Business Support Assistant (Chakki Fortification) – SC4 – Multiple Locations

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WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.

ABOUT JOB

Job Title: Business Support Assistant (Chakki Fortification)

Grade:  SC4              

Type of contract:  Service Contract              

Duration:  6 Months            

Number of Positions: 3

Duty Station: Islamabad, Kotli (AJK) & Quetta

Vacancy Number: 832598

Date of Publication: 30th April, 2024

Deadline of Application: 13th May, 2024

This vacancy announcement is for Pakistani Nationals. 

Note: This vacancy announcement will also be used to build a roster of prequalified applicants for future opportunities within same job profile at the current or lower level in Pakistan.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

WFP offers a competitive benefits package including salary, pension, leave plus a medical insurance.

JOB PURPOSE

WFP Pakistan is seeking the services and/or expertise of Business Support Assistant to coordinate the Chakki fortification project activities. S/he would support all efforts related to the coordination of project activities in Country Office, Kotli (AJK) and Quetta and other respective districts as well as reporting to the Management.
The incumbent in Country Office will operate under the direct supervision of the CO Food Technologist and the overall guidance by the Head of Nutrition. The incumbent is expected to work closely with CO Team, Research, Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation (RAME) Team, Procurement and Finance Team, Chakki Field Team.
The incumbents in field offices will operate under the direct supervision of the CO Food Technologist with administrative guidance/support from Heads of Provincial Offices and the overall guidance by the Head of Nutrition. The incumbent is expected to work closely with the Provincial Office Team, Benazir Nashonuma Programme (BNP) Team, Research, Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation (RAME) Team, Communications and Partnerships Team, CO and Field Nutrition Team. 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Monitor all Chakki flour fortification-related activities and maintain coordination with management and WFP project team.
2. Coordinate on a regular basis with all relevant stakeholders at the Provincial and District levels to develop the synergies and partnerships for successful implementation of Chakki project; developing linkages and synergies among different sectors through multi-sectoral approach.
3. Assist and support on capacity-building activities for staff of assigned Chakki mills, food inspectors, food safety officers, LHWs, lab staff, Nashonuma mobilisers and district focal persons on fortification, quality assurance and quality control processes to promote sustainable and adequate/effective fortification process of Chakki flour.
4. Assist in providing timely and adequate support to Chakki flour fortification, installation and maintenance of micro- feeders, its calibration and setting flow rate of premix as per standards prescribed by Pakistan’s Standard and Quality Control Authority and PFA regulations.
5. Closely monitor assigned Chakki mills to ensure that there is uninterrupted supply of premix according to their requirements and perform timely coordination with the project management.
6. Ensure timely and smooth supply of iron Spot test kits to Chakki Mills and food inspectors for monitoring of fortification compliance at production, market and household level.
7. Collect samples of fortified Chakki flour from the assigned Chakki mills regularly and ensure its delivery at identified labs as per experimental design for analysis.
8. Assist in the identification of small-scale mills (Chakki) as per WFP guidelines.
9. Support surveys at market and household to monitor the availability of adequately fortified Chakki flour and ensure compliance keeping close coordination with the project team.
10. Assist project team in coordination measures with district government authorities for awareness creation activities at district level to generate the needed demand for fortified wheat flour in coordination with other functional units or agencies.
11. Conduct SBC and sensitisation activities in the assigned districts at the Chakkis/BNP Facilitations Centres in coordination with the BNP staff and other stakeholders.
12. Provide support to the chakkis in the development of Business to Business (B2B) linkages to create/increase demand of fortified wheat flour.
13. Prepare and submit daily, weekly, and monthly activity/monitoring plans and reports to management.
14. Gather information with clear direction to support the drafting of documents and preparing reports by other staff.
15. Ensure the proper record keeping of production data, premix consumption and iron test kits etc. at Chakki.
16. Collect and collate the accurate field data and timely share with the management.
17. Take responsibility for data integrity to facilitate availability of accurate information in corporate systems for the maintenance of set standard systems and files, to ensure information is accurate and readily available for the function.
18. Respond to queries and escalate where appropriate to provide a timely and accurate service to Chakkis.
19. Identify simple discrepancies in statistics and data, such as missing information, and report to management to support Chakkis to deliver.
20. Perform other duties as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCES

Education: Bachelors degree in Nutrition, Sociology, Agriculture, Food Technology, Chemistry or Business Administration from any recognized Institute.
Experience: Minimum Four or more years of progressively responsible work experience relevant to field work preferably contributing to food fortification and/or nutrition objectives.
Knowledge & Skills:

• Understanding of Food Fortification and Wheat Milling.
• Understanding of Community-level programming
• Knowledge of work routines and methods in order to complete processes under minimal supervision.
• Proficient in the use of office equipment and computer software packages, such as Microsoft Office.
• Good problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to offer guidance or basic on-the-job training to more junior staff.

Language:
Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Urdu. Fluency in local dialect of the duty station will be an asset.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action. 

Request for Disability related Reasonable Accommodations: 

It is important to WFP to create an accessible and inclusive workplace for everyone.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.  If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection and hiring process, please direct your request and inquiries to the Diversity and Inclusion team on: [email protected], cc’ing [email protected]. A member of the reasonable accommodation team will contact you to confidentially discuss your needs. 

This email is only to be used for any disability related accessibility requirements, and not for sending the application itself. Due to volume of applications, any applications or CVs sent through this email address will not be considered as a formal application and will not receive a reply from WFP. 

ABOUT WFP

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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

As a global leader in fighting hunger and malnutrition worldwide, often in very difficult contexts, the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) is increasingly called upon by governments to help strengthen their interventions and approaches in food systems, nutrition, and social protection. As WFP embraces an approach of working through and strengthening national systems, WFP can truly aspire to help countries make measurable contributions to the Zero Hunger goal (SDG2) as well as the reduction of poverty and support for policy coherence.
Faced by the unprecedented Global Food Crises (GFC), WFP is stepping up its efforts to strengthen availability and use of micronutrient-fortified staples and specialized nutritious foods for the most affected people including young children through its own responses, government social protection systems and via market-based approaches. Under the Global 18 months partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) “Food and Nutrition Crisis Response – LSFF+”, WFP Pakistan is seeking to expand its fortification programme through the Chakkis project with the aim of improving nutrition through increased access to micronutrient-rich staples (wheat flour).
Project Chakki is an innovative approach to improve nutrition in Pakistan by fortifying up to 70 percent of whole wheat flour consumed by the population buying or using the services of the small mills. Chakkis are small-scale local flour mills that are being equipped with new technology, skills building and funding mechanisms to fortify flour, as well as educate their clients, especially women, to tackle malnutrition in Pakistan. The project aims to balance supply and demand with Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Customers (B2C) linkages. It was started as a pilot with 10 Chakkis and later to 50 Chakkis and now looking to add 100 more Chakki units in 22 districts across 4 provinces of Pakistan prioritizing the 2022 flood-affected areas.

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WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.  

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.