Smallholder Agricultural Market Support (SAMS) Unit in Kigali, Rwanda

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We are currently seeking to fill for candidates to participate in the PD Summer Internship Programme 2020 in the Policy and Programme Department (PD).

The position will be based in the Smallholder Agricultural Market Support (SAMS) Unit in Kigali, Rwanda. The internship will be typically for a period of at least 3 months during May/June to August/September 2020.

Brief description of WFP activities in the Smallholder Agricultural Market Support (SAMS) Unit in WFP Rwanda:

As part of WFP Rwanda’s country strategic plan (2019-2023) under the strategic outcome 4 ‘Smallholder farmers, especially women, have increased marketable surplus and can safely access agriculture markets through efficient supply chains by 2030 and with the aim of further contributing to food security and achieving a world with zero hunger the Farm to Market Alliance (“FtMA”) was established by multi stakeholders including WFP, Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa, Yara, Rabobank and other private sector stakeholders, with the purpose of creating a systemic demand-led change along agriculture value chains that promotes inclusion of smallholder farmers.  The goal of the Alliance is to create an environment that will facilitate smallholder farmers to formally and commercially have access to sustainable market systems to meet the demand of international and local food procurement companies, government reserves, and WFP. WFP is a lead coordinator and operational agency of the Alliance in Rwanda.

General Information

• Title of Post: PD Summer Intern
• Unit: Smallholder Agricultural Market Support (SAMS)
• Supervisor: Head of Unit
• Duration: At least 3 months (May/June to August/September 2020)

Duties and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Unit, the PD Summer Intern will perform the following duties:

• Support the unit with the Mobile Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (mVAM) analysis of Post-Harvest Handling and Storage (PHHS) and Good Agriculture Practice (GAP) knowledge and skills uptake by beneficiary smallholder farmers
• Support the unit in the development and scale-up of the Farm2Go digital tool for farmer cooperatives to manage membership and aggregation cycles
• Conduct occasional monitoring visits to support local NGO field staff in using digital tools for data collection
• Support the unit with the data management and digital integration process in line with the country office strategy for digital integration, in close collaboration with Cooperating Partners
• Participate in research and analyse policy and operational issues to support senior colleagues in the development of policies, programmes and activities

Qualifications and experience

• Currently enrolled in a master’s degree OR a recent graduate of a master’s degree (graduated within the last 6 months)
• Excellent English verbal and writing skills
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• Experience in agriculture development, digital solutions for development, or Monitoring & Evaluation is a plus.

Working Languages

Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) is required.

Supervision (Level/Methods of Supervision)

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the SAMS Unit, the incumbent will be provided with close mentoring, guidance and technical supervision. Performance planning and reviews as well as learning and development discussions will be elemental part of the supervision. With the support of a comprehensive induction package and assignment of a buddy/mentor, the intern will rapidly become a productive member of the team.

Training components

Throughout their assignment WFP interns have access to an industry leading learning platform, weLearn. Depending on opportunities and availability of funds, he/she may participate in WFP workshops or seminars, as appropriate.

Learning Elements

At the end of the assignment, the Intern should have:

• Very good knowledge of the mVAM, PHHS and GAP
• Good knowledge of the development and scale-up of the Farm2Go digital tool for farmer cooperatives
• Good understanding of daily operations in the Rwanda Country Office
• Familiarity with WFP’s data management and digital integration process in line with the country office strategy for digital integration
• General understanding of WFP overall operations

Information on the Country of Assignment

• Living conditions in City, Country

Rwanda is a landlocked country situated in central Africa. Also known as ’the land of a thousand hills’, Rwanda has five volcanoes, twenty-three lakes and numerous rivers, some forming the source of the River Nile. The country lies 750 miles south of the equator in the Tropic of Capricorn, 880 miles ’as the crow flies’ west of the Indian Ocean and 1,250 miles east of the Atlantic Ocean – literally in the heart of Africa. Rwanda is bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south and the democratic republic of Congo to the west.

The impact of most threats to UN Staff and operations in Rwanda is generally low, except for natural disasters which could result in the injury or death of staff and damage to UN assets. With the various hazard types Rwanda is susceptible to, the National Risk Atlas was developed in 2016. These will continue posing threats across the Country including the capital City, Kigali, where approximately 86% of staff and dependents reside.

Terms and Conditions:

• The PD intern will be paid a monthly stipend of approximately USD 570 per month as a contribution towards basic subsistence costs.
• WFP is not responsible for living expenses, arrangements for accommodation, necessary visas and related costs.
• WFP will reimburse travel ticket for candidates who are nationals of developing countries and are pursuing their studies in their home country.
• WFP will recognize candidates’ educational credentials from recognised institutions that have been certified by competent international or national authorities such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or Ministries of Education.
• Candidates who bear any of the following relations to WFP staff members are not eligible to apply: sons, daughters, brothers or sisters.

Closing Date: 12 February 2020

VA Reference no: 110386

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply.  WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.

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