Consultants(ROSTER), Research Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) , Regional Bureau for Western Africa
The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are 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.
WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.
WFP’s Research Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) Team is currently establishing a roster of experts to provide support to its activities in Western and Central Africa.
Information:
Position: International / National consultants with expertise in vulnerability assessments, monitoring and research
Duration and type of contract: 3 to 11 months
Location: based on needs of specific assignment (Regional Bureau for Western Africa – Dakar and / or country-specific support)
ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND
RAM, in the Western and Central Africa region is a new unit, which merged two of WFP’s functions under one, namely the Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping (VAM) and Monitoring units.
Thus, the RAM Team members are split, or focus on one of the three thematic areas, though all require the same technical skills related to survey/assessment/research design and analysis, and planning and capacity development and management.
These three key areas include:
- Vulnerability assessments including price monitoring, which informs programmatic design elements from informing who and where food assistance should be targeted to how much food or cash should be provided.
- Monitoring includes regular post-distribution monitoring surveys undertaken for each activity, which aims to assess if and how WFP’s assistance is benefiting on enhancing food security of beneficiaries; and
- Research, which includes cross-cutting and ad hoc activities related to WFP’s programming, or to better understanding the evolving food security situation in the country.
ROLES AND RESPONSABILITIES
Under this roster, you will contribute to the Research Analysis and Monitoring (RAM) evidence base that supports food security and nutrition policies and programmes (e.g. needs assessment and situation analyses, programme design, targeting, cost effectiveness, and operational efficiency).
According to the needs, you will be based in Regional Bureau for Western Africa (RBD) or Country Offices.
Specific Tasks: will be tailored to the projects and country’s specific needs. Based on your experience level and expertise areas, you will be involved to a greater or lesser degree in work related, but not limited, to the following, depending on the specific thematic area (listed above) and the level (listed below):
- Contribute to or lead, the development of RAM strategies (for vulnerability assessments and monitoring) and projects and activities, plans and processes, ensuring alignment with wider WFP policies and guidance.
- Contribute to the development of systems and tools for the monitoring and assessment of food assistance needs in line with innovative methodologies and best practice.
- Manage and/or conduct food security, nutrition, markets, and resilience analysis and prepare timely reports on food assessment needs in line with wider VAM policies, processes, and guidance to enable effective decision-making on the development of country strategy, policies, and programmes.
- Lead, support or coordinate large-scale surveys to understanding the changes in the food security context and the impact of WFP’s food assistance. Ensure quality analysis and report drafting of results.
- Lead, support, or coordinate targeting exercises to ensure food assistance is provided to the most in need, through updating of targeting criteria, ensuring quality assessment partners, and keeping programme colleagues informed.
- In close collaboration with the CBT unit and Activity Managers, provide technical support to determine transfer modalities and values, including through the analysis of market prices, trade flows, the Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) etc., and ensure linkages with other initiatives (e.g. FNG).
- Facilitate at Country Strategic Plan (CSP) design stage the development of a Theory of Change outlining how the expected results are likely to occur and listing key assumptions and risks.
- Ensure that CO monitoring systems and tools are in place and compliant with corporate standards, including the minimum monitoring requirements (MMR), standard operational procedures (SOP) and establishment of baselines and targets in alignment with the updated corporate results framework (CRF).
- Produce regular monitoring reports, including running data analysis, with status of results and implementation progress.
- Facilitate/contribute to mid-term and thematic reviews, which are intended for internal learning, strategic and operational decision-making.
- Keep up to date with and advise on food assistance developments and issues and the potential impact upon WFP activity to enable timely and appropriate programme evolution and intervention.
- Support the representative or represent WFP during meetings, including relevant working groups, with partners to contribute to technical discussions, exchange of knowledge and experience, and seek for appropriate interventions (based on an evidence base), and areas for potential collaboration.
- Build capacity of WFP staff, partners, and national government to conduct analysis on food security, nutrition, markets, resilience, and related topics to effectively inform policies and programmes.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of national government and interagency monitoring, reporting and evaluation frameworks, including United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) aligned with nationally owned sustainable development goals.
- Take responsibility for integrating protection and gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men.
- Manage or support decentralized evaluations to high professional standards in line with WFP Evaluation Policy and Decentralized Evaluation Quality Assurance System (DEQAS). This entails managing evaluation processes from planning to completion; sourcing, hiring, and supervising external evaluators; engaging stakeholders appropriately in the evaluation process and managing communications and budgets.
The list above is extensive because the profiles are diverse. Therefore, you are encouraged to apply if you have experience in a minimum of 5 of the activities listed above.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND LANGUAGES
Education:
Bachelors/Masters University degree in Economics, Food Security, Statistics, Data Science, Public Health/Nutrition, Geography, or other related field, with or without additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.
Experience:
Years of relevant professional experience:
• Junior Consultancy: One to three years of relevant professional experience.
• Level I Consultancy: Three to five years of relevant professional experience.
• Level II Consultancy: Six to ten years of relevant professional experience.
Languages:
- Working knowledge of French and English language is required
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE
Professional experience, proficiency, or knowledge is desired (but not required) in one or several of the following areas:
- Demonstrated proficiency in the use of several statistical tools and methods for food security analysis.
- Experience on food security analysis and mapping including with needs assessments including the design, data collection and analysis and a familiarity with quantitative and qualitative survey techniques.
- Some experience in remote sensing interpretation and analysis, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), Climate Compatible Development (CCD) and geographic information systems (GIS) is desirable.
- Humanitarian assistance and/or development work of the United Nations, or other international governmental or non-governmental organisations, especially in the design and implementation of food aid programmes.
- Experience in managing teams.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
All applications received will be reviewed and go through a selection process to assess relevant experience and qualifications. Applicants who meet the selection criteria may be contacted for further interviews or assessments and to confirm their continued interest and availability.
Successful candidates will be placed in a roster for short-term opportunities. Rostered applicants may be contacted in the upcoming 24 months on an as-needed basis.
Application should include:
- A cover letter tailored to the level of experience and area of expertise (max. 1 page)
- Current CV indicating relevant experience and area of expertise.
- Contact details (email and telephone number) of at least three (3) professional references
- Applications are submitted in French or in English.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
07 June 2021
Female applicants, and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply.
WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate based on race, sex, colour, ethnic group, age, sexual orientation, other affiliation, or HIV/AIDS status.
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.