DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization 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.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Malawi continues to face complex and interlinked challenges, ranging from climate change, market volatility, and food insecurity to structural constraints in agricultural value chains and livelihood systems. As funding for humanitarian and development programming becomes more constrained, WFP must leverage innovation, technology, and new operational models to ensure efficiency, strengthen food systems, and deliver sustainable impact at scale.

To help communities break the cycle of hunger and poverty, WFP Malawi is advancing an integrated Zero Hunger Model aimed at enabling beneficiaries especially farmers and farmer organizations to graduate into Zero Hunger Model Villages where they can access reliable markets, increase incomes, engage in value addition, and transition sustainably out of food insecurity.

Innovation sits at the centre of this transformation. Through new technologies, digital solutions, improved post-harvest handling, and adaptive business models, farmers can enhance the quality, safety, and competitiveness of their products thereby securing better prices and reducing exploitation. Innovative supply chain models, financing mechanisms, and value addition technologies strengthen the entire food system, ensuring that farmers’ products meet market standards and are attractive to SMEs and large buyers. By aligning innovation with value chain development, WFP aims to ensure that smallholder farmers are not left behind as markets modernize.

To drive this agenda, the Malawi Country Office (MWCO) is embarking on the first phase of the IGNITE Innovation Challenge, aimed at identifying, supporting, and scaling locally led innovations that strengthen food systems, enhance supply chain functionality, improve nutrition outcomes, and promote resilient and sustainable livelihoods. This initiative contributes directly to Malawi’s progress toward Zero Hunger by accelerating transformative solutions that benefit farmers, farmer organizations, agri‑SMEs, and other food system stakeholders.

To ensure strong implementation, coordination, reporting, and learning, MWCO seeks an Innovation Officer to lead Ignite innovation portfolio management, build innovation capacities across teams, strengthen private-sector partnerships, encourage robust learning culture around innovation and strengthen Malawi’s innovation ecosystem in alignment with WFP’s Country Strategic Plan (CSP).

Objective of the role

The Innovation Officer will support and coordinate the implementation of the Ignite Innovation Challenge and broader MWCO innovation initiatives, ensuring timely execution, sound financial management, strong reporting, and effective partnerships. The role focuses on engaging ecosystem actors, especially the private sector, to strengthen market access, value‑chain integration, and opportunities for smallholders in line with WFP Malawi’s innovation goals. Leveraging WFP’s brand, government relationships, private‑sector networks, and field presence, the officer will promote impactful and sustainable innovations that advance Zero Hunger and drive food systems transformation in Malawi. Responsibilities include identifying problem statements and market opportunities across production, aggregation, logistics, processing, finance, and nutrition. The officer will help source innovators and manage the full innovation programme cycle, from challenge design and selection to implementation, monitoring, learning, and delivery of events and capacity‑building activities. They will also support the scale‑up and institutionalization of promising solutions through strong partnerships and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the overall guidance and direction from Programme (Resilience) and Supply Chain (Food Systems), this cross‑functional role will work in close collaboration with both units to achieve its objectives. While the incumbent will directly report to the Head of Food Systems, day‑to‑day implementation and coordination will be carried out in very close partnership with Programme and Supply Chain. The Innovation Officer will facilitate and drive innovation within WFP Malawi’s food systems transformation agenda, supporting the sourcing, development, testing, and scaling of innovations aligned with the Ignite Food Systems Challenge priority areas, including access to finance,  food supply chain efficiency, market systems strengthening, climate‑resilient value chains, increase product quality, and  ultimately graduate from food insecurity through commercially viable pathways.

More specifically, the Innovation Officer will:  

Drive New Opportunities

• Support development and execution of high-impact CO innovation strategy and roadmap aligned to the Country Strategic Plan, Malawi’s national food systems priorities, business goals and the Zero hunger Model
• Collaborate with CO and Field Office teams to develop new approaches and business models that leverage innovation to improve smallholder value chains, logistics, food systems, and resilience programming.
• Support promotion of the CO innovation agenda; influence and obtain support from cross-functional CO teams for successful execution of the agenda.
• Promote innovation as an enabler of smallholder commercialization, income growth, and graduation from hunger.

