Value Chain and Food System Consultant
Organizational Context
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives and building a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity. WFP utilizes food assistance to support people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. The organization champions diversity and inclusion, fostering a skilled, high-performing workforce committed to its core values.
Job Purpose
The Value Chain and Food System Consultant will provide strategic and operational leadership to advance WFP Guatemala’s food systems and value chain portfolio under Strategic Outcome 2. This role is crucial for strengthening inclusive, resilient, and nutrition-sensitive food systems by leading technical coordination, implementation support, partnership development, evidence generation, and resource mobilization. The consultant will spearhead the identification, implementation, and scaling of innovative solutions that enhance market opportunities, improve access to nutritious foods, and contribute to sustainable rural development, aligning with the Country Strategic Plan. This position requires a senior technical advisor to guide WFP teams and partners in designing and executing impactful value chain interventions.
Responsibilities
The Value Chain and Food System Consultant will provide strategic and operational leadership to advance WFP Guatemala's food systems and value chain portfolio. This involves leading technical coordination, implementation support, partnership development, evidence generation, and resource mobilization to strengthen inclusive, resilient, and nutrition-sensitive food systems. The role requires providing strategic and technical leadership for the design, implementation, and improvement of WFP Guatemala's portfolio on value chain development and food systems transformation. It also entails offering technical oversight and support to ongoing interventions, ensuring quality delivery and alignment with WFP strategies. A key responsibility is to lead the design and application of market-based approaches to strengthen demand for nutritious foods and improve market linkages. The consultant will also provide technical guidance, coaching, and mentoring to WFP staff and partners, enhancing their expertise in value chain development and agribusiness. Furthermore, the role involves identifying, developing, and scaling innovative solutions and business models to enhance competitiveness and resilience. Facilitating collaboration across different WFP teams and engaging with government institutions, private sector actors, and development partners are crucial. The consultant will also be responsible for developing and disseminating knowledge products, monitoring progress, and supporting resource mobilization efforts through proposal development and strategic partnerships. The position requires a Master's degree and at least 8 years of experience in relevant fields, with strong knowledge of food systems, value chain development, and market systems approaches. Fluency in Spanish is required, with English being desirable.
Work Experience
Requires at least 8 years of progressive experience in agricultural economics, value chain development, market systems strengthening, agribusiness, rural development, and sustainable food systems. Demonstrated experience in programme design, implementation, strategic planning, capacity strengthening, and stakeholder engagement is essential. Experience developing partnerships with public institutions, producer organizations, financial actors, private sector partners, and international development organizations is also required. Experience with UN agencies or donor-funded programmes is highly desirable, as is experience in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Skills
Value Chain Development, Food Systems Strengthening, Market Analysis, Programme Innovation, Capacity Strengthening, Partnership Development, Stakeholder Engagement, Resource Mobilization, Agribusiness, Rural Development, Agricultural Economics, Strategic Planning, Problem-Solving, Technical Leadership, Mentoring, Knowledge Management