Overview
The Programme Policy Officer – Climate Resilience and Food Security will support WFP Zambia in implementing digital transformation initiatives related to sustainable and climate resilient food production and strengthening food value chains.
Key Responsibilities
- Support Climate Resilient Food Production and Digital Agriculture:
- Support WFP Zambia in implementing and following up on digital transformation initiatives related to sustainable and climate resilient food production;
- Assist national and local authorities, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture, in strengthening systems to monitor food production and climate impacts;
- Promote the adoption of data driven and climate smart agricultural practices among local stakeholders.
- Strengthen Food Value Chains and Market Linkages
- Contribute to the design and implementation of food value chain strategies, including supply chain mapping and stakeholder analysis;
- Support WFP and government counterparts in identifying and developing new or improved market and supply chain opportunities for smallholder farmers;
- Facilitate engagement and negotiations with potential buyers, retailers, cooperatives, and private sector actors to expand access to markets;
- Promote innovations in infrastructure and technology (e.g. cold chains, traceability, logistics systems) to reduce post harvest losses and increase incomes.
- Capacity Development and Knowledge Transfer
- Strengthen the capacities of government officers, agriculture extension officers, farmers, and agribusiness actors through on the job coaching, technical backstopping, and regular follow up sessions;
- Organize or support workshops, meetings, and online training sessions on food production monitoring, value chains, and sustainable agricultural practices;
- Ensure that technical knowledge and skills transferred to national counterparts are institutionalized and sustainable beyond the duration of the assignment.
- Coordination, Monitoring and Reporting
- Support inter agency coordination at national and local levels, aligning activities with WFP’s Country Strategic Plan and government priorities;
- Contribute to monitoring and reporting on progress against project outputs and outcomes;
- Prepare technical inputs, briefs, and progress updates for WFP, UNV, and donors, including the Government of Japan;
- Promote knowledge sharing and visibility of project results within WFP and among partners.
Required Experience
- Post qualification professional work experience at the national and/or international level in humanitarian and development or related areas;
- Experience with waste management topics is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organizations;
- Proven experience in food security programming, climate‑smart agriculture, value chain development, or digital agriculture;
- Experience working with government institutions, international organizations, or humanitarian/development actors;
- Strong analytical, coordination, and capacity‑building skills;
- Ability to work effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments;
- Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
- Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
- Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels;
- Familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
- Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment;
- Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
- Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
- Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
- Sound security awareness;
- Have affinity with or interest in WFP’s mandate, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.
Qualifications
- Master's degree in Agriculture, Food Security, Climate Change, Development Studies, or relevant area, such as supply chain, international development, land and natural resource management, etc.;
- A first-level university degree or equivalent in combination with relevant training and/or additional professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree;
