Field-based Assistant (SSA)

Field-based Assistant (SSA)

WFP Kyrgyz Republic

Location: Jumgal district, Kadamjai district

Contract length: September 2021 – June 2022

Organisational Context:

The Kyrgyz Republic is a small, landlocked, mountainous country bordered by China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan with a population of just over 6.2 million people, mainly living in rural areas. After it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the economy grew, poverty fell, child mortality declined, and life expectancy increased. However, since 2008 there have been a series of economic and political setbacks, and now the pandemic increased the number of poor people in the country, because of reduced economic activities, decreased remittances, price spikes and a growing fiscal gap.

Within the current Country Strategic Plan 2018-22, WFP as a mechanism to strengthen the national social protection system will pilot the ‘Social Contract’ – an agreement between eligible vulnerable families and the government, in which participants take part in a graduation programme and the government provides an integrated package, including: business plan, subsidized loan/grant (up to 1200$), agro and vocational training, social and health services, nutrition training, financial literacy and linkages to the market and coaching to assist families to get out of poverty.

During the pilot, the ‘Social contract’ will be signed with poor families, with entrepreneurs or with a group of poor families to explore the most viable set-up (WFP will pilot the programme in two districts (north and south) both in urban and rural areas. In each district there could be up to 50 poor families selected).

Job purpose:

To coordinate and perform monitoring and capacity strengthening activities within a specific geographical area and provide reports to support effective delivery of assistance by WFP in Kyrgyz Republic.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive):

Under the direct supervision of a project coordinator and the general direction of the Social Protection expert in the WFP country-office, the field-based assistant will be responsible for the following:

1. Support and participate in the preparatory activities for the launch of the “Social Contract” project, i.e. field visits to the selected districts, meetings with local self-government and district departments of the ministries, local leaders.

• Provide awareness raising information about the project.

2. Conduct trainings for social workers, local self-government, district departments of the ministries on the elements of the project, including inter-ministerial coordination, selection of families, provision of support package, implementation, monitoring and coaching.
3. Jointly with local commissions participate in the selection of poor families, revision of their applications, supporting families with improving and finalisation of the applications.
4. Support social workers in conducting needs assessments of the selected families and drafting the “Social adaptation programme” – support package.
5. Monitoring the implementation of concluded social contracts and coaching poor families during the whole process of implementation of the social contract.
6. Provide technical assistance to local self-government and district departments of MHSD, local and district commissions for establishing a robust M&E system for social contract implementation.
7. Collect monitoring data: baseline, midterm, endline indicators and process monitoring.
8. Support the Project Coordinator in the drafting of periodic reports on the implementation of the project.
9. Participate in meetings at the local level with interested stakeholders to discuss the status of project implementation.
10. Seek partnerships with other field level projects implemented by partner organisations, NGOs.
11. Other ad-hoc tasks as required.

OUTCOMES / DELIVERABLES / KPIs:

• Social contracts and social adaptation programmes for all selected participants in the project in the district assigned.
• Regular reports on the status of the project implementation, including reliable monitoring and evaluation data as requested.
• Total number of successfully implemented and fulfilled social contracts.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• Strong interpersonal skills: courtesy, tact and ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds with demonstrated track-record to work in a team environment and achieve common goals.

• Strong capacities in data collection, analysis and reporting, plus knowledge management skills.

• Ability to interpret and analyse a wide variety of programme issues and statistical information, and to maintain accurate and precise records.

• Ability to work systematically (to plan and organize work under tight deadlines), use initiative, good judgment, and to communicate complex matters both orally and in writing, including when working in different locations.

• Ability to work independently and efficiently.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Education: Completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary education degree in the following fields is desirable: social and political sciences, economy, rural development, agriculture, education and administration, law.

Experience: At least four years of progressive experience in project assistance or secretarial work experience, including at least two years in the field of emergency or development aid, operations, statistics, insurance, accounting and other related fields.

Experience in collecting data and reporting and familiarity with M&E methodologies and key concepts.

Computer skills:

Literacy in MS Office365 applications, incl. collaborative working through MS Teams (or similar tools).

Language: Fluency in Russian and Kyrgyz language both oral and written.

Knowledge of English language is an asset.

The consultant will be equipped with a WFP laptop and phone for the duration of the assignment, but is expected to work field-/ (home-)based with own access to the project locations.

TALENTED WOMEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

We look for applicants with the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian values. We commit to promote diversity, gender parity and equality between men and women.

WFP strives to build a work environment that is safe and respectful, and free of sexual harassment and abuse of authority. We believe in open communication, and every individual at WFP is treated with respect regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religious and political beliefs, etc.

Closing date: 7 September 2021

WFP does not charge any fees at any stage of its recruitment process.

Only candidates who are short-listed will be contacted.