Internship Opportunities at World Food Programme

The position will be based in our Supply Chain Unit in Kenya CO based in Nairobi, Kenya. The internship will be for the period of 6 months during June to November 2021.

Brief description of Supply Chain function within Kenya CO:

Kenya programmes have witnessed a decline in delivery of food assistance over the years. Over the last six years, the volume of food received at the main point of entry which is Mombasa has decreased by 34 percent. This means a gradual reduction of large-scale in-kind delivery form of food in Kenya with a shift to cash-based transfer programmes, technical support and capacity building of the Kenya Government and different supply chain actors within the Food Systems spectrum.

Within this context, there are newer frontiers for the Supply Chain function in the Kenya Country Strategic Plan  to leverage the supply chain expertise built in the last 20 years in Kenya and transform it into a programmatic value proposition within the Food Systems Strategy  to ensure that WFP plays a pivotal role in aiding the Government of and people of Kenya achieve Vision 2030 and Zero Hunger goals.

One of the challenges in reducing the hunger gap in Kenya has been the inefficiencies in the food systems that lead to high food prices, insufficient market supply (particularly for fresh foods) and lower incomes for producers. Agricultural value chains tend to be unresponsive to farmers’ needs. Some of the reasons of supply inefficiencies that largely affect the food systems are:

1. Limited storage
2. Transport capacity
3. Road accessibility and access especially in the rainy season
4. Poor storage practices
5. Weak quality practices

There exist significant and potential opportunities for WFP Supply Chain to contribute towards reduction of the hunger gap in Kenya and strategically contribute to build resilience food systems.

 General Information

• Supervisor: Head of Supply Chain
• Unit: Supply Chain
• Duration of internship: 6 months
• Expected Start Date: June 2021

Duties and responsibilities

 Under the direct supervision of the Head of Supply Chain, the candidate will perform the following duties:

•  Support the definition of the Supply Chain Strategy to build sustainable and resilient Food Systems in Kenya.
• Enhance the implementation of the procurement plan to increase the local purchases from Small Holder Farmers to support Kenyan Programmes and export to other WFP operations in the region.
• Assist in defining a strategy to engage our local purchase upstream partners i.e. AMPATH/CGA to ensure food safety and quality standards of all Small Holder purchases.
• Define the action plan to link identified Small Holder Farmers to markets and to nutritious producers.
• Strengthen the activities to increase the local production of nutritious foods, bringing new suppliers and enhancing their capacity to fill WFP demand and the local population demand to contribute to a diverse and nutritious diet. Kenya.
• Contribute to build the business cases and plans for the supply chain innovative solutions to reduce post-harvest losses and increase the efficiency of the different supply chains and value chains.
• Contribute to build a case study to pilot block chain within Kenya to support Small Holder Farmers.
• Measure the impact of above supply chain activities in the implementation of WFP Kenya Food Systems Strategy and recommend the high impact activities with concreate outcomes within a 1 to 5 years horizon.

Qualifications and experience

• Currently enrolled with in a graduate programme and have attended classes in the past 12 months, or a recent graduate from a graduate programme (within six months prior to the application to the internship programme). Preferred areas of study are Supply Chain Management, Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Engineering, Economics, Business Administration, Logistics
• Excellent command of English; Working knowledge of a second UN language would be an asset
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• Proficiency in database management
   

Required soft skills/WFP Competencies:

• Good communicator, with excellent oral and writing skills
• Team player and able to integrate in diverse teams through all people-related activities that include members from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, positions, or country assignments.
• Innovative and capable to propose creative solutions
• Focus on getting results
• Accountable, responsible, and willing to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and value of service and assistance to beneficiaries and value for money for our donors.
• Able to connect and work across WFP units, creates strong, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders and partners.

