Partnerships Officer (Ministry of Agriculture) - World Food Programme (WFP)

About the Organization:

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger and promoting food security. WFP works globally to ensure that no one goes to bed hungry and that vulnerable population, particularly women and children, have access to nutritious food.

Job Description:

WFP India has a Project Management Unit (PMU) with Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Govt. of India to facilitate the delivery of its mandate under UN SDG-2 , SDG-5 and SDG 13.

The recruited personnel will work with the WFP India and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare while seconded to the Ministry, with a special focus on International Cooperation and other such areas as jointly identified by MoA&FW and WFP India.

Job Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Country Director, WFP India, and the direct and joint supervision of the Joint Secretary, MoA&FW and the Government Partnerships Officer, WFP India, the incumbent of the position will be responsible for the following duties:

• Support the International Cooperation Division (Technical Cell) at MoA&FW for activities related to Rome Based Agencies (RBAs) and other partners working in the area of food and nutrition security.

• Provide coordination and analytical support on India’s Presidency on BRICS and BRICS – Agriculture Working Group (AWG) initiatives, ensuring alignment with India’s priorities and WFP’s mandate as a institutional partner.

• Follow up on the priorities of G20 Presidency of India and its way forward.

• Provide technical support to conduct studies in areas selected by the Ministry and support advocacy, communications, and capacity building on International Cooperation and Coordination.

• Leverage resources, collaborate and coordinate with different institutions like Public Systems Lab (PSL), a joint collaboration between WFP India and IIT Delhi for technological innovations, system strengthening, data analytics, research and other such areas.

• Provide Support to enable cross learning, facilitate convergence, and help in plugging data gaps by collating and coordinating information from different ministries and non-governmental stakeholders.

• Collate information from different stakeholders, prepare accurate and timely analysis to enable information flow through streamlined approach to enable informed decision-making.

• Support MoAF&W in different activities in organizing trainings, workshops, conferences whenever required.

• Coordination and support the work of WFP India with the different Government ministries/nodal ministry including to establish the linkages support with different State Governments

• Liaise closely with the WFP country office in New Delhi through bimonthly meetings to ensure strategic alignment.

• Document and record key discussion with partners, issue notes, preparing/coordinating talking points, concept notes, proposals and briefs.

• Support the IC division and WFP India in any other tasks as assigned.

Education Qualification/Required Skills & Experience:

• Advance university degree (Master) in development studies, public policy, agriculture, having exposure in the agriculture sector with adequate knowledge of primary production systems and strategies for sustainable food systems, agriculture value-chain and agri-business development or bachelor’s degree will additional years of experience. 

Experience

• Minimum of 1 or above years of progressively responsible work experience in Climate resilient/Agri and alternative livelihood strategies, substantial experience of on ground implementation of sustainable livelihood options and working at the National/ State level in partnership with the Government/UN agency/INGO is required. Experience of working on rural financing, understanding community actions and providing training in the related field as well as working on climate change adaptation is desirable. Prior experience in supporting international cooperation of any ministry, multilateral projects, inter-governmental liasoning etc. will be an asset.

Competencies & skills

• Advocacy and networking skills with a broad range of stakeholders including government, civil society, academia, INGOs, multilaterals and IFI’s.

• An up-to date understanding climate/agri. issues and its impact on resilient livelihoods, various relevant programmes, global frameworks and policies, climate adaptation and resilience strategies, potential use of renewable energy, food-based safety nets and other technological advances.

• Demonstrated understanding of food and nutrition security and learning ability and good knowledge about climate advisories & agriculture issues, and familiarity with government policies and data sets agriculture and climate.

• Knowledge of Global frameworks and updates in the field of climate change, soil conservation and agronomic/agro-tech practices, and national priorities.

• Advanced computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office and other analytical software packages.

• Knowledge of UN and the Government system would be an asset.

• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team of supply chain and food security, environment and climate resilience, livelihoods, gender and nutrition experts across India.

• Tact and diplomacy.

Language

• Fluency in spoken and written English and Hindi; ability to speak in other Indian languages is a plus.