Programme Associate (Innovation Service) SC-6 at WFP
WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.
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ABOUT WFP
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
WFP Tanzania is implementing its new Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for 2022-2027, focusing on supporting the Government of Tanzania in its efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the Zero Hunger 2030 agenda. The Tanzania CSP aims to progressively shift the focus of its work from direct implementation of food assistance programs toward capacity strengthening and technical assistance for national partners.
As part of the new CSP, WFP Tanzania is mainstreaming innovation by identifying, conceptualizing, testing, and piloting new solutions across all operations to achieve the SDGs by 2030. The Tanzania Country Office works in close collaboration with the WFP Innovation Accelerator in Munich (INCA) and other country offices involved in innovation activities. The Tanzania Innovation Unit has been operational since May 2017 and has shown promising results. Since its inception, the unit has successfully sourced, tested, refined, and aimed to scale up relevant local and global innovations that align with and further Tanzania’s strategic objectives.
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STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Completion of secondary school education plus a post-secondary certificate or diploma in the related functional area. Having a bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent qualification will be an added advantage.
Experience: Five years’ experience in innovation
services, preferably with at least two years of professional experience
in startup advisory, the food system ecosystem, agriculture, emerging
technologies, engineering, or a related field.
Knowledge & Skills: Familiarity with human-centered
design methodologies, digital tools, and emerging technologies.
Possesses strong business writing and professional verbal communication
skills. Highly organized, capable of multitasking and prioritizing
effectively. Proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite.
Languages: Fluency in both spoken and written English is required. Additionally, proficiency in Kiswahili is essential.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Tanzania Country Office (CO) is seeking an Innovation Associate to support the growth of the Innovation Unit and assist in identifying and managing innovation projects and related activities.
JOB PURPOSE
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Policy Officer for Innovation (Head of Innovation), the innovation Associate will support the Country Office in managing innovation projects and innovation services offered by the Innovation Unit.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
The main tasks will be as follows:
New Concept Design and Project Management:
• Provide support for innovation scoping in coordination with internal units and external stakeholders.
• Identify, design, and develop new concepts related to emerging
technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), drone applications,
and digitalization, according to the operational needs of WFP. This
includes conducting background research, designing concepts, and
collecting feedback.
• Assist in managing innovation projects and related activities in
coordination with other units including Refugee operations, Nutrition,
and Smallholder Agriculture Market Support (SAMS)
Capacity Building and Communication:
• Assist in organizing and managing training sessions and
workshops focused on various innovation methodologies and emerging
technologies, such as Human-Centric Design, Design Thinking, etc.
• Document and compile best practices from both internal and
external ecosystems, and regularly share these insights with teams.
• Contribute to the preparation of monthly reports, development of
case studies, documentation of projects, and knowledge management
initiatives.
Support for Partner Engagement:
• Mapping and networking within the country-level food system
innovation ecosystem, including startups, innovation hubs, universities,
and innovation labs in the food systems domain.
• Engaging potential partners from the innovation ecosystem to accelerate innovation initiatives at the country level.
• Coordinating with existing and new partners for innovation project management.
Coordination & Event Management:
• Regularly coordinate with internal units and external innovation stakeholders to foster an innovation ecosystem.
• Assist in planning, coordinating, and executing WFP innovation-related events and workshops.
• Liaise with internal units, including administration and
procurement, to ensure the smooth functioning of the innovation unit and
its related activities.
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OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
We are looking for.
-
- Start-up Mindset: You possess a strong affinity for the Tanzanian innovation space and ideally have some experience in start-up.
- Food System Expertise: You have knowledge of and familiarity with the innovation ecosystem in the food system.
- Technologically Proficient: You have hands-on experience with digitalization and are well-versed in the latest market technologies.
- Self-Starter: Full of initiative and innovative ideas, you require minimal guidance and excel at working independently, yet you are also an effective team player.
- Multi-tasker: You enjoy diverse tasks in your work and are eager to take on various challenges as they arise.
- Organized: You excel at arranging things methodically, with meticulous attention to detail. Vigilant and Adaptable: You are a meticulous planner who remains flexible enough to adjust plans as required by changing situations.
- Impact-Driven: Making a positive impact through your work is vital to you, and you are dedicated to contributing towards the goal of achieving zero hunger.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Duration: 12 months. (Extension of contract is subjected to satisfactory performance and funding availability).
This position is open to Tanzanian Nationals only.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
The deadline for receiving applications is 19 January 2024.
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All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
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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.
