Food Safety and Quality Officer, Service Contract SC10 at World Food Programme (WFP)

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Mapping of Aflatoxin Innovations

• Map out the technological innovations on aflatoxins control and management in the region, their status, successes, lessons learnt, challenges and potential for scale up.
• Support the publishing of a report for wider dissemination, to bring understanding of existing innovations that could help reduce the impact of high aflatoxin levels.

Implementation of Aflatoxin Control innovations

• Work with RBN countries to identify and select strategic approaches that will build their capacity to tackle aflatoxin challenges.
• Support RBN countries to assess the piloted innovations and report on successes, challenges, lessons learned and recommendations for scaling, adaptation and/or termination.

Information Sharing and Awareness

• Provide support in organizing Aflatoxin Regional Learning Workshops to share knowledge across the region on experiences and lessons learnt from successful and failed aflatoxin interventions.
• Closely work with Communications and Knowledge Management Units to develop and deploy tools and other materials to assist with implementation of aflatoxins control and management interventions.
• Create strategic partnerships to share knowledge widely, influence, build capacity and advocate for policies to promote aflatoxins risk mitigation.

Implementation of Regional aflatoxins control and management strategy

• Support the COs to implement the regional aflatoxins control and management strategy through Country Implementation Plans.
• Align the RBN projects and programs- Home grown school feeding program (HGSF), Small and Medium Scale (SAMS) etc with the regional aflatoxins control and management strategy.
• Work with Partnerships and Program Units to develop fundraising proposals to support the roll out of Aflatoxin Control interventions in RBN countries.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• In coordination with the M&E team, develop a monitoring and evaluation framework for the regional aflatoxins control and management strategy implementation plan.
• Support the Regional Bureau and Country Office teams in gathering relevant data and evidence on activities and impact.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education: Advanced University degree in Agriculture Management, Development Studies, Project Planning and Management or related fields, or A First University degree with additional relevant years of work experience in Food Science and Technology, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Value Chain/ Market Development or related fields. Additional professional courses in related fields are also a plus.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant postgraduate/professional experience
• At least 10 years of of meaningful and progressive work experience in food trade business, regional bodies in the grain value chain, Agribusiness, and/or value chain/ market development.
• Experience working in the EAC region and/or a multicultural and fast-paced environment is an added value.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Good strategic understanding of Food Systems and Food Value Chains in the region.
• Good understanding and expertise in aflatoxins control as a food safety risk, regional interventions and opportunities.
• Excellent project management and analytical skills.
• Strong network of relevant contacts (regional bodies working on related initiatives within the grain value chain, private sector, academia, government authorities etc.).
• Excellent communication and engagement skills (ability to understand and be understood, diplomatic skills, writing skills).
• Strong interpersonal and coordination skills, ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds externally and internally.
• Capacity to act upon problems (intellectual / problem solving and judgement skills).
• Ability to pro-actively prioritize, plan, organize, coordinate, monitor, excellently report and follow up.
• Ability to organize work and deliver results with minimal supervision, under time pressure and with strict deadlines.
• Understanding of WFP operations in the region is an advantage.