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 Tanzania is implementing a five-year (2022 – 2027) Country Strategic Plan (CSP), that aims at supporting the government’s efforts to deliver equitable and inclusive economic growth for the people of the United Republic of Tanzania through investments in human capital, resilient livelihoods, and nutritious diets. The CSP is firmly anchored in and guided by the Five-Year Development Plan III (FYDP III), the Government of Zanzibar’s medium-term development strategy for 2021–2025, the agricultural sector development programme (ASDP II), and the second national multisectoral nutrition action plan, covering 2021–2026 (NMNAP II), and the strategic priorities of the United Nations sustainable development cooperation framework.

Outcome 3 of the CSP supports smallholder farmers to achieve climate-resilient livelihoods, improved food security and nutrition through sustained smallholder access to markets, enhanced value chains and sustainable management of natural resources. Activity 5 of Strategic outcome 3, provides technical assistance for smallholder farmers to improve soil health, increase and diversify agricultural production and livelihoods, reduce post-harvest loss and improve access to market information and technologies.

In this context, the Programme Unit within the Tanzania Country Office (CO) is looking for national United Nations Volunteers (UNVs) based in the Masalala, Meatu, Maswa, Itigi and Igunga districts to support smallholder farmers, working closely with WFP’s cooperating partners. The support will include knowledge transfer to farmers on good agronomic practices, postharvest and storage management and collection of information on aggregation and marketing or as may be required from time to time. These roles are support-oriented and implemented under close supervision of cooperating partners and WFP technical staff.

Responsibilities or duties

The UNV will report directly to the Programme Policy Officer (Agronomy and Food Systems) under Activity 5 of the CSP based in Dodoma and will work closely with the Vijana Kilimo Biashara (VKB) and Farmers to Market Alliance (FtMA) programme teams under the respective cooperating partners (SEIDA, RIKOLTO, BMT, NAFAKA KILIMO and TAHA). These positions will be based in Masalala, Meatu, Maswa, Itigi and Igunga districts and with frequent travel to other regions of project implementation in Tanzania. It is therefore preferable that candidates are ordinary residents in the selected project location with no expectation of relocation support.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Support WFP’s cooperating partners (CP) in collecting seasonal crop data on production, income, and best practices.
• Support CPs in delivering training activities on sustainable agronomic approaches to close the yield gap on farms and facilitate the implementation of agreed-upon best practices, frameworks, minimum standards, and processes for farming.
• Provide field-level support to farmers and cooperating partners to enhance access to inputs and other agricultural services, and support documentation of field experiences and trends.
• Support farmers during training activities on crop protection and farm management organized by the cooperating partners under supervision of technical staff.
• Support CP field staff and WFP technical teams in the establishment and follow-up of technology demonstration sites and training platforms.
• Support coordination activities with relevant value chain actors and cooperating partners to address youth agribusiness-related constraints.
• Support regular field monitoring activities and collect observations and field data to support programme tracking and learning.
• Promote gender equity, youth inclusion, and environmental safeguards in all activities, ensuring that programme interventions are socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

Other Tasks

• Collaborate with partners and WFP technical staff to organize trainings for smallholder farmers and other value chain actors
• Review partner reposts for consistence and quality assurance
• Perform any other tasks required by the supervisor and activity manager.

These roles are support-oriented and implemented under close supervision of cooperating partners and WFP technical staff.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 - 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Languages

• English, Level: Fluent, Required
• Swahili, Level: Fluent, Desirable

Required education level

Technical/vocational diploma in Agricultural Studies

University Degree in one or more of the following disciplines is highly recommended: General Agriculture, Agronomy, Economics, Horticulture, Crop Production, Agricultural Sciences, Community Development, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Education, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management or equivalent qualification from a recognized institution

Competencies and values

• Integrity and accountability
• Respect for communities and local cultures
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Community engagement and mobilization
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity
• Problem-solving and adaptability
• Ability to work with minimal supervision

Experience needed

Skills and experience

Have a minimum of 2 years of relevant working or community engagement experience in the public sector, private sector, community programmes, or development-related activities, with strong interest in field-based agricultural support activities.

Knowledge & Skills: Basic understanding of community engagement, agricultural support activities, and field-level programme implementation. Ability to work closely with farmers, cooperating partners, and local communities under supervision. Good communication, teamwork, and data collection skills are desirable. Understanding of food security and agricultural activities in Tanzania is an added advantage.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

These roles are support-oriented and implemented under close supervision of cooperating partners and WFP technical staff.

• Support WFP’s cooperating partners (CP) in collecting seasonal crop data on production, income, and best practices.
• Support CPs in delivering training activities on sustainable agronomic approaches to close the yield gap on farms and facilitate the implementation of agreed-upon best practices, frameworks, minimum standards, and processes for farming.
• Provide field-level support to farmers and cooperating partners to enhance access to inputs and other agricultural services, and support documentation of field experiences and trends.
• Support farmers during training activities on crop protection and farm management organized by the cooperating partners under supervision of technical staff.
• Support CP field staff and WFP technical teams in the establishment and follow-up of technology demonstration sites and training platforms.
• Support coordination activities with relevant value chain actors and cooperating partners to address youth agribusiness-related constraints.
• Support regular field monitoring activities and collect observations and field data to support programme tracking and learning.
• Promote gender equity, youth inclusion, and environmental safeguards in all activities, ensuring that programme interventions are socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
• Collaborate with partners and WFP technical staff to organize trainings for smallholder farmers and other value chain actors
• Review partner reposts for consistence and quality assurance
• Perform any other tasks required by the supervisor and activity manager.

• Basic understanding of community engagement, agricultural support activities, and field-level programme implementation.
• Ability to work closely with farmers, cooperating partners, and local communities under supervision.
• Good communication, teamwork, and data collection skills are desirable.
• Understanding of food security and agricultural activities in Tanzania is an added advantage.

• Technical/vocational diploma in Agricultural Studies
• University Degree in one or more of the following disciplines is highly recommended: General Agriculture, Agronomy, Economics, Horticulture, Crop Production, Agricultural Sciences, Community Development, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Education, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management or equivalent qualification from a recognized institution
• Integrity and accountability
• Respect for communities and local cultures
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Community engagement and mobilization
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity
• Problem-solving and adaptability
• Ability to work with minimal supervision