Working Languages

 Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) is required. (you can specify an additional language required)

Supervision (Level/Methods of Supervision)

 Under the direct supervision of Head of Supply Chain, the incumbent will be provided with close mentoring, guidance, and technical supervision. Performance planning and reviews as well as learning and development discussions will be elemental part of the supervision. The WFP Kenya Country Director will be the second-level supervisor. With the support of a comprehensive induction package and assignment of a buddy/mentor, the intern will rapidly become a productive member of the team.

Training components

Throughout their assignment WFP interns have access to an industry leading learning platform, WeLearn. Depending on opportunities and availability of funds, he/she may participate in WFP workshops or seminars, as appropriate.

Learning Elements

At the end of the assignment, the Intern should:

• Be able to articulate the WFP Kenya supply chain function value proposition for sustainable and resilient Food Systems in Kenya
• have a great understanding of the key supply chain activities that will bring concreate added value to Kenya Food Systems within a time horizon of 1 to 5 years.

Information on the Country of Assignment

With the world’s best-known game reserve in the Maasai Mara and a history as rich as its famously hospitable welcome and is still regarded by many as the ultimate African destination. It is not a rare occurrence that people posted to work at the United Nations in Kenya end up making the country their lifelong home. An East African nation spans more than 224,000 sq. miles (582,000 sq. Km). Kenya has a wide range of topographical features – from the low plains found along the coast, bisected by the Great Rift Valley, to the fertile plateau in the west. The Great Rift Valley is home to several lakes, arid and rugged landscapes, and volcanic landforms with areas of active hot springs and geothermal activity. The highland areas of Central Kenya provide fertile ground for farming, making Kenya one of the most agriculturally productive countries in Africa. The north of Kenya, however, is largely desert land scattered with thorn bush. This contrasts greatly with the Kenyan coast, which features many beaches, coral reefs, creeks and coral islands. The coastal strip is largely flat, giving rise to the rolling Taita hills. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, is located along the border between Kenya and Tanzania. Breathtakingly views of Kilimanjaro can be seen from Amboseli National Park. The second highest mountain – Mount Kenya, can be found at the country’s center. Kenya is situated on the equator and is bordered by five countries: Uganda (to the west), South Sudan (to the northwest), Ethiopia (to the north), Somalia (to the northeast), and Tanzania (to the south). Along its southeast edge, Kenya’s tropical coastline connects the country to the Indian Ocean.

Nairobi, the duty station of the position, is classified as Class B under the UN Duty station. The duty station has abundant supply of modern housing from apartments to stand-alone houses. There are good hospitals and security is like any other big city.

VA Reference no: 141659

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The position will be based in supply chain and port operations to be Port Operations / Supply Chain unit, Mombasa, Kenya. The internship will be typically for the period of at least 3 months during May/June to August/ September 2021.

Brief description of WFP activities in Port Operations/Supply Chain Unit in Mombasa, Kenya:

Mombasa Port is the main port of entry in Kenya and main HUB for WFP operations in the Region with a turnover of over 300,000MT foods and non-foods items per year. WFP Mombasa is responsible for handling arrivals of containerized cargo and charter vessels supporting the landlocked countries and Kenya operations.

The Mombasa Office is operational and dynamic, involving warehouse management / land transport, port clearances activities and vessel discharge operations. We are looking for young talented individuals with an interest in supply chain and port operations. The intern will be supervised by the head of the office, providing training in shipping activities, warehousing management, and logistics in general.

