Food Security Assessment/VAM Officer - International Consultant

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WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP Timor Leste

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. 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 nutrition food they need.

WFP has been present in Timor-Leste since 1999. WFP focus in Timor-Leste is on building the capacity of the Government of Timor-Leste in the integrated Management of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (IMAM), Social Behaviour Change Communications (SBCC), Rice fortification, Operational research and evidence generation including the Fill the Nutrient Gap (FNG) through the Ministry of Health's. Technical assistance and Government capacity development, with a strategy for hand-over of a sustainable food-based programme to the Government are key priorities. WFP supports KONSSANTIL (Inter-Ministerial Council for Food Security, Food Sovereignty and Nutrition) to implement the Zero Hunger Challenge and has aligned its activities with both UNDAF and Government policies, strategies and action plans.

Timor-Leste has seen in recent years a succession of climate shocks including drought and floods and is now facing a pest invasion; all these are likely to have negative impacts on crop production and food security.

The Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) Unit, as the food security analysis service of WFP in the country, plays an integral role in ensuring that WFP’s response and technical support efforts are founded on a strong evidence base adapted to the realities of the country. VAM is well positioned to respond to and is able to anticipate future needs and demand from government and partners in the country.

This consultancy will lead and support key deliverables that will help strengthen capacities for food security analysis in the country by government and WFP’s staff and partners.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced university degree in statistