Assisting almost 100 million people in around 83 countries each year, 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. WFP partners with governments, other international organizations and UN agencies, the private sector, and more than 1,000 national and international NGOs in its operations to provide food assistance and tackle the underlying causes of hunger.
We are currently seeking to fill an Innovation Associate position in our Innovation Field Hub, based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
ABOUT THE INNOVATION HUB
WFP believes that innovation is crucial to improving the lives of those furthest behind. Bold, creative innovations in technology, nutrition and agriculture have the potential to create extraordinary, life-changing impact for millions of people.
To this end, WFP’s first Field Innovation Hub (the Hub) was established in Tanzania in 2017. Now in its third year, the Hub has laid the groundwork for catalysing Tanzania’s innovation ecosystem and changing the way WFP approaches both current and future operations. The Hub’s work is closely aligned with the objectives of WFP Tanzania’s 2017-2021 country strategic plan, which focuses on supporting the Government of Tanzania in its effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and in particular the Zero Hunger 2030 agenda.
The Hub’s work in Tanzania focuses on four areas:
1) Identifying, matching and piloting innovation projects: We identify challenges within the domains of WFP’s work such as smallholder agriculture, nutrition, logistics, social protection, and emergency response. We match these with local & international startups or internal initiatives and provide funding and support to teams to refine & pilot their solutions using human-centered design tools.
2)Exploring transformative innovation: We test new approaches to innovation by leading a pioneering “moonshot” project that aims to uncover radical solutions on longer, 10 year time horizons using techniques such as systems mapping and scenario planning.
3) Build capacity of intra- and entrepreneurs: We support WFP colleagues as well as external (aspiring) entrepreneurs to build their innovation and business skills to develop and test their ideas.
4) Catalysing the Tanzania innovation ecosystem:We play a key role in the Tanzania innovation ecosystem by convening and supporting other hubs and UN agencies through regular events, workshops and technical support.
The Hub complements the global WFP Innovation Accelerator based in Munich, Germany. Since its inception five years ago, the Accelerator has grown to a team of 50 innovators from diverse backgrounds. The Accelerator was named by Fast Company among the Best Workplaces for Innovators 2020 and Innovation Team of the Year 2020 for its work in identifying, nurturing, and scaling disruptive start-ups and innovations to end global hunger. The Tanzania hub is the first dedicated WFP field team for innovation initiatives and works very closely with the Accelerator and the Country Office team in Tanzania to deliver on its objectives.
ABOUT THE JOB
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Policy Officer Innovation, the programme associate will support the WFP country office in growing and managing the innovation services offered by the Innovation Hub, such as innovation pilots, bootcamps, ecosystem events and others.
Service contract G6 equivalent.
The main tasks will be as follows:
Innovation project management
- Identify and facilitate the selection of projects for the WFP CO innovation portfolio: local ventures and international pilots, in close collaboration with the global WFP innovation accelerator
- With guidance of the Innovation Hub manager, drive high potential innovation projects towards success by designing and implementing pilots
- Innovation Services / Bootcamps
- Ensure quality and client satisfaction with bootcamps and workshops: develop and deliver high-quality events that have high satisfaction among clients and users.
- Developing our portfolio of innovation services: designing custom solutions for clients in the humanitarian and private sector, including Bootcamps, events and workshops;
- Building strong relationships: attract the right partners to achieve impact at scale, gain a deep understanding of clients’ needs, and develop strong, long-lasting relationships;
- Hire the right facilitators and other service providers to assure successful innovation events
- Support the delivery of innovation events: logistics, visas, travel etc.
- Manage procurement with partners: Catering, hotels, stationary etc.
- Liaising with service providers
Community management
- Manage the engagement with Tanzanian innovators and innovation players in the Tanzanian innovation ecosystem
- Establish pipeline sharing of high potential startups with other key innovation hubs in Tanzania.
- Identify with the Tanzanian innovation players if there is the need for small adhoc innovation events where WFP can support
- Design and execute communication campaigns to mobilize the Tanzania innovation ecosystem for your events
- Compile and send out the quarterly newsletters of the innovation hub
- Manage the SDG2 innovation whatsapp group in Tanzania
- Manage and update the Innovation hub webpage
ABOUT YOU
- You have a high affinity with the Tanzanian innovation space; and you ideally have some startup-related experience
- A self-starter. You are full of initiative and great ideas. You need little guidance, are comfortable working independently but are also a great team player;
- A multi tasker. You like variety in your work, and are willing to tackle different challenges when the opportunity arises;
- An organiser with great attention to detail. Nothing slips past you, you are a meticulous planner but are flexible enough to change course when the situation requires you to do so;
- Driven by impact. Achieving impact through your job is important to you, and you are passionate about working towards achieving zero hunger.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in related field such as Business Administration, Communications, Marketing, or International Development.
Experience
- At least three years of relevant, progressively responsible, professional experience in startup advisory, innovation project management, product design, or management consultancy. Alternatively, practical experience launching and managing a business is also valued. Exposure to one of WFP’s programmatic focus areas including smallholder agriculture, nutrition, and emergency response is a plus.
Knowledge and skills
- Familiar with human centered design and/or lean startup methodologies. Strong business writing and professional verbal communication skills. Highly organized with the ability to multitask and prioritize. Ideally some technical or design skills, but G suite at a minimum.
Languages
- Fluency in oral and written English. Command of Kiswahili and other local languages is a plus.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
The application deadline: 8 September 2020
WFP agency standards and guidance.Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
.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.