Job Vacancy at World Food Programme (WFP) – Home-Grown School Feeding Consultant
WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance
Job title: Home-Grown School Feeding Consultant
Type of Contract: Consultant
Division: DCD Country Office
Duty Station (City, Country): Freetown, Sierra Leone
Duration: 10 months
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
School feeding programmes are used in many countries to promote education, health and agriculture. They also serve as an incentive for parents to send and keep their children in school while simultaneously improving children’s ability to focus on learning instead of their hunger.
In a context of widespread poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition, school feeding has been an important safety net in Sierra Leone since independence, ensuring that many children can participate in primary education, and receive a daily minimum healthy diet. However, the various models of school feeding that have been in place in Sierra Leone have each their disadvantages, among them high financial and administrative costs, little diversity, little or no contribution to the local economy, in terms of food production and processing.
WFP is one of four main implementing partners of the National school feeding and cover 7 districts. With JICA funding WFP will pilot a home-grown model in 15 schools in two districts. This consultancy will act as the project manager for the pilot.
Within delegated authority, the Home-Grown School Feeding consultant, under the supervision of SO manager, will be responsible for the following duties:
- Lead the design and implementation of WFP’s HGSF pilot in Sierra Leone and ensure objectives are met, food safety and quality standards are adhered, linkages with small holder farmers are maximized, gender and environmental considerations are adhered to, synergies with other programmes are fully explored,;
- Help establish systems and structures to implement a sustainable nationally owned HGSM programme based on previous lessons learnt, including financial systems and control mechanism for cash transfer to schools.
- Set up coordination mechanism with relevant teams and partners in the country and sub-office, including Livelihood and Asset Creation team and Ministry of Agriculture/Forestry with clear responsibilities and division of labour.
- Collaborate closely with MBSSE and relevant development partners, identify capacity gaps and design training workshops and communication and information materials for the district counterparts, education development partners, as well as school authorities.
- Ensure the design is based on the full set of needs assessments as per Home-Grown School Feeding Resource Framework, solid and frequent documentation, robust monitoring framework is implemented and that it aligns with the national priorities.
- Ensure food quality control and compliance with nutrition, food safety and quality standards including national and international standards to minimize risks to health, and injury,
- Conduct training for schools’ staff to fully implement the home-grown school feeding guidelines for buying and storing food and preparing the meals.
- Support advocacy, communication and fundraising efforts related to home grown school feeding in the Country Office;
- Any other business as required.
COMPETENCIES:
Demonstrates ability to identify key variables and contextual factors that affect food assistance and education throughout the lifecycle to inform quality programme design or re-design.
Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Voucher):
Demonstrates ability to consolidate quantitative and qualitative information from different sources to inform transfer modality selection and programme development.
Knowledge & Skills:
Proven capacity to provide tailored technical support to countries on home grown school feeding programme design and implementation. Proven capacity to produce high quality guidance, training material and written reports. Capacity to represent the Country Office in meetings and strategic engagements with partners. Ability to think creatively and strategically, ability to work autonomously. Capacity to work in a multi-cultural environment, excellent writing skills, project management. Strong networking skills.
Language:
Fluency (level C) in English language.
Terms and Conditions
WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.
Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP.
http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.
Deadline for applications: 23 May 2020
Ref.: VA No. 14223
Qualified female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply. WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status
How to Apply
Qualified and interested individuals should click on the button below to apply.
No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.
