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.
JOB RELATED KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Flour Fortification Specialist
Grade: CST II
Type of contract: When Actually Employed Consultancy
Duration: 11 months (80 working days)
Duty Station: Remote with Duty Travel to Dushanbe as required
Vacancy Number: 178272
Date of Publication: 11 November 2022
Deadline of Application: 27 November 2022
BACKGROUND
In 2019, the Government of Tajikistan adopted a mandatory flour fortification law after years of advocacy by national stakeholders and international development partners. Implementation of the law has yet to take place. One of the reasons is the lack of a regulatory framework, including additional standards covering markings, fortification logo, and premix as well as compliance monitoring systems and testing procedures. Technical assistance and capacity-building support needed at the operational, programmatic, and policy level. In addition, staff in government laboratories, require training on the use of new technologies and equipment.
Milling companies in Tajikistan are mostly unfamiliar with best practices surrounding the procurement and addition of premix to their flour, and internal quality control procedures for fortified flour and need technical and technological support on the practical implementation of the wheat flour fortification.
PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
WFP Tajikistan seeks to engage a flour fortification specialist with long-term experience in Central Asian countries to support Tajikistan’s implementation of its mandatory fortification law. The specialist will support the development of a regulatory framework with a focus on standards and provide guidance to both government regulatory bodies as well as the private sector milling companies with a goal of achieving full compliance with the national mandatory fortification law.
ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme and in close collaboration with the Nutrition team and Supply Chain teams in the Regional Bureau in Bangkok. The key activities proposed during the assignment are as follows.
The flour fortification specialist will undertake the following tasks:
- Through desk research, telephone interviews and online communication, make a preliminary assessment of the technical and capacity building requirements of the private sector (large, medium, and small-scale flour mils) and the regulatory bodies (namely Tojikstandard and Department for Sanitary and Epidemiological Safety under the MoHSPP (SES) to successfully implement the mandatory flour fortification law.
- Following the study tour findings, support the Tajik delegation with development of a roadmap with the next steps to be undertaken for implementation of the mandatory wheat flour fortification agenda in Tajikistan.
- Learn the experience, roles and responsibilities of the Central Project Implementation Bureau in Uzbekistan and provide recommendations on replicating Uzbekistan’s experience and model in Tajikistan to contribute to scaling up wheat flour fortification in the country.
- Involve other specialists for conducting trainings and onsite technical support to the technical staff of Tajikistan’s private milling companies in fortification best practices including premix, dosing practices, record keeping, and quality control practices, such as iron spot tests.
- Provide technical support through online communication and country visits, to the Tajik authorities and regulatory bodies (namely Tojikstandard and SES) to successfully implement the mandatory flour fortification law, including sharing the experience on the work with the governments owned mills.
DELIVERABLES
- Guide on the document related setup, roles/responsibilities, and monitoring tools pertaining to the fortification projects implantation in Central Asian Countries, including Uzbekistan.
- Contribute to the roadmap with the steps on flour fortification, developed jointly with the Tajikistan Government stakeholders, based on the replication of other countries experience/model of implementing mandatory flour fortification.
- Reports on individual technical visits to Tajikistan, meetings with the government stakeholders/milling companies including needs assessment.
- Support with other fortification activities, including the documents review when required.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Experience:
- At least 5 years of relevant work experience in large-scale food fortification in a Central Asian country where flour fortification has been successfully implemented.
- Experience providing onsite technical support to private sector flour millers.
- Track record of developing fortification standards and regulatory framework and general implementation of fortification.
- Experience working with national governments, the food industry, and health systems.
Education:
• Advanced university degree in public health, nutrition, economics, and other related fields
• First university degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
Languages:
Fluency (level C) in written and spoken English and Russian. Proficiency in Tajik is desirable.
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.
How to apply
Interested candidates should complete their applications on-line on WFP website on the following link:
https://career5.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=178272&company=C0000168410P
Applicants will have to register and create on-line CVs to be able to apply. Hard copies of CVs or applications through e-mail will not be accepted. Please ensure that your application contains accurate and complete information.
The deadline for submission of applications is 27 November 2022.
Female candidates and individuals with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.