General Information

• Title of Post: PD Internship_ Digital Transformation Support
• Supervisor: Logistics Officer of Unit/Head of Office
• Unit: Supply Chain, Port Operations
• Country: Kenya
• Duty Station: Mombasa
• Duration of internship: At least 3 months (May/June to August/September 2021)
• Expected Start Date: ASAP, June 2021

Duties and responsibilities

 The intern will be supervised by the head of the office providing training in shipping activities, warehousing management, and logistics in general. The PD Summer Intern will perform the following duties:

• Update weekly reports, including maintaining our Tableau Dashboard
• Assist the various teams in our internal business processes, Warehousing, Transport, Shipping
• Manage WFP’s container tracing system during vessel discharge
• Provide a daily warehouse assessment using the mobile APP
• Coordinate and organize workshops for service provision
• Participate in the in-house trainings on the various supply chain subjects
• Perform other related duties as required

 Qualifications and experience

• Currently enrolled in a graduate programme and have attended classes in the past 12 months, or a recent graduate from a graduate programme (within six months prior to the application to the internship programme).
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• Excellent English verbal and writing skills
• Excellent IT skills / dashboards / mobile APPs

Required soft skills/WFP Competencies

• Good team work and interpersonal skills
• Openness to innovation and learning
• Enthusiasm for humanitarian and development causes

Working Languages

 Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) is required.

Supervision (Level/Methods of Supervision)

Under the direct supervision of Logistics Officer of Unit, the incumbent will be provided with close mentoring, guidance, and technical supervision. Performance planning and reviews as well as learning and development discussions will be elemental part of the supervision. Head of Office will be the second-level supervisor. With the support of a comprehensive induction package and assignment of a buddy/mentor, the intern will rapidly become a productive member of the team.

Training components

 Throughout their assignment, WFP interns have access to an industry leading learning platform, WeLearn. Depending on opportunities and availability of funds, he/she may participate in WFP workshops or seminars, as appropriate.

Learning Elements

At the end of the assignment, the Intern should have:

• Results-based skills in supply chain activities, port operations and warehouse management
• Good knowledge in modernizing our internal processes, Dashboard implemented, mobile APP and Transport Allocations tool concluded
• Understanding in Shipping / Maritime industry
• Skills in planning, coordination and collaborating both with the internal and external stakeholders.
• Integration and more service provision
• General understanding of WFP overall operations

Information on the Country of Assignment

 Mombasa Port is the main port of entry in Kenya and main HUB for WFP operations in the Region with a turnover of over 300,000MT foods and non-foods items per year.  WFP Mombasa is responsible for handling arrivals of containerized cargo and charter vessels supporting the landlocked countries and Kenya operations. The Mombasa Office is very operational and dynamic, involving warehouse management / land transport, port clearances activities and vessel discharge operations.
 Mombasa is a beautiful coastal city of Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It is Kenya’s second largest city and has a large port and an international airport. It is classified as B duty station under the UN duty stations classification.

Mombasa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kenya usually frequented by UN personnel for both work and holiday. The area’s security remains generally stable. In general, Mombasa records highs of 88°F (31°C) and lows of 80°F (26°C), representing a very small range. This explains why it is hot for most parts of the year. It would therefore be advisable to bring light clothing. There is adequate supply of housing at affordable prices and has a number of shopping malls.

The area is also prone to tropical diseases such as Malaria, Dengue Fever. Staff are therefore advised to used mosquito repellents and sleep under treated mosquito nets.

VA Reference no: 141656

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The position will either be based in our Social Protection and Cash Based Transfers team of the Programme unit, in the WFP Regional Bureau for East and Central Africa (RBN), based in Nairobi, Kenya, or home-based, depending on the pandemic-caused restrictions. The internship will be typically for the period of at least 3 months during June to August/September 2021.

Brief description of the RBN Social Protection and Cash Based Transfers team, Programme:

The Social Protection and Cash Based Transfers (SP&CBT) team in the WFP Regional Office for East and Central Africa (RBN) provides strategic guidance, support, and oversight to nine country offices with regards to their SP and CBT portfolios. In the region, cash-based transfers represent an increasing share of WFP’s total humanitarian assistance: 23% in 2020, which translated into USD 372 million of purchasing power transferred to 6.1 million beneficiaries.  All RBN countries have embarked on their own distinct SP and CBT journeys, with the scale, level of sophistication and systemic approach varying across the 9 countries. The Regional SP&CBT team is the first line of support for Country Offices with regards to their SP and CBT operations and plays a key role in identifying opportunities to further key regional strategic shifts, in addition to its risk management and oversight responsibilities.

