SSA Consultant- Climate- Resilient livelihoods & Food Systems expert

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. Established in 1961, WFP operates in over 80 countries, employing thousands of staff members who are committed to the mission of eradicating hunger. WFP's core values include Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion, which guide its operations and interactions with partners and communities. The organization is recognized for its efforts in providing effective humanitarian assistance and has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its contributions to combating hunger worldwide. WFP is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply, and actively promoting equal employment opportunities.

Job Overview:
The SSA Consultant for Climate-Resilient Livelihoods & Food Systems will play a crucial role in the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) Review for the WFP India Country Office. This position is designed for a professional with extensive experience in climate resilience and food systems, who will be responsible for providing analytical inputs and support to the CSP review process. The consultant will work closely with the Team Lead and the CSP Task Force to develop a methodological design and analytical framework that will guide the review. The consultant will conduct a landscape analysis of the security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and nutrition sector in India, assess the current CSP's performance, and identify opportunities for resource mobilization. This role requires a deep understanding of climate-resilient livelihoods and food systems, as well as the ability to engage with various stakeholders, including government officials, UN agencies, and development partners. The consultant will also be expected to prepare thematic inputs and analytical notes for the External Review Report, ensuring that the findings contribute to the formulation of the next CSP.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will have a range of responsibilities, including:

• Supporting the Team Lead in developing a detailed methodological design and work plan for the CSP review.
• Conducting a landscape analysis related to climate-resilient livelihoods and food systems, focusing on climate resilience, livelihoods diversification, and sustainable food systems.
• Reviewing WFP's technical assistance to the Government of India, particularly in relation to smallholder farmers and climate-smart practices.
• Assessing WFP's contributions to institutional and community-level capacity strengthening for climate adaptation.
• Identifying emerging risks and opportunities related to climate resilience and food systems transformation.
• Conducting stakeholder consultations with government officials, technical agencies, and other key actors in the sector.
• Preparing thematic inputs and analytical notes for the External Review Report.
• Providing technical support to the Team Leader in synthesizing findings and formulating recommendations for the next CSP.
• Ensuring adherence to ethical standards and quality assurance requirements throughout the review process.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in relevant fields such as Climate Change, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development, Agriculture, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, Economics, Development Studies, or Social Sciences. Additionally, candidates should have a strong technical understanding of India's climate, livelihoods, and food systems policy landscape, including national and state-level climate adaptation initiatives. The ability to synthesize complex information into clear insights and recommendations is essential, along with excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Hindi. Proficiency in MS Office applications is also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in disciplines related to climate change, environmental studies, sustainable development, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management, economics, development studies, or social sciences. This educational foundation is critical for understanding the complexities of climate-resilient livelihoods and food systems, as well as for conducting the necessary analyses and evaluations required for the CSP review.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 10-12 years of relevant professional experience in areas such as climate-resilient livelihoods, food systems, agriculture, or climate adaptation programming. This experience should include a strong technical understanding of India's climate and agriculture policy landscape, as well as demonstrated experience in the design, review, evaluation, and analysis of climate-resilience or livelihood-focused development programs. Experience working with government institutions, UN agencies, or international development organizations is highly desirable, as is the ability to synthesize complex programmatic information into actionable insights.

Languages:
Fluent oral and written communication skills in both English and Hindi are mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication with stakeholders and for the preparation of high-quality analytical reports and presentations. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not required.

Additional Notes:
This position is open to Indian nationals only and is offered under a Special Services Agreement for a duration of 7 months from the start date of the contract. The recruitment process will be limited to individual consultants only, and candidates applying as representatives of firms or agencies will not be considered. The consultant will be compensated on a lump-sum basis linked to deliverables, with medical, death, and disability coverage provided as per WFP's plan. The consultant is expected to undertake travel to 2-3 states for stakeholder meetings, with travel costs covered by WFP. The recruitment process includes a written test for screening candidates, and preference will be given to those who can join immediately.