ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

Smallholder farmers and fisherfolk in BARMM have limited resources, information, and training to increase their yield and undertake value- adding activities necessary to improve their livelihoods. The economic insufficiencies deprive them of resources to spend on food security, nutrition, housing, education, healthcare, and other non-food essentials. Moreover, inadequate agricultural infrastructure, poor soil and water management practices and land tenurial issues impedes smallholders’ abilities to become self-reliant. Improved climate-smart agricultural practices and equitable inclusion of women and men smallholder farmers and fisherfolk into value chains is a crucial missing link to sustainably solve the prevalent poverty index and quell the low nutritional indicators that have affected the BARMM region for decades.

WFP works with the BARMM Government and other key partners to implement an integrated package of interventions to build the resilience and self-reliance of target populations. Specifically, WFP:

• Contributes to smallholders’ economic sustainability by promoting their inclusion in the value chain through creation of rural infrastructure by engaging vulnerable communities in the creation of farm-to-market roads; irrigation canals, reforestation, soil conservation and water harvesting structures, and development of post-harvest facilities.

• Supports the formation of farmer and fisher associations/cooperatives and their inclusion in value chains by strengthening access to markets such as the Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) Programme and other institutional markets.

• Provides provides safe, diverse and nutritious hot meals to primary-aged school children that are sourced locally from smallholder farmers.

A cross-cutting component of the programme is the empowerment of learners, teachers, parents, guardians, food producers and the wider community through Social and Behavioural Change (SBC) initiatives. These initiatives positively enable behavior change for enhanced knowledge, attitudes and practices in the realm of nutrition awareness, health and gender transformation. SBC is a set of context-specific approaches, activities, or tools to positively enable behavior change. Behavior is contextual; therefore, the interventions target interpersonal influences, organizational factors, community characteristics, as well as the policy environment, including local and national food and nutrition-related policies. SBC uses an integrated approach to enable systemic change.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Programme Associates (SBC) are responsible to support the enhanced uptake of livelihoods programmes linked to climate resilience and market access for smallholder farmers and enhance nutrition education and practices of school children. The roles sit within the Integrated Resilience (IR) team. These are full-time, in-person positions based in the Cotabato Field Office.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Programme Associates (SBC) will be directly reporting to Programme Policy Officers responsible for School Meals and Value Chain portfolios. Their work will be carried out with overall guidance of the Head of Integrated Resilience and strategic leadership of the Head of Field Office.

They will provide both technical and administrative support in the implementation of activities under the Integrated Resilience portfolio. The roles involve analysis, coordination, capacity strengthening, documentation, monitoring and operational support to ensure sound delivery of the IR portfolio. Specific duties include:

Analysis

• Assist in co-facilitating inclusive and gender-responsive community consultations and planning to empower target communities and partners in the identification of priorities, opportunities and solutions for existing challenges of food-insecure populations.

Coordination & Implementation

• Under guidance from the SBC lead, support the development and application of the SBC strategy in BARMM, ensuring alignment with the broader Integrated Resilience Implementation Plan, Market and Livelihoods Framework (MALF) and WFP’s Gender and Inclusion Policy.

• Provide technical support and assistance in the development and implementation of audience-tailored SBC initiatives to enhance the uptake of livelihood programmes linked to climate resilience and market access for smallholder farmers and promote healthy diets and nutrition education for school children.

• Build and cultivate strategic relationships at the community level, with government, and with other partners in ways that lead to increased impact and local ownership of SBC initiatives.

• Regularly liaise across functional units in the Cotabato Field Office and Country Office to support effective collaboration, implementation and monitoring of ongoing project activities.

Capacity Strengthening

• Co-develop and implement SBC strategies and training modules on topics such as food security, healthy diets, nutrition education, market access, climate resilience, cooperative development, gender transformation and other empowerment initiatives that are evidence-based and community-driven in collaboration with government partners and other stakeholders.

• Assist in the conduct of workshops, community seminars and other capacity building activities in collaboration with cooperating partners, stakeholders in the community and the BARMM Government.

Monitoring and Knowledge Management

• Contribute to accurate and timely reporting and documentation on programmes to enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.

• Co-develop and utilize WFP corporate systems and reporting processes to track the effectiveness of SBC interventions and provide feedback to improve future efforts.

• Provide inputs and support to visibility material and social media content by assisting in collection of photo and narrative materials for achievements and success stories in coordination with the Communications unit.

• Perform other related responsibilities and tasks which may include workstreams in school feeding, social protection, anticipatory action, emergency response, gender and disability mainstreaming, and other key areas of work, as required and guided by management.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE DESIRED:

EDUCATION:

• Required: Completion of secondary education.

• Preferred: A bachelor’s degree in Social or Behavioural Sciences, Development Studies, Public Health, Communications, or a closely related field.

EXPERIENCE:

• At least six (6) years of relevant experience in a unit or department of a public or private sector responsible for project management, coordination, strategic planning, communications, and programme implementation.

• Demonstrated capacity to design, develop, and implement SBC activities, particularly community-based interventions that promote positive behaviour change.

• Demonstrated capacity in working with or supporting government agencies.

• Familiarity with national policies, strategies, or frameworks related to rural development, food systems, agriculture, value chains, climate change and other related fields.

• Experience supporting development or humanitarian projects, preferably in food security, nutrition, food systems, rural development, public health, or development communication.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Demonstrative sensitivity to local cultural knowledge, attitude, practices, and beliefs.

• Ability to work in a team and establish effective, empathic working relationships with people of different diverse backgrounds and identities.

• Proactive and keen willingness to learn and take on tasks.

• Experience with capacity strengthening, from development of training modules to facilitation of large group workshops, seminars, or trainings.

• Knowledge on formative research methods, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods.

• Strong analytical, communications, and writing skills.

• Ability to work within tight deadlines and manage multiple tasks simultaneously and independently.

• Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, plan, and manage project activities.

• Advanced computer skills with mastery of Windows and Microsoft Office.

LANGUAGE: Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Filipino; Knowledge on the local language in BARMM is desirable.