JOB TITLE: Programme Associate – Smallholder Agricultural Market Support (SAMS)
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Service Contract level 6 (SC-6)
UNIT/DIVISION: Programme- Food Systems and Resilience
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Juba, South Sudan
DURATION: 12 months (Renewable subject to performance and funding availability)
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT:
The World Food Programme (WFP) South Sudan is strengthening its resilience and food systems portfolio through the Smallholder Agriculture Market Support (SAMS) function. SAMS supports smallholder farmers through improved productivity, aggregation, post-harvest management, and access to structured markets. The function plays an important role in promoting sustainable livelihoods and strengthening food systems resilience through market-oriented agriculture and private sector engagement.
Under the direct supervision of the Head of SAMS, the Programme Associate (SC6) will provide operational, coordination, monitoring, and implementation support to ensure effective delivery of SAMS activities across field locations. The position will contribute to programme quality, stakeholder engagement, performance monitoring, knowledge management, and capacity strengthening of cooperating partners and farmer organizations. This role supports the implementation of resilience-focused interventions and contributes to the achievement of WFP’s strategic objectives in South Sudan.
JOB PURPOSE
The Programme Associate (SC6) will support the implementation, coordination, monitoring, and reporting of Smallholder Agriculture Market Support (SAMS) activities, ensuring quality delivery of interventions that strengthen farmer organizations, improve market access, reduce post-harvest losses, and promote inclusive and climate-resilient agricultural livelihoods.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES / RESPONSIBILITIES:
The incumbent will undertake the following functions (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):
Programme implementation and coordination
-
Support planning and implementation of SAMS activities in line with approved workplans and budgets.
-
Assist in coordinating interventions with field offices, cooperating partners, government institutions, and private sector actors.
-
Monitor implementation progress and identify operational challenges requiring corrective actions.
-
Support preparation of annual workplans, implementation schedules, and activity tracking tools.
-
Facilitate implementation of standardized operational procedures and technical guidance.
Farmer organizations and Market linkages
-
Support strengthening of farmer organizations (producer groups and cooperatives), and aggregation structures.
-
Assist in facilitating structured market linkages between smallholder farmers and buyers, including institutional procurement opportunities.
-
Support engagement with traders, financial service providers, processors, and other market actors.
-
Contribute to initiatives that reduce post-harvest losses and improve market competitiveness.
Monitoring, Reporting and Knowledge management
-
Collect, compile, analyze, and report programme performance data.
-
Support field monitoring visits and post-distribution monitoring activities.
-
Maintain programme databases and tracking systems.
-
Assist in preparation of donor reports, situation reports, success stories, fact sheets, and programme updates.
-
Document lessons learned and best practices for knowledge sharing and programme improvement.
Capacity strengthening
-
Support training and mentoring of field staff, cooperating partners, and farmer organizations.
-
Assist in organizing workshops, learning events, field missions, and technical reviews.
-
Provide technical guidance on the use of SAMS tools, templates, and reporting requirements.
Partnerships and stakeholder engagement
-
Maintain regular communication with government counterparts, NGOs, private sector actors, and development partners.
-
Support coordination meetings and stakeholder consultations.
-
Prepare briefing materials, meeting notes, presentations, and follow-up actions.
Resource management and administrative support
-
Assist in budget monitoring and expenditure tracking.
-
Support procurement planning and operational coordination for SAMS activities.
-
Contribute to proposal development, concept notes, and resource mobilization initiatives.
-
Ensure documentation and compliance requirements are maintained.
Cross-cutting priorities
-
Promote integration of gender, youth, disability inclusion, and accountability to affected populations in all programme activities.
-
Support environmental and social safeguard compliance.
-
Ensure conflict sensitivity and protection considerations are incorporated into implementation.
EXPECTED RESULTS
-
Improved implementation quality and timely delivery of SAMS activities.
-
Strengthened farmer organizations and market linkages.
-
Enhanced monitoring, reporting, and data availability for decision-making.
-
Improved stakeholder coordination and partner engagement.
-
Increased capacity of field teams and cooperating partners.
-
Effective documentation of programme achievements and lessons learned
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Completion of secondary education is required. A post-secondary certificate, diploma, or university degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Economics, Rural Development, Value Chain Development and any other related disciplines is highly desirable
Experience:
Minimum 6 years of progressively responsible experience in agricultural development programmes, livelihoods and resilience programming, market systems development, farmer organization strengthening, programme implementation and monitoring, and/or community-based development initiatives.
Stakeholder engagement and coordination are essential.
Experience in South Sudan or similar humanitarian-development contexts is highly desirable.
Knowledge and Skills
-
Good programme management and coordination skills.
-
Strong analytical and reporting abilities.
-
Experience in data management and monitoring systems.
-
Knowledge of agricultural value chains and market development approaches.
-
Ability to work effectively with government and partner organizations.
-
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
-
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
-
Knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications and digital technologies relevant to programme management, data analysis, knowledge management, monitoring, and reporting.
-
Knowledge of South Sudan’s agricultural and food systems context is an advantage.
Competencies
Teamwork, Action management, Client orientation, Partnerships, Communication, Results focus, Problem solving
Languages:
Fluency (Level C) in spoken and written English
Remark: The recruitment / VA will also serve as a roster for the same or lower grade level, different contract modality and possible placement in different duty stations, in case of future operational need.
Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.
Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework
NO FEE DISCLAIMER
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
-
All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.
-
We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
-
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.
Interested South Sudanese nationals can apply for the vacancy announcement by clicking below vacancy link. Apply before the elapse of the deadline of 14 August 2026.