DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
11 November 2024-23:59-GMT+02:00 Central Africa Time (Juba)
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ABOUT WFP
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WHY JOIN WFP?
JOB TITLE: Programme Policy Officer (Innovation)/Smallholder Agriculture Market Support
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Service Contract SC9
UNIT/DIVISION: Food Systems and Resilience, Programme
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Juba, South Sudan
DURATION: 1 year
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
In a world where hunger is soaring but funding for humanitarian relief programs is constrained, it is more important than ever that WFP strives to unleash the power of innovation. Cutting-edge advances in science, innovation and technology offer new ways to boost WFP’s efficiency and impact and reach the millions of people in need around the world. Innovation is critical to enable the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver on its mandate to reach Zero Hunger. WFP puts intention into innovation to achieve our goal of Zero Hunger. To achieve this, WFP pilots and scales promising ideas by leveraging advances in digital innovation. It also provides Innovation Consulting Services to share knowledge with other agencies and organizations working towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
South Sudan is one of the least developed countries in the world. This newest country on the African continent has vast natural resources, rich cultures, and a young population, key ingredients for growth and prosperity. However, after independence in 2011, civil war and persistent communal violence have kept the country in protracted crises, destroying infrastructure and people’s livelihoods, reducing social services, causing displacement, and increasing humanitarian needs. The 2018 revitalized peace agreement put an end to large scale violence, giving hope for state building and recovery. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic, consecutive years of unprecedented flooding, increased occurrence of dry spells and drought, and the Russia-Ukraine war have further strained the coping capacities of national and subnational institutions, communities, and people. As a result, humanitarian needs keep rising, and resourcing gaps continue widening. In 2023, 9.4 million people, 76 percent of the population, are said to be in need of humanitarian support (source: Humanitarian Needs Overview).
South Sudan is working towards restoring itself as a regional hub for commerce, transportation, trade, and industry linking with several opportunities resulting from the growing use of digital technologies and planned investments. The South Sudan Country Office (SSCO) has demonstrated strong potential for scaling and integrating innovation whether the IGNITE Challenge Fund’s direct contribution to Strategic Outcome (SO) 3 of the CSP, in improving smallholder productivity, gender equality, climate resilience, developing sustainable and green infrastructure. There is a great opportunity to continue building and integrating innovation across the SOs while expanding the reach and impact of SSCO’s programming. The WFP Regional Bureau Nairobi (RBN) has committed to giving WFP South Sudan some funds to continue with the Ignite Food Systems Challenge. The activity was managed by Innovation/CBT and implemented together with UNDP in the first phase. This new phase will be housed within Smallholder Agriculture Market Support (SAMS) of the Food Systems & Resilience Unit. The idea is that SAMS supported producers and market actors can become game-changers in food systems transformation through innovation. Importantly, this is one of the ways to push the CO’s integration agenda.
As WFP continues to launch annual WFP Innovation Challenge, it is looking for individuals who can champion the deployment of smart ideas and creative thinking to improve preparedness and prevention; support effective relief assistance, and boost food systems transformation and resilience.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under direct supervision of one of the Senior Food System and Reslience Officers, the National Programme Policy Officer (Innovation) will support the Head of Food Systems and Resilience to facilitate and foster innovation in the context of WFP activities in South Sudan, help innovation projects to scale, develop and establish local innovation ecosystems in South Sudan to help achieve sustainable food and nutrition security.
The National Programme Policy Officer (Innovation) will support the development and growth of impactful and sustainable innovations by leveraging WFP brand, public and private partners, deep field access, and expertise to develop, nurture and scale sustainable innovations to increase food and nutrition security as well as Food Systems Transformation.
The officer will participate and support the identification of problem statements or (market) opportunities, sourcing of innovations, management of innovation programme implementation and events with the support of the country office and support the scale-up of innovations through partnerships management and close coordination with relevant WFP and external stakeholders. More specifically, the National Programme and Policy Officer will:
Drive New Opportunities
Champion Innovation
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Experience:
Knowledge & Skills:
Languages:
Proficiency in English, oral and written (level c)
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
WFP is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at global.inclusion@wfp.org. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.
NO FEE DISCLAIMER
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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.