Background

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting against hunger worldwide. Finding long-term and sustainable solutions to chronic hunger is also a part of the WFP mandate. The WFP Centre of Excellence Against Hunger was launched in November 2011. The Centre was established as a partnership between WFP and the Brazilian government, and it was created to support governments in Africa, Asia and Latin America in the areas of School Feeding, Nutrition and Food Security.
The Government of Brazil, through its Humanitarian Cooperation (General Coordination for International Action Against Hunger - CGFOME), in partnership with the FAO and WFP, is implementing the PAA Africa Programme (Purchase from Africans for Africa). The Programme aims to promote local food purchases for food assistance in five African countries, namely the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Republic of Malawi, the Republic of Mozambique, the Republic of the Niger and the Republic of Senegal. One of main purposes of the Programme is to promote exchange of knowledge among key stakeholders, taking into account different learning activities.
In support to the PAA Africa Programme, a triangular cooperation project with WFP, DFID and the government of Brazil has been conceived to set-up complementary interventions. The purpose of the ´Promotion of cooperation and lessons learning in support of Food Security and Food Purchase Programme in Africa (Cooperation in support of PAA Africa)´ is to complement, strengthen, and increase impact of the PAA Africa by supporting lesson learning and exchanges between Brazil’s PAA and the PAA Africa programme as well as the broader lesson learning from the Purchase for Progress (P4P) pilots and other country experiences on local food purchase programmes.

The Project Coordinator will coordinate the learning activities of the PAA Africa Programme and its cooperation support project. Under the overall supervision of the Centre’s Director he/she will work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and Fight against Hunger and CGFOME.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:
• In accordance with directions defined by MDS, CGFOME, WFP and FAO, support the implementation of the lessons learned, monitor and evaluate activities of the PAA Africa.

• Support the coordination of knowledge exchange activities in sustainable agriculture and local food purchase in partnership with civil society for PAA Africa in the involved countries.

• Coordinate the organization of seminars of PAA Africa to bring project target audiences together (civil society, UN system and Governments) and present successful policy initiatives and civil society projects to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development in coordination with programmes for local food purchase from small farmers for food assistance programmes.

• Coordinate technical visits and short courses of the PAA Africa for the exchange of successful experiences to promote sustainable farming in coordination with food purchase programmes, with the participation of civil society, UN system and Governments (focus on projects for local food purchase from small farmers for food assistance programmes).

• Coordinate seminar to evaluate and present the outcomes of the exchange of the PAA Africa cooperation experiences and projects to promote sustainable agriculture in coordination with local food purchase programmes.

• Contribute to the general technical support for food and nutrition security initiatives in the PAA Africa countries.

• Support related south-south cooperation for home grown school feeding in close collaboration with the Centre of Excellence against Hunger.

Expected Results:
• Preparation of a methodology and format for inception and evaluation seminars attended by respective Governments and the United Nations..

• Preparation, in partnership with the Ministry of External Relations, the Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger and the United Nations, of a methodology and schedule for short courses.

• Inception and an evaluation seminars and field visits to Brazilian Food Purchase Programme sites is executed with participants representing Governments, civil society and the United Nations.

• Preparation of two short courses on capacity building and experience exchanges in Food Purchase Programmes with the participation of national and international consultants, Governments and United Nations Organizations.

• Preparation of five technical visits to projects managed by farmers´ organizations and local food purchase programmes by Governments and United Nations Agencies to African countries, with the participation of the Brazilian Government, civil society, WFP Centre of Excellence and FAO Brazil.

• Development of learning activities regarding five cooperation projects between stakeholders of involved countries aimed at strengthening production.

• Support to study tours and follow up activities for technical support services in close collaboration with the Centre of Excellence against Hunger to the PAA Africa countries.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrate integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards; Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Action Management:
- Effectively manages own work related to multiple tasks or activities; Recognizes opportunities or threats and acts on them with the agreement of supervisor; Responds quickly to emergencies with a solution or a decision.
Communication:
- Presents information clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing; Listen to and shows understanding of ideas and views of others; Adapts level of language and/or complexity of contents to audience; Shares information and knowledge with all; Communicates respectfully with all individuals
- Knowledge of specified software (Microsoft suites ).
Ethics and Values:
- Takes responsibility for own performance; Recognizes the potential for ethical dilemmas and seeks advice to resolve them; Respects and works productively with all individuals; Acts consistently with established procedures and policies.
Teamwork:
- Works productively with broad range of team members, actively participates in and supports team decisions, openly shares knowledge, expertise or experience with team members.
Client Orientation:
- Actively seeks information and opinion of client to understand their requests and to identify their needs and expectations; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks.
- Demonstrated knowledge of food security policy in Brazil;
Cognitive Capacity:
- Systematically extracts pertinent information from relevant sources; Conduct in-depth analysis on issues and problems; identifies multiple causes of a problem and relationship among the causes.
Interpersonal Relations:
- Respects differing needs and viewpoints. Resolves personal and professional disagreements constructively; Builds effective working relationships within the all in the office; Demonstrates sensitivity, tact, and empathy for others.
Stamina & Stress Resistance:
- Maintain effective performance in demanding or uncertain situations (e.g., emergency and/or varied field situations); Maintains a work-life balance to ensure that performance is sustained over the long-term, even under stressful circumstances.

Required Skills and Experience

Please, fill with details and complete data all the required information in the Personal History Form (check below how to submit application).

Education:
University degree, preferably with master or specialization level in one of the following disciplines: project management, rural development, international relations, or other related field.

Experience:
At least 5 (five) years of experience in project coordination;
At least 5 (five) years of experience in food security, rural development or related initiatives;
Experience related to local public food procurement programmes from smallholder farmers;
International professional experience, preferably in Africa.
Experience with the UN system desired.

Language Requirements:
Fluency in both oral and written communication in Portuguese and English.
Working knowledge of French is considered an major asset/advantage.

Important:
- The candidate must have Brazilian Nationality or be legally authorized to work in the country;

- Availability to travel  

Instructions - How to submitt application

Click "Apply Now". After filling the fields and clicking in "Submit Application", you MUST attach in the next page the UNDP Personal History Form - P11. The P11 can be found in: http://www.pnud.org.br/Oportunidades.aspx  
Only applications made on UNDP Personal History Form - P11 and submitted on time will be examined.


WFP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Due to the volume of applications received, receipt of applications cannot be acknowledged individually. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.