BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Despite the economic growth of the last decade, the level of food insecurity has been stagnant over the past five years in Armenia. Although the situation is improving for a large share of the population, those worst off are being left behind, demonstrating significant disparities and uneven territorial development in Armenia.
In response to these challenges, the World Food Programme (WFP) Armenia integrated a four pillar programming approach into its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2019 – 2025, building on the handover of the implementation of the School Feeding programme in all regions towards urban school feeding and transformative school feeding models; the establishment of effective, sustainable, and nutrition-sensitive food value chains; support the Government in tackling malnutrition; support the strengthening of shock responsive social protection systems and tools to enhance access to food security and in providing emergency food assistance to people in need. In addition to the pathways identified above, future focus areas include also projects and activities designed around climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as active engagement of youth into the programming to achieve “SDG2: Zero Hunger”. WFP works under the value of nationalization, so all projects and models developed and successfully implemented by WFP should to be handed over nationally.
In 2021, WFP started the implementation of “Green Energy for Productive Farming” (GEPF) project. The main goal of the project is to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities/settlements to shocks and improve food security, by establishing community-based “Revolving Fund” and supporting vulnerable households through creation of new income generating opportunities. The project has two main components: (i) Installation of a solar station in community-owned building and establishment of a community-based “Revolving Fund” and re-investing these revolved funds for community development and climate-smart agricultural interventions; (ii) Supporting smallholder farmers with new income generation opportunities, including the establishment of backyard berry gardens, while enhancing their capacity to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices.
To date, the GEPF project has been implemented in 16 of Armenia's most vulnerable communities, across the regions of Syunik, Gegharkunik, Shirak and Vayots Dzor. A total of 320 kW of solar energy capacity has been installed in community-owned buildings, resulting in annual savings of approximately USD 50,000, which is reinvested into community development and climate-smart agricultural interventions according to community priorities. Furthermore, the project has contributed to a reduction of approximately 150 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
University Degree in agriculture, agricultural economy or relevant field.
Experience:
At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in expert work in agriculture, mainly in small holder farming with modern technologies and practices.
Knowledge & Skills:
Strong communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to work in a team; ability to plan and organize work with minimum supervision; ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines. General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations, and procedures is desirable.
Languages:
Knowledge in English and Armenian languages.
The UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization working towards zero hunger by 2030, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. Powered by the passion, dedication and professionalism of our 20,000 staff worldwide, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) works in over 80 countries to bring life-saving food to people displaced by conflict and made destitute by disasters, and help individuals and communities find life-changing solutions to the multiple challenges they face in building better futures. In 2020, WFP assisted 115.5 million people – the largest number since 2012. On any given day, WFP has 5,600 trucks, 30 ships and nearly 100 planes on the move, delivering food and other assistance to those in most need. Every year, we distribute more than 15 billion rations at an estimated average cost per ration of US$ 0.61. We work to enhance nutrition in women and children, support smallholder farmers in improving productivity and reducing losses, help countries and communities prepare for and cope with climate-related shocks, and boost human capital through school feeding programmes. In conflict situations, we bring relief to exhausted populations and use food assistance to build pathways to peace and stability. For its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict, WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.