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Programme Officer, Food Security at Southern African Development Community (SADC)

  • Full Time
  • Malawi
  • Applications have closed
  • Salary: 000

Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Job Description

Purpose of the Job

Facilitate and coordinate policy, planning, programming and M&E work aimed at promoting food security and reducing vulnerability in the region

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Draft calendar of events for the year and maintain up to date
  • Facilitate and coordinate the following activities:
  • Development, strengthening and harmonisation of Food and Nutrition Security policies, strategies, regulations, and standards
  • Review, development and monitoring of protocol relevant to this focal area
  • Development, review and implementation of relevant strategies and plans
  • Development and implementation of programmes/projects aimed at
  • Reducing social and economic vulnerability
  • Developing and coordinating long term resilience strategies
  • Promoting and facilitating adaptive capacities for food and nutrition security
  • Sharing information/best practices on vulnerability and the food/nutrition security situation
  • Resource mobilisation for programme implementation
  • Organisation of relevant Technical & Policy Meetings & Workshops
  • Procurement of consultancies and supervision of consultants
  • Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of programmes and preparation of M&E reports
  • Promotion of the relevant SADC programme portfolio, pipeline, specific projects and programme impact
  • Prepare documentation for relevant official SADC meetings (technical Committees, Council, Summit etc.) and technical papers for discussion and /or publication
  • Stakeholder engagement and networking, and presentations on relevant issues pertaining to food security
  • Coordinate research, analysis (including Vulnerability Analysis and Assessment) and dissemination of information on the regional food vulnerability and early warning production:
  • Regularly collect data and information on status/profile in Member States, using primary and secondary research techniques
  • Co-ordinate research projects in the region
  • Analyse the data and information from the research commissioned
  • Regularly populate the regional database on food security
  • Prepare data for publishing on the SADC website and other forms of media
  • Mainstream cross cutting issues (e.g. Gender, HIV and AIDS, and poverty etc.) in own programmes
  • Integrate cross cutting issues in all programme documents
  • Invite relevant stakeholders on these cross cutting issues to participate in the key discussion meetings and workshops
  • Monitor and draft a report on the extent of mainstreaming
  • Maintain effective contact with Member States in all matters related to the food security programmes
  • Liaise with other programme directorates, as and when there is a need for joint / synergised programme implementation
  • Research and adopt best practices in own specialised area of work, and maintain high level of knowledge in order to effectively undertake the duties of the post
  • Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervising officer.

Education

At least a Masters in Agriculture Economics or Agronomy or related technical field from a recognised institution

Specialised knowledge

  • Knowledge and understanding of integrated programme planning, budgeting, development, administration and monitoring for livestock production.
  • Proficient in the use of computers and computer software relevant to the position

Experience

At least 7-10 years’ similar experience within a public sector or a regional organisation

Skills Requirements

  • Communication skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Negotiation, networking and relationship building skills
  • Organisational skills (planning, budgeting, time management, work prioritisation)
  • Research, analytical and problem-solving skills

Competency Requirements

  • Capable of maintaining quality whilst working under pressure and adhering to deadlines
  • Conceptual and practical thinking
  • Customer focused
  • Decisive
  • Demonstrate ability to work independently and largely unsupervised
  • Demonstrated ability to present and win support for ideas in an international or multi-cultural environment
  • Maintain confidentiality and respectful of sensitive situations
  • Methodical and organised, with a high level of attention to details
  • Organisational awareness with an understanding of how to engage the organisation to get things done
  • Professionalism and adherence to good work ethics
  • Question conventional approaches and encourage new ideas and innovations for progress
  • Resilience and personal drive, self-motivation
  • Results and performance driven
  • Team player

Tenure of appointment

The term of appointment of the Director, Industrial Development and Trade shall be for a fixed period of four (4) years, renewable once for another period of four (4) years. While appointments for positions (2–19) will be on a fixed-term contract for four (4) years, renewable twice for an equal period, subject to:

  • satisfactory completion of 6 months’ probation;
  • satisfactory performance;
  • retirement age limit of 60 years; and
  • the continued need for the position.

Eligibility

The positions are open to qualified applicants who:

  • Are 52 years old or younger. This requirement is based on the Organization’s need to recruit staff who can serve for a reasonable period of time before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.
  • Are from the following eligible Member States: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Applications should be accompanied by the following:

  1. a cover letter stating the position that you want to be considered for and describing how your qualifications, experience, and competencies are relevant to the position;
  2. not more than five (5) pages of updated curriculum vitae;
  3. certified copies of your degree(s), Diploma(s) and Certificate(s); and
  4. duly signed and completed SADC Application Form.

Should you be shortlisted, you will be required to produce evidence of educational and professional qualifications supporting your application, on the day of your interview.

Gender Mainstreaming

SADC is an equal opportunity employer and particularly encourages applications from female candidates.

If you are results orientated, you have a passion for the transformation and development of Southern Africa and possess the required competencies, please submit your application.

Only applicants who meet the requirements of the SADC Secretariat and being considered for an interview, will be contacted. Should you not hear from the SADC Secretariat within two months after the closing date, kindly consider your application unsuccessful.