building the capacity of smallholder farmers to engage competitively in agricultural markets.
Specific objectives are to
- everage WFP's purchasing power by purchasing grains from smallholder farmers,
- enhance market linkages between smallholder farmers and the HGSMP Market,
- transition communities out of WFP food assistance (Food for Assets/Cash for Assets) by building their marketing capacity linking them to schools and other structured markets,
- provide support to communities in value addition (milling) for grains,
- Improve post-harvest handling at community level and enhance capacity of county governments to address aflatoxin-related challenges,
- provide support to County Governments to connect their food procurement processes to smallholders.
To support the above initiatives, the Country Programme needs a Programme Associate with a strong logistics background. Working under the overall supervision of the Programme Policy Officer (Head of Country Programme) and under the direct supervision of the AMAL Component Lead, the Programme Associate will provide liaison support for AMAL operations in the field, support smallholder food procurement processes, collate quantitative and qualitative data and conduct meta-analysis of the same.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
- Support for smallholder food processes by WFP: a. Obtain stock projections from smallholder aggregation systems (suppliers); liaise with Food Procurement unit to determine appropriate contract quantities based on previous performance and ongoing capacity progression by the suppliers.
- Ensure that smallholder aggregation systems (suppliers) receive appropriate support by WFP procurement, field offices and cooperating partners to ensure efficient supply to WFP. This will include issues of food quality, handling and storage during aggregation and sale to WFP.
- Coordinate food uplifts during WFP food procurement while ensuring appropriate documentation is in place.
- Liaise with Procurement Unit to conduct a performance evaluation for smallholder aggregation systems (suppliers), draw lessons and follow-up actions that should be considered during subsequent procurement and capacity support processes. e. Liaise with the Logistics Unit to analyse and propose appropriate supply chain optimisation options for pro- smallholder purchases.
- Liaise with Logistics Unit to ensure that WFP supported Farmer Organisations (FOs) and traders receive training and support on food handling, storage and quality assurance.
- Liaise with Logistics unit to ensure that all documentation required for corporate reporting of the milling process in Kakuma Refugee Camp is in place.
- Collate information from various sources - partner reports, FO surveys, WFP monitoring reports, market assessments, VAM Food Security Assessments and weather forecasts, national and county government policy and directives and provide a synthesis and proposals on how these issues should be considered for onward design and implementation of AMAL.
- Undertake and/or support training of Partners, Farmer organisations and traders and to other capacity development processes like market linkage forums.
- Contribute to improvements and updates on guidance material for AMAL implementation.
- Draft inputs for donor, ad hoc and periodic reports.
- Ensure that Field Offices and partners have relevant guidance and reference material required for implementation of AMAL.
Qualifications and Experience
- Successful completion of secondary school education.
- Qualification/University Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics and related fields will be an added advantage.
- A minimum of six years' progressively responsible work experience including at least three years of work experience in programme work related to rural development/agriculture.
- Computer skills in statistical packages including SPSS and knowledge and experience in data analysis and report writing. Computer skills in word processing and spreadsheet applications (MS-Word, Excel, etc.) knowledge of project planning, management and monitoring and evaluation systems as well as a high level of analytical capability and excellent interpersonal, writing and oral presentation skills ability to plan and organise work , resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgment and tact and ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy is essential.
- Ability to write correctly in English and to communicate matters orally and in writing. Ability to maintain accurate/precise records, to perform detailed work and to handle a large volume of work quickly and accurately under time constraints, independently and with a minimum of supervision.
- Should be able to produce well organised, complete and accurate reports, records and data.
- Sound judgement, ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data and to resolve operational problems.
Interested and qualified internal candidates are requested to submit online applications only according to the following procedures: Go to: http://i-recruitment.wfp.org/vacancies/15-0018033
Step 1 : Create your online CV
Step 2: Click on 'Description' to read the position requirements and 'Apply' to submit your application.
NOTE: You must complete Step 2 in order for your application to be considered for this vacancy. If you have any queries relating to this VA please send them to: Nairobi.Hr@wfp.org. This vacancy is open to internal candidates
ONLY. Applications must be received by the deadline.