Programme Associate (Community Resilience), SC6 - 2 Positions at World Food Programme (WFP)

JOB PURPOSE

• To effectively contribute to this transformation, WFP will focus on three pillars of collaboration with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), the government and other key partners. Firstly, WFP will transform its refugee operations design from a primarily humanitarian focus to one that encompasses humanitarian, development, and peace-building elements. Secondly, WFP will optimise food systems to enhance livelihood opportunities. Finally, WFP will transform existing assistance modalities and approaches such as cash-based transfers, and social protection to catalyse the transition.
• WFP will leverage its long-standing relationships with the government, UN partners, NGOs, targeted communities, and county governments to implement this strategy through WFP initiatives, joint UN programs, and other collaborative efforts. Additionally, WFP will explore greater engagement with the private sector to increase investment in refugee-hosting areas. Recognizing the risk of inadequate funding and the need for coordinated action among stakeholders, WFP will also play a key role in advocating for the advancement of the transition agenda.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Policy Officer - Resilience, this position will provide specialised operational and technical support to  WFP Kenya’s programme for the resilience and integration of refugees and local communities.

• Provide technical support and assist in the development and implementation of resilience-building activities targeting refugees and host populations in and around settlements and refugee camps while aligning with WFP programme policies and guidelines.
• Coordinate and actively monitor progress and performance of resilience and food system project activities including training of farmers, post-harvest handling support, productive asset creation (water dams/pans, borehole or shallow well, market linkage assistance, among others) to ensure deadlines and targets are met.
• Participate in developing and reviewing of crop, fodder, and livestock extension including social and behaviour change communication messages/ guidelines.
• Coordinate engagement with target smallholder farmers, producer groups, and agro dealers/ stockists, regularly to identify resilience and food system's needs, possible solutions, anticipate challenges and ensure smooth communication 
• Support in fostering relationships and communication with relevant stakeholders/ mechanisms, such as cooperating partners (where applicable), food security and livelihood working groups, relevant NGOs, civil societies and community leaders and project target groups in Dadaab/Kakuma.
• Support in coordinating and liaising with internal counterparts to enable effective collaboration, implementation and monitoring of ongoing and upcoming resilience project activities.
• Gather, and collate information, prepare input for reports, perform data analysis and highlight trends/issues ensuring deliverables adhere to corporate standards and quality control within set timelines.
• In consultation with the other project associates and the supervisor(s)  develop and oversee the implementation of participation community action planning processes to enhance project ownership and security of established community resilience building assets.
• Support the capacity building of WFP staff, and other actors on resilience building, food systems, agriculture, markets and market systems, agro-value chains, climate change and adaptation and other thematic areas as may be defined in the food resilience and systems projects.
• Support organization and management of donor and high-level visits and missions to project sites assigned to him/her.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• A certificate of secondary school education, preferably supplemented by technical qualification and/or university degree  in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agronomy, Agricultural Education and Extension, Engineering (Environmental Engineering, Agriculture Engineering), Food Security, Animal Science/ Animal Production, Range Management, or other field relevant to international development assistance
• Experience: At least 5 or more years of progressively responsible work experience in supporting programme management. Experience in implementing resilience building activities in arid and semi-arid areas. Experience working with organizations that have medium to large food security and agriculture portfolio and longer-term projects.

Knowledge and skills:

• Extensive knowledge of Kenya’s refugee context.
• Understanding of food system concepts and their application to programme design and implementation in different contexts.
• Knowledge and experience in implementing programmes in agriculture value chain/ food security/ natural resource management.
• Knowledge on participatory community engagement approaches such as participatory rural appraisal, participatory learning and action, community managed disaster risk reduction.
• Knowledge on broader aspects of agricultural extension methodologies such as farmer/pastoral/ agro-pastoral field schools, demonstrations.
• Deep understanding of project cycle management (PCM) including design, planning, implementation, monitoring and adaptation.
• Deep understanding on monitoring technical activities related to production, post- harvest losses, and market linkages with smallholder farmers and/or co-operatives.
• Broader understanding of cross cutting issues in humanitarian and development programming such as conflict sensitive programming, nutrition sensitive programming and gender sensitive programming.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES
Capability Name    Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level
Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance    

• Demonstrates ability to identify key variables and contextual factors that affect food assistance problems and programmes throughout the lifecycle to inform quality programme design or re-design.

Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Vouchers)  

•  Demonstrates ability to implement, under guidance, food assistance programmes deploying the full range of transfer modalities with an understanding of basic principles guiding modality selection and implementation.

Broad Knowledge of Specialized Areas  

•  Understands basic technical concepts and data and their relevance to food assistance programmes.

Emergency Programming  

• Displays capacity to provide inputs into the development, implementation and realignment of high quality emergency programmes.

Strategic Policy Engagement w/Government    

• Understands and applies basic principles of engagement with government counterparts at the national or local level.