Head of Resilience and Food Systems

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 as a means to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for individuals recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. WFP operates globally, with a mission to ensure that no one goes hungry, and it has been recognized for its efforts by being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 202

• The organization emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its workforce, encouraging candidates from various backgrounds to apply. WFP has a significant presence in numerous countries, implementing various programs aimed at addressing security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and nutrition challenges. The organization is committed to fostering a healthy and inclusive work environment, where employees are supported in their professional development through training, mentorship, and opportunities for internal mobility.

Job Overview:
The Head of Resilience and Food Systems will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and technical oversight for the design, coordination, and implementation of integrated disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate risk management, resilience, and food systems programs. This role is crucial in strengthening institutional systems and multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms, as well as enhancing government capacities for risk-informed planning, preparedness, and response. The position requires a proactive approach to advancing integrated DRR and resilience programming, particularly in the context of Tajikistan's ongoing challenges related to food and nutrition security, which are exacerbated by climate change and natural disasters. The successful candidate will work closely with various stakeholders, including government entities, UN agencies, and civil society, to ensure effective implementation of WFP's Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2026, which aims to transition from direct implementation to strengthening national capacities for food security and nutrition outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The responsibilities of the Head of Resilience and Food Systems include building and maintaining strategic partnerships with government, UN agencies, international financial institutions (IFIs), development partners, civil society, academia, and the private sector to advance initiatives related to resilience, food systems, DRR, and climate adaptation. The role involves representing WFP in relevant coordination forums and technical working groups, contributing to policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and resource mobilization efforts. Additionally, the position requires fostering an inclusive and collaborative working environment, supervising team members, and ensuring effective communication and accountability. The Head of Resilience and Food Systems will lead multidisciplinary teams to ensure integrated delivery of resilience, DRR, climate adaptation, and emergency preparedness initiatives. The role also includes providing strategic guidance and technical advice on resilience and food systems programming, strengthening the capacities of WFP staff and partners through training and knowledge sharing, and ensuring effective coordination across program functions to maximize impact. Furthermore, the position entails supporting resource mobilization efforts, preparing quality reports and documentation, and integrating cross-cutting issues such as gender, disability inclusion, and climate considerations into all program interventions.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in International Development, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or a related field pertinent to DRR, climate change adaptation, and international assistance. A first university degree combined with additional years of relevant work experience and/or training courses may also be acceptable. The ideal candidate should have at least 7 years of progressively relevant professional experience in managing international development projects focused on improving livelihoods and food security, particularly through community-based participatory approaches. Extensive experience in emergency preparedness and response, particularly in the context of WFP, is strongly preferred. Candidates should demonstrate leadership and management capabilities, having successfully coordinated with government counterparts and engaged in high-level discussions regarding program implementation and policy. Proven experience in leading multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms and working with government institutions on disaster risk management is essential, along with a strong background in program design and institutional capacity strengthening.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in fields such as International Development, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or other relevant areas related to disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and international assistance. Candidates with a first university degree and additional relevant work experience or training may also be considered. This educational foundation is critical for understanding the complexities of food systems and resilience programming in the context of Tajikistan's challenges.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of progressively relevant professional experience in managing international development projects aimed at improving livelihoods and food security. Candidates should have extensive experience in emergency preparedness and response, particularly within the framework of WFP, and should have a proven track record of engaging with government entities, UN agencies, and civil society in the fields of disaster risk reduction, climate change, and environmental sustainability. Experience in Central Asia or similar contexts is highly desirable, as it provides valuable insights into the regional challenges and opportunities related to food security and resilience.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in Russian or Tajik is strongly preferred, as these languages are essential for effective communication with local stakeholders and partners in Tajikistan. The ability to communicate in multiple languages will enhance collaboration and facilitate the implementation of programs in a diverse cultural context.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as an International Regular Consultancy at Consultant Level II, with a contract duration of 6 months. The duty station for this role is Dushanbe, Tajikistan. WFP offers a competitive compensation package starting from US$ 6,000, which includes medical insurance and a living allowance for those traveling to Dushanbe. The organization emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in its hiring practices and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. Candidates are reminded that all applications must be submitted exclusively through WFP's online recruiting system, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further stages of the recruitment process.