Build and Grow Innovation Capabilities

• Develop and maintain strong ties with all WFP CO cross-functional teams; educate and train teams on new solutions and innovations; drive innovation, presentations, and innovation sessions.
• Support WFP teams, cooperatives, SMEs, and innovators to design and implement solutions that improve product quality, reduce post‑harvest losses, and make farmers’ produce more competitive.
• Drive a culture of innovation and continuous learning informed by Zero Hunger Model lessons.
• Act as the Innovation champion for the WFP Malawi Office.
• Encourage colleagues to innovate and support the shift towards a thriving innovation culture that nurtures and promotes ideas from across the organization.
• Track and report on innovation metrics, programme, and business impact on a regular basis.

Champion Innovation

• Support the establishment of WFP Malawi as a recognized innovation leader in ESARO region to further enhance our brand, attract and retain talent.
• Support the identification of external assets and partners that may accelerate innovation and through partnerships including private sector partners

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with Malawi’s private sector, including agribusinesses, off-takers, transporters, warehouses, financial and digital service providers, innovation hubs, and technology firms.
• Facilitate linkages between innovators and private-sector actors to promote sustainability, commercialization, and market uptake of promising solutions.
• Represent WFP at national innovation forums, Government-led platforms, industry associations, UN innovation working groups, and private sector roundtables.
• Support mapping of the Malawi innovation ecosystem and development of market intelligence briefs

Programme Management and Operational Support

• Lead end-to-end execution of the Ignite Innovation Challenge including sourcing, screening, selection, contracting, coaching, monitoring, and reporting.
• Prepare work plans, spending plans, and ensure implementation is aligned with project timelines and TDDs.
• Conduct monthly progress check-ins with innovators and prepare monthly reports on: implementation progress, fund expenditure, field missions, risks and mitigation, private sector engagements and learning and outcomes
• Support the scale-up of promising solutions through partnerships, evidence generation, and integration into WFP and Government systems 
• Coordinate with Supply Chain, Programme, and Partnerships units to ensure innovation activities align with operational priorities and donor commitments.
• Any other duties as required         

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Annual workplan developed, implemented, and reviewed
•  WFP Malawi IGNITE Innovation Challenge guidance developed/updated, disseminated, and put to use.
• WFP Malawi IGNITE Innovation Challenge footprint expanded including in rural and hard-to reach areas with increased resources and integrated/coordinated with other WFP and partner programmes.     
• Private-sector partnerships established and functioning to support innovation pilots and scale-up.
• Private‑sector and SME partnerships established to expand markets for farmers and promote value addition.
• Joint annual workplan with relevant internal and external stakeholders developed, implemented, and reviewed.
• Strategic and implementation partnerships in Innovation established and strengthened   WFP represented in government and various coordination fora.
• Effective utilization of donor resources in the IGNITE Innovation Challenge Fund implementation and social protection systems strengthening.
• Clear learning products demonstrating how innovations contribute to the Zero Hunger Model.
• High-quality analytical reports, proposals, briefs, and presentations produced.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields: Business, Innovation, Design, Technology, International development, or another relevant technical field.
• Post graduate level training or certification in monitoring and evaluation, project planning and management, Innovation management or M&E will be an added advantage

Experience:

• At least 6 years of professional experience in innovation, entrepreneurship support, market systems development, private sector engagement, design thinking, or programme management.
• Demonstrated experience engaging the private sector, especially in agriculture, digital solutions, logistics, or financial inclusion.
• Ability to put forward truly creative ideas however crazy they might sound. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and inter-cultural communication.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others, build and maintain partnerships, innovate, and embraces change, think and act strategically, drive to achieve impactful results, manages ambiguity and complexity.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to prepare concise and well-written programme documents (e.g., proposals, reports, briefs, and presentations) in English
• Proficiency in computer programmes: e.g., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Tableau    
• Competencies: cognitive capacity, teamwork, action management, innovation, partnerships, and client orientation    

Languages: Proficiency in English, oral and written (level c) 

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

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 recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.

• If you experience challenges while submitting your online application, please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org for technical support only.

• Please note that applications sent to this email address cannot be considered.

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, 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.