Programme Policy Officer - SAMS, Deputy Head of Resilience
Organizational Context
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives and building a pathway to peace and prosperity. WFP uses food assistance to support people recovering from conflict, disasters, and extreme weather. The organization values diversity, inclusion, and a skilled, high-performing workforce committed to its mission.
Job Purpose
The Programme Policy Officer - SAMS, Deputy Head of Resilience, will provide crucial technical and strategic support to WFP's country office in Madagascar. This role is instrumental in strengthening farmers' organizations and structuring agricultural value chains to enhance competitiveness, increase producer incomes, and build resilience against climate impacts. The officer will collaborate with government, private sector, and development organizations to implement actions that improve profitability and resilience. As Deputy Head of Resilience, the incumbent will provide leadership in designing, managing, and overseeing complex programs, supervising technical staff, and ensuring continuity of leadership for the Resilience Section. This position requires strong analytical skills, knowledge of market dynamics, risk management, and the Malagasy context, with a focus on sustainable and inclusive value chain development.
Responsibilities
The Programme Policy Officer will provide crucial technical and strategic support to strengthen farmers' organizations and develop sustainable agricultural value chains in Madagascar. This role involves analyzing priority value chains, assessing the needs of farmer groups, and delivering tailored training and management tools to enhance their business plans and marketing strategies. A key responsibility is to foster collaboration among all value chain actors—from producers to processors and transporters—to improve coordination, reduce post-harvest losses, enhance product quality, and facilitate market access. The officer will also assist in establishing effective governance mechanisms and developing risk management approaches, including crop insurance. Furthermore, the position requires developing and implementing a monitoring and evaluation system to track progress and report on outcomes. As Deputy Head of Resilience, the officer will support strategic coordination, program oversight, and stakeholder engagement, acting as the head of the section in their absence. This involves providing technical leadership in designing and managing programs to build resilience against climate change, economic shocks, and food insecurity, working under the supervision of the Chief of the Resilience Section.
Work Experience
Requires a minimum of 5 years of proven experience in developing agricultural value chains and supporting farmers' organizations.
Skills
Value Chain Analysis, Capacity Building, Market Access, Risk Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Team Leadership, Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Engagement, Program Management, Rural Development, French, English, Analytical Skills, Cultural Awareness, Flexibility