 General Information

• Supervisor: Social Protection Advisor
• Unit: Social Protection and Cash Based Transfers, Programme
• Country: RBN, Kenya
• Duration of internship: 3 months
• Expected Start Date: June 2021

Duties and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the social protection advisor, the candidate will perform the following duties:

• Contribute to conducting a comprehensive mapping of social protection in the region, including government owned social protection
• Support an ongoing mapping on digitization or payment solutions across the region through research, literature review, and analysis.
• Contribute to a review of current CBT service provision, and CBT based complementary programming across the region to strengthen WFP’s understanding of the environment overall, and the ways we are contributing to it.
• Contribute to the creation of ‘CBT country profiles’, short documents that will draw on the information gained through the CBT review to reflect the current status of CBT programming in each country in the region.
• Perform other tasks as required.

Qualifications and experience

• Currently enrolled within a graduate programme in the fields of Public Policy, Public Administration, International Development, International Relations, Economics, Sociology, or other relevant area, and have attended classes in the past 12 months, or a recent graduate from a graduate programme (within six months prior to the application to the internship programme)
• Excellent command of English; Working knowledge of a second UN language would be an asset
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• Experience in analysing quantitative and qualitative information
• Experience in producing high-quality written outputs
• Experience in working as part of a team
• Understanding of social protection approaches, theory, and emerging evidence, including the life-cycle approach
• Knowledge of current thinking and developments in the field of social protection, cash-based transfers, and public policy
• Understanding of humanitarian principles

Required soft skills/WFP Competencies:

• Problem solving and decision-making skills
• Ability to work independently in a timely and organised manner.

Working Languages

 Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) is required. French language skills would be an asset

Supervision (Level/Methods of Supervision)

 Under the direct supervision of the social protection advisor, the incumbent will be provided with close mentoring, guidance and technical supervision. Performance planning and reviews as well as learning and development discussions will be an elemental part of the supervision. The cash-based transfers advisor will be the second-level supervisor. With the support of a comprehensive induction package and assignment of a buddy/mentor, the intern will rapidly become a productive member of the team.

Training components

 Throughout their assignment WFP interns have access to an industry leading learning platform, WeLearn. Depending on opportunities and availability of funds, he/she may participate in WFP workshops or seminars, as appropriate.

Learning Elements

At the end of the assignment, the Intern should:

• Have gained a comprehensive understanding of the CBT and social protection environment in which WFP operates in East and Central Africa
• Have further developed their research and analytical skills
• Gained first-hand knowledge of WFP’s experiences and contributions to social protection and CBT in East and Central Africa, as well as some of the key challenges and opportunities arising.

Information on the Country of Assignment

 Living conditions in Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi is a cosmopolitan city with many restaurants and malls. Kenya is generally a peaceful country, though violence related to the electoral process has occurred in certain parts of the country, including during the 2017 elections. It is advisable that staff members maintain a high level of awareness and preparedness to minimize unnecessary exposure to any terrorist related threats. The greatest threats continue to be road safety and crime. UN personnel in Nairobi (including staff on either official or private visits) have on occasions been victims of crime. The most significant hazards are Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs). Traffic jams during both peak and non-peak times (including rainy periods) are a common feature on the roads in Nairobi and criminals may take advantage of these situations to rob motorists and passengers of their valuables. Most banks have a reasonable network of branches and ATMs across the city. ATMs will generally accept international cards, particularly Visa cards. The internet is also available with many free Wi-Fi locations in malls, restaurants, and businesses. Kenya has a stunning variety of scenery and wildlife, many beautiful National Parks, and great beaches. Kenya is highly geared to tourism, and visitors are made to feel welcome, whether tourists, residents, or citizens.

VA Reference no: 141655