Programme Policy Officer - Support of Farmers' Organizations and Development of Value Chains (SAMS), Deputy Head of Resilience

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 people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of extreme weather. WFP operates globally, with a mission to ensure that no one goes hungry, and it emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion within its workforce. WFP has been recognized for its efforts, notably being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 202

• The organization is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, investing in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training and mentorship programs, and providing opportunities for internal mobility across its country, regional, and global offices.

Job Overview:
The Programme Policy Officer will play a crucial role in promoting rural development and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security in Madagascar by strengthening the capacities of farmers' organizations and structuring agricultural value chains. This position is essential for improving the competitiveness of agricultural products, increasing producers' incomes, and enhancing their resilience to climate impacts. The officer will provide technical and strategic support to farmers' organizations, working closely with local actors, institutional partners, and stakeholders to implement concrete actions aimed at improving the profitability and resilience of targeted agricultural value chains. Additionally, the officer will serve as the Deputy Head of Resilience, overseeing program staff and ensuring effective leadership in the absence of the Chief of Resilience. This role requires a strong commitment to WFP's values and the ability to work collaboratively in a diverse environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct value chain analysis to identify and assess priority agricultural value chains for rural development and food security, including the needs and challenges faced by farmers' organizations.
• Provide capacity-building training and management tools tailored to farmers' organizations, assisting them in developing business plans and marketing strategies.
• Collaborate with various actors in the value chain, including producers, processors, and transporters, to enhance coordination and integration, while supporting the identification and implementation of solutions to reduce post-harvest losses and improve product quality.
• Assist farmers' organizations in establishing effective governance mechanisms and developing risk management approaches, including crop insurance tools.
• Develop a monitoring and evaluation system to track the progress of farmers' organizations in implementing value chain strategies, providing periodic reports on mission progress, results, challenges, and recommendations.
• Serve as Deputy Head of the Resilience Section, supporting strategic coordination, program oversight, stakeholder engagement, and ensuring continuity of leadership in the absence of the Chief of Resilience.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in agronomy, agricultural economics, rural development, or a related field. They should have proven experience of at least 5 years in developing agricultural value chains and supporting agricultural farmers' organizations. Strong interpersonal and communication skills in both French and English are essential, along with the ability to interact effectively with various stakeholders. Knowledge of market dynamics and risk management mechanisms in agricultural contexts is crucial, as well as familiarity with the Malagasy context and the challenges of food security and rural development in the region.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in agronomy, agricultural economics, rural development, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background is essential to understand the complexities of agricultural systems and the socio-economic factors affecting rural development.

Experience:
A minimum of 5 years of proven experience in developing agricultural value chains and supporting agricultural farmers' organizations is required. This experience should demonstrate the candidate's ability to engage with various stakeholders and implement effective strategies for rural development and food security.

Languages:
Strong proficiency in French is mandatory, and proficiency in English is also required. The ability to communicate effectively in both languages is crucial for interacting with diverse stakeholders and partners in the region.

Additional Notes:
This position is a Regular Consultant role at Level II, with a contract duration of 11 months. The duty station is in Antananarivo, Madagascar. WFP emphasizes its commitment to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. The organization does not charge any fees for applications or recruitment processes, and all applications must be submitted through the online recruiting system. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks to ensure a safe and inclusive work environment.