Data Assurance Advisor (Cash Based Transfers - CBT), International Consultancy, Level 3

Programme & Policy

Overview

Guide and enhance data assurance for CBT initiatives.

You have:

• Advanced University degree in Statistics, Economics, Business or Computer Science or First Degree with additional relevant "hands-on" working experience.
• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in IT/technology and/or data analytics (of which four years is international).
• Programmatic experience of cash-based transfers programs or other safety nets or food assistance programs are required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English required.
• Intermediate knowledge of French or another official UN language is beneficial.
• Experience of working with government on technological solutions is an asset as well as experience of working in a WFP country office.
• Knowledge of issues related to international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
• Knowledge and understanding of UN’s role in humanitarian and development co-operation.
• Good understanding of UN or WFP policies and programming requirements.
• Excellent analytical skills and planning skills.

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SAVING LIVES. CHANGING LIVES.

WHAT IMPACT WILL YOU HAVE WORKING WITH US?

My WFP Story

" The fact that the work to be done would entail having a real-life impact on souls of people especially children and the urge to have a real-life positive impact to the lives of vulnerable populations was a major contributing factor in motivating me to work for WFP. There is great unmatched satisfaction in serving our beneficiaries and working in a highly multi-cultural environment such as WFP. It comes with great learning lessons” IT Operations Officer

ABOUT WFP

The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetime. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

The WFP Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa (RBN) is based in Nairobi and provides strategic direction, technical guidance, resource mobilization, and management support to WFP operations and activities in ten countries: Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The last years have not only witnessed a significant surge in WFP’s use of Cash Bases Transfers (CBT) programming, but also a matching rise in the complexity and intensity of organization-wide investments to minimize risks and improve assurance around CBT programmes i.e., ascertain that the right benefits are reaching the right beneficiaries at the right time. WFP has committed to the transformative power of ‘digital transformation’ since it was identified as a corporate priority in 2018. Through this commitment, WFP aims to harness the potential of technology to strengthen programmes' impacts, by enhancing inclusion, accountability and assurance.

Data assurance - the ability to manage, maintain, monitor and analyze data to meet assurance objectives - is a key part of digital transformation. Corporate initiatives and solutions such as SCOPE (WFP's beneficiary management system), DOTS (WFP's data hub) and the creation of the Digital Transformation Services Unit (DTS) show the investment by the organization in this important goal. While this is the case, field operations still struggle to exert mastery over the wealth of data generated, let alone demonstrate insight and assurance.

To start addressing these concerns, RBN commissioned a high-level CBT data assurance review of country offices in RBN, assessing the capacity of the Country Offices (Cos) and RBN to adequately address/support data assurance needs in the COs (in a cross-functional manner). Based on the review, a road map was established identifying the need to increase the capacity at the regional level as one of the key findings. A person dedicated to CBT assurance would be needed with the ability to lead the work cross-functionally, liaise between Head Quarters (HQ), Regional Bureau (RB) and Country Officers (Cos) and combine the use of technology and analytical capability with field and CBT technical expertise and collaborate across TEC and CBT business units.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Qualifications & Experience Required:

Education:

• Advanced University degree in Statistics, Economics, Business or Computer Science or First Degree with additional relevant "hands-on" working experience.

Experience:

• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in IT/technology and/or data analytics (of which four years is international).
• Programmatic experience of cash-based transfers programs or other safety nets or food assistance programs are required.
• Management experience is an asset.
• Experience of working with government on technological solutions is an asset as well as experience of working in a WFP country office.

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English required.
• Intermediate knowledge of French or another official UN language is beneficial.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of issues related to international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
• Knowledge and understanding of UN’s role in humanitarian and development co-operation.
• Good understanding of UN or WFP policies and programming requirements.

Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with counterparts and staff within the office, host population, donors, NGOs and other UN agencies.
• Excellent analytical skills and planning skills.
• Strong capacity for learning, research and innovation.
• Ability to synthesize analysis into operational and strategic direction.
• Capacity to foster strong and sustainable cross-agency collaboration.
• Proactive, solution-focused and client-oriented.
• Good leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication skills.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the overall direction and guidance of the Head of the Social Protection and CBT unit and in close collaboration with other CBT business units and TEC, and with a strong link to the HQ Data Assurance Team, the Regional CBT Data Assurance Advisor will have the following key responsibilities:

• Advise RBN senior management on CBT assurance needs, challenge’s and risks across the RBN region, and propose cross-functional initiatives to enhance CBT assurance.
• Lead the alignment of CBT assurance needs between TEC and CBT business units at the RB level and establish processes/working agreements between TEC and CBT business units to improve the oversight from business units over beneficiary information management and transfer management platforms (such as SCOPE) so that processes and systems are in line with what is operationally needed across the region, both at RB and CO levels (the latter as needed).
• Establish new mechanisms and implement them at RB and CO level so that issues encountered in the field in relation to beneficiary information management and transfer management platforms are also communicated to relevant HQ units so that systems can be realigned as needed.
• Map and monitor usage of IT solutions contributing to CBT assurance at CO level in collaboration with TEC and other CBT business units. Develop an understanding of how their functional data layers (people, processes and technology) are structured and take responsibility for disseminating and ensuring wider uptake of best practices, appropriate to context.
• Proactively support COs in planning, design and implementing improvements to their functional data layers and for context appropriate CBT data assurance.
• Partner effectively with HQ units working on the same to provide concrete guidance and leadership on data assurance issues.
• Take responsibility for improving assurance knowledge management across the region and improve knowledge sharing between COs, particularly when it comes to analysis developed for specific CBT operations.
• Ensure that WFP’s data assurance practices in the region are aligned with WFP’s personal data protection policy and make recommendations for adjustments, as needed.
• Perform other tasks and responsibilities as requested by the supervisor.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT

• Ensure that all work and materials developed during the contract are well documented and available to all relevant stakeholders.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Type of Contract:

Short Term Contract

Duty Station:

Nairobi Regional Bureau, Kenya

Contract Duration:

9 Months

*The position is open to both Kenyan and Non-Kenyan nationals. Should the recommended candidate be a Kenyan, a Special Service Agreement - SSA will be offered.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

2nd March, 2022

Only Shortlisted Candidates will be contacted

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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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wfp.org