Asociado Senior de Programas

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, established to save lives in emergencies and to use food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. Founded in 1961, WFP operates in over 80 countries, employing thousands of staff members dedicated to humanitarian efforts. The organization is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. WFP's mission is to ensure that no one goes hungry, and it has been recognized for its impactful work, including being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 202

• WFP emphasizes a healthy and inclusive work environment, where employees are supported in their professional development through various training and mentorship programs. The organization is also focused on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in relation to zero hunger and climate action.

Job Overview:
The Senior Programme Associate position at WFP is crucial for overseeing and implementing projects aimed at enhancing resilience and improving livelihoods for communities receiving assistance in Colombia. The role involves strategic planning, coordination, and supervision of productive projects and value chain strengthening initiatives. The Senior Programme Associate will lead a specialized team and ensure that all interventions meet technical, contractual, and sustainability standards. This position is integral to the successful execution of the Country Strategic Plan 2024-2028, which focuses on vulnerable populations affected by food insecurity, particularly in urban and rural areas. The incumbent will work closely with various stakeholders, including government entities, NGOs, and community partners, to facilitate effective humanitarian assistance and promote sustainable food systems. The role requires a proactive approach to integrating gender considerations and climate resilience into all project phases, ensuring that the needs of the communities are met effectively and inclusively.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Programme Associate will be responsible for a wide range of activities, including:

• Contributing to the design and implementation of productive projects with a focus on resilience and climate change adaptation.
• Actively participating in the comprehensive planning and execution of projects within the Resilience and Livelihoods unit, particularly the Tejidos Sustento project and others assigned by the Programme Officer.
• Integrating sustainability, market engagement, gender, and community participation into all project phases.
• Coordinating and monitoring actions required for the productive projects under their responsibility, including calls for proposals, proposal reviews, agreements with partners, and providing technical support to ensure effective implementation.
• Supervising project implementation by cooperating partners, ensuring compliance with plans, agreements, contracts, and timelines, as well as proper resource utilization.
• Promoting collaboration with private sector actors, public procurement programs, and local markets to facilitate the integration of producers into strategic value chains such as cacao, coffee, Amazonian fruits, tourism, crafts, and vegetables.
• Monitoring economic and social impact indicators to ensure that projects contribute to income improvement, vulnerability reduction, and resilience strengthening of communities.
• Incorporating gender actions into the activities under their responsibility, in close coordination with the gender and protection unit.
• Designing strategies for managing personnel under their supervision, providing technical guidance, and strengthening technical assistance capacities. 1
• Performing other related functions as required by supervision.

Required Qualifications:
The minimum required qualifications for this position include:

• Completion of secondary education; a university degree in Agronomy, Agroindustry, Agricultural Economics, Environmental Sciences, Administration, Sociology, Anthropology, or related fields is desirable, preferably with specialization in community development and demonstrable experience in productive projects and value chain strengthening.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating resilience and climate change adaptation projects.
• Specific experience in designing and supervising productive projects oriented towards value chains (such as cacao, Amazonian fruits, community tourism) in contexts of poverty and indigenous communities.
• Coordination experience with cooperating partners, ensuring compliance with agreements, contracts, and results.
• Experience in managing calls for proposals, evaluating proposals, and providing technical support to partners.
• Coordination experience with donors and preparation of technical and financial reports.
• Experience in strengthening local capacities and engaging with markets.
• Desirable skills include proficiency in Office tools, experience in developing virtual and in-person training methodologies, and experience working with ethnic communities.
• Knowledge of gender issues, particularly in rural areas is also desirable.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes the completion of secondary education as a minimum. A university degree in relevant fields such as Agronomy, Agroindustry, Agricultural Economics, Environmental Sciences, Administration, Sociology, Anthropology, or similar areas is highly desirable. Additionally, specialization in community development is preferred, along with demonstrable experience in productive projects and value chain strengthening.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in the field. This experience should encompass planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects focused on resilience and adaptation to climate change. Specific experience in designing and supervising productive projects that are oriented towards value chains in impoverished and indigenous community contexts is essential. Furthermore, candidates should have experience in coordinating with partners, managing proposals, and preparing reports for donors.

Languages:
Fluency in both oral and written Spanish is mandatory for this position. Additionally, proficiency in English is desirable, as it may enhance communication and collaboration with international partners and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this position is six months, and it is classified as a Service Contract at the SC-L7 level. The position is based in Bogotá, Colombia, but the organization is also establishing a roster of qualified candidates for future opportunities in other cities where operational needs may arise. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee immediate hiring but allows for candidates to be contacted for relevant vacancies that may occur within a 24-month period. WFP emphasizes a commitment to diversity and equal opportunity in its hiring practices, and it provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.