Integrated Delivery Officer (Food Systems), CST Level 2 – Senegal

📢 Job title: Integrated Delivery Officer (Food Systems), CST Level 2

✨ Contract type and rank: Permanent consultant level 2 (full-time)

📧 Duration: Until June 30, 2025 (with possible extension)

✅ Unit / Division: Food Systems Unit

📍 Location: Regional Office Dakar, Senegal

⏰ Closing date: September 16, 2024

As the largest humanitarian organisation in the region, WFP uses its supply chain and logistics capabilities, as well as innovative programmes that strengthen socio-economic systems and community resilience, to support countries in their efforts to transform food systems. In West Africa, WFP supports 20 countries to build their capacity to respond to food crises, transition to resilient food systems, and improve food markets and trade. This is why there is a need for a Food Systems Officer.

BACKGROUND:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations’ frontline agency fighting hunger. WFP delivers food assistance in emergencies and works with governments, the private sector, financial institutions and farming communities to improve food and nutrition security and transform food systems in a sustainable and inclusive way.

In the wake of recent food crises caused by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, African governments decided to strengthen their food sovereignty by boosting local food production systems and building localized and short supply chains. These efforts should be used to accelerate the transformation of food systems in West Africa.

Transforming food systems in West Africa is a shared agenda involving multiple actors, including governments, the private sector and farming communities. This agenda has been developed in the context of fragility and limited competitiveness of the agri-food industry. Food systems are not functioning optimally and as a result, 54 percent of households in West Africa do not have access to a nutritious diet, while 20 percent of them cannot afford an energy diet (WFP, 2023).

Furthermore, a large proportion of the population in this region depends on food imports and humanitarian aid to meet their food and nutrition security. It is also estimated that young people (under 24 years) make up 65% of the total population of around 500 million people in West Africa (OECD, 2021). However, unemployment and underemployment rates are twice as high as for people over 25. Poverty rates remain high and income opportunities are still dominated by the informal sector.

The agri-food sector remains the largest contributor to GDP, but food systems in this region are constrained by land degradation, droughts and floods, displacement of people, armed conflict and underinvestment in productive capacities. Efforts to transform the agri-food sector are expected to lead to food sovereignty; create, improve and sustain youth employment; encourage the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices; and support the availability and affordability of safe and nutritious diets for all.

WFP investments in West Africa contribute to solving the above problems by protecting food systems before, during and after climate and socio-economic shocks and stressors.

PURPOSE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

As the largest humanitarian agency in the region, WFP uses its supply chain and logistics capabilities, as well as innovative programmes that strengthen socio-economic systems and community resilience, to support countries in their efforts to transform food systems. In West Africa, WFP is supporting 20 countries to build their capacity to respond to food crises, transition to resilient food systems, and improve food markets and trade.

The candidate will be part of the Food Systems Unit and will liaise with the Supply Chain/Procurement, Nutrition, School Feeding, Resilience and Partnerships Units to develop or strengthen delivery platforms and drive investments in soft and hard infrastructure and business models that ensure safe and nutritious food is widely available and affordable.

Responsibilities include:

1. Inclusive food supply chain models

Support local, medium and large companies in adopting business models that also include small-scale farmers.

Provide technical support to food companies to optimize the supply chain to reduce the cost of producing safe and nutritious food and make it widely available and affordable to WFP target groups through market-based solutions.

2. Access to finance, technologies and markets

Collaborate with the WFP Innovation Hub in Munich to strengthen the technology clearinghouse and facilitate the implementation of proven technologies at scale.

Work with financial institutions to develop and implement financial products tailored to the needs and business models of food businesses and farmers.

Support food companies and other actors in the food supply chain in developing efficient and diversified market channels and in implementing improved food equipment and packaging, as well as normative frameworks and standards.

3. Strategic engagement

Work with government ministries, departments and agencies to promote the production, marketing and consumption of safe and nutritious foods.

Develop partnerships with regional and international financial institutions (IFIs) to mobilize investments in food system infrastructure, such as the construction or renovation of food markets, cold chain and other food processing infrastructure (in collaboration with RBD partnership officers)

Work with RECs, particularly ECOWAS and ECCAS, to facilitate food trade through key corridors.

DELIVERIES AT THE END OF THIS FIRST CONTRACT PERIOD:

• Adoption of an investment and engagement strategy for WFP/RBD’s work with food companies.
• Sufficient support for food companies and small farmers in scaling up their businesses.
• Financial products and funds raised and used by target food companies.
• Sufficient support was provided to country offices, governments, international financial institutions and local and regional financial institutions (including commercial banks) to implement blended or innovative financing for the improved food supply systems and actors.
• Sufficient support for other RBD activities, including required research, presentations and strategies.
• All work and materials developed during the contract are well documented and available to all relevant stakeholders in designated knowledge management processes/platforms.

Education:

Advanced university degree in business administration, economics, agro-industry and international/rural development with 10+ years of relevant work experience.

Experience:

Minimum 8 years of progressive responsible experience in African start-ups, consultancy, food companies or innovation/entrepreneurial support in the agro-industry/international development sector.

Experience in building and delivering end-to-end systems scale-out strategies within the private and development sectors, preferably within large organizations or private companies.

Languages:

Fluent spoken and written English is required. A good command of French is an added advantage.

WFP Value Proposition (What we promise you at WFP)

• Meaningful and impactful careers – Our daily work makes a difference in the lives of the people we help.
• Continuous learning and training activities – We provide our employees with learning tools that enable them to continuously develop their careers.
• Multicultural and stimulating work environment – We encourage gender and cultural diversity to strengthen our teams.

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU SIGN UP

• All employment decisions are based on organizational needs, job requirements, merit and individual qualifications. WFP strives to provide an inclusive work environment free from sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, all forms of harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of power. To this end, all selected candidates undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
• No appointment under any form of contract shall be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), the International Commission on the Civil Service (ICSC), the FAO Finance Committee, the WFP External Auditor, the WFP Audit Board, the Join Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, either during their employment or within three years of termination of such employment.
• Female candidates and qualified candidates from developing countries are particularly encouraged to apply. WFP does not tolerate discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
• Staff selection is based on competition and we strive to promote diversity and gender balance.
• WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process, including the offer stage. All requests for payment must be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.
• WFP does not tolerate any conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of power and discrimination.
• All selected candidates are expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo a rigorous background check, either internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may result in disqualification or termination of employment.

Special notice regarding the relocation of the WFP RBD office:

WFP and other UN agencies will relocate to the new United Nations House, currently under construction in Diamniadio, 30 kilometres from the centre of Dakar. The name of the base for this function will remain Dakar, Senegal.

Special recommendation:

Before applying, you must confirm that (i) your online profile and CV are accurate and up to date and (ii) your CV must include your employment history, academic qualifications and language skills.

Application deadline: September 16, 2024