Value Chain & Food Systems Consultant

Organizational Context

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and building pathways to peace and prosperity. WFP utilizes food assistance to support people recovering from conflict, disasters, and climate change impacts. The organization values diversity, inclusion, and a high-performing workforce committed to its mission.

Job Purpose

WFP Venezuela seeks a Value Chain & Food Systems Consultant to strengthen local food systems and value chains, aligning with national priorities and WFP's Interim Country Strategic Plan. The consultant will establish strategic foundations, analytical frameworks, and operational models to guide value chain development. This includes leading assessments, identifying market development opportunities, fostering linkages between production and markets, building partnerships, and supporting the design and initial implementation of interventions. The role involves developing a comprehensive strategy, conducting assessments to map actors and bottlenecks, analyzing market feasibility, and co-designing pilot initiatives. The consultant will also support resource mobilization, mentor national staff, develop internal tools, and represent WFP in relevant coordination platforms, ultimately positioning WFP as a catalyst for food systems transformation in Venezuela.

Responsibilities

The Value Chain and Food Systems Consultant will lead the design and implementation of WFP Venezuela's Value Chain Strategy, aligning it with national food system priorities and WFP's strategic plan. This involves defining a theory of change, identifying priority value chains, and developing scalable intervention models and an implementation roadmap. The consultant will conduct comprehensive assessments to map food value chains, identify key actors, bottlenecks, risks, and market failures, and analyze market feasibility to prioritize high-potential chains. Intervention packages will be developed, focusing on capacity strengthening, post-harvest improvements, market linkages, aggregation, logistics, food safety, and inclusive business models. Pilot initiatives will be co-designed and integrated with social protection programs. A crucial aspect of the role is establishing and strengthening partnerships with government ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, the private sector, financial institutions, and research bodies. The consultant will also facilitate market agreements, support resource mobilization, mentor a national officer, develop internal tools and training materials, and represent WFP in relevant coordination platforms. The overall goal is to strengthen local food systems, build resilient food systems, and position WFP as a catalyst for transformation in Venezuela.

Work Experience

Requires 5-7 years of experience in value chain development, agribusiness, market systems development, food systems strengthening, and market analysis (VCA, MDA). Must also have experience in building partnerships with the private sector and governments.

Skills

Value chain development, Food systems analysis, Market development, Agribusiness, Partnership building, Project design and implementation, Climate resilience, Rural development, Supply chain management, Data analysis, Report writing, Spanish language proficiency, English language proficiency

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