Regional Food Security Programme Manager

Regional Food Security Programme Manager Tbilisi, Georgia or Yerevan, Armenia £25,094 - £33,938 per annum net (4 years fixed term) Accommodation and relocation allowance will be provided in accordance with Oxfam GB policies. Other benefits include pension and medical insurance.

Background to the project The Caucasus countries of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are all on a clear path of development. GDP’s are rising and services are improving. All are now middle income countries and disposable incomes are changing food consumption patterns. However, agriculture has failed to develop, and production lags behind what it was in the height of the Soviet Union time. Whilst roughly 40% of the populations rely on agriculture for some or all of their income, Agriculture only accounts for around 10% of their economies. Today, Caucasus countries rely heavily on food imports, a situation which leaves them exposed to global food price spikes and fluctuations in exchange rates. Caucasus countries recognise the under-investment in Agriculture and deploy a variety of policies to try and stimulate it. However, these are all too often popularistic moves (provision of diesel or fertiliser vouchers) based on subsidies which are not entirely helpful. Oxfam, together with local partners in the three countries envisage a situation where National Government policies on food security and nutrition, nurture and promote local food production and consumption. The purpose of the 4 year project is to ensure these policies are informed and influenced by networks and interest groups from across the sector who represent the hundreds of thousands of women and men smallholder farmers as well as investors, processors, distributors exporters and support service providers.

What will you do? To lead and manage Oxfam's Food Security Programme in the South Caucasus such that it is relevant, effective, and efficient, of the highest quality and makes use of opportunities in the region as well as within Oxfam. The programme manager, will lead and guide teams of staff in each country to facilitate alliances and working groups to analyse, develop and propose food security strategies and policies for their countries, drawing on experiences from the region and globally. With a focus on inclusive development, these policies will promote investments that recognise the potential and contributions that smallholder women and men farmers can bring to the industry.

What we are looking for You will be someone with proven experience of getting important people together around important issues. You will have the energy and confidence to inspire teams from a distance and the clarity of vision to understand what is possible and how to make it so. You will bring a technical competence to the team (in the form of policy development, coalition formation, food security anaylsis, gender or sector wide value chains) as well as excellent management and leadership skills.

You will understand dynamics that drive the food security and nutrition of middle income countries, and be committed to the principles of good governance and participatory development. You will be able to demonstrate how gender equity can be brought into processes and structures that support better food security and nutrition in a way that is sustainable and forward looking. Please note candidates must be able to travel to Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

How to apply:

How to apply:

To find out more about this role and to apply, please visit www.oxfam.org.uk/jobs and quote ref: INT6333.

Closing date: 11th July 2013.