The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The Rwanda Country Office (RWCO) is currently implementing its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2019-2023. In support of the Government of Rwanda’s efforts to develop the agricultural sector as stipulated in National Strategy for Transformation (NST) and the sectoral Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation (PSTA IV), smallholder farmer support forms an important pillar of WFP implementation under the CSP through strategic outcome 4.
WFP Rwanda is also supporting the government to transform the national food system to ensure equitable access to healthy and nutritious diets for all, in line with the outlined priorities in the post-food systems dialogue National Strategic Pathways, elaborated in 2021 following the conclusion of the UN Food Systems Summit.
To that effect, activities under the Food Systems umbrella are mainly coordinated through the Smallholder Agricultural Market Support (SAMS) Unit. Given the multi-dimensional nature of food systems, WFP Rwanda takes a private-sector focused approach, in line with government strategies to ensure sustainable systemic change across the agricultural sector.
SAMS activities are implemented in partnership with a diverse group of stakeholders, including government line ministries and subnational institutions, NGO partners (local and international), financial service providers (UNCDF, banks and micro-finance institutions), value chain service providers such input providers, aggregators and logistics providers, as well as food-commodity traders, processors and commodity exchanges.
Under the general supervision and guidance of the SAMS Head of Unit, the consultant will be expected to assume the responsibilities listed below:
Programme Support: Mastercard Foundation (Shora Neza) and food systems
- Support the CO in mainstreaming youth voices into the programme in close collaboration with the Foundation office and existing youth organizations.
- Support the CO in the development of a research plan with the Interntational Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in close collaboration with the MCF Regional Coordinator and the CO Gender Officer
- As part of the CO’s innovative finance portfolio, support the CO’s SheCan programme lead with project implementation, reporting and assessment of scaleup feasibility.
- Support the OIM&R officer in establishing a Shora Neza-specific knowledge management system for data and documents
- Support the CO in maintaining and increasing engagement with the project’s stakeholder working group, including at the global level
- Support the coordination ‘Conservation Agriculture’ pilot project in close collaboration with SO2 and SO4 and other food systems related initiatives
Innovation
- Support the IGNITE Food Systems Challenge lead on IGNITE Phase II in close collaboration with the IGNITE Regional Hub for Innovation and implementing partners.
- Support the CO innovation focal point with project implementation, liaising with regional teams and taking an active role in the regional innovation network.
- Support the CO with innovation knowledge management and work with the regional team to standardize evaluation and knowledge-sharing practices.
- Support the facilitation of a workshop to present and validate the findings from the innovation landscape analysis
- Consolidate and support the CSP consultant in incorporating innovation as part of the next CSP development process
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
- Review outputs from M&E and other programmatic pathways providing critical insights and amendments as required
- Support the OIM&R officer in drafting periodic analytical reports based on M&E data to guide evidence-based feedback on project implementation.
- Support the OIM&R Officer with the baseline evaluation process as required.
- Support the unit in drafting knowledge products and comms materials with the CO’s EPC team.
Other related duties as required.
Education:
Advanced University degree in Economics, International Development,Social Sciences or other related field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.
Experience & Skills:
Experience: One year of post-graduate experience in any area related to food systems, smallholder agricultural market support, or project management.
Skills:
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and responsibilities, managing and communicating change effectively and utilizing innovation throughout.
- Strong ability to manage internal and external stakeholders, demonstrating proactive issue handling and negotiation skills.
- Resourcefulness, initiative, and problem-solving skills with the ability to work autonomously to ensure all programmatic objectives are achieved.
- Excellent written and spoken presentation and communication skills.
- Tact and ability to work harmoniously with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. Knowledge and interest in global food system issues and debates. Ability to frequently travel within the country and flexible to accept additional work assignments.
Languages: Fluency in English (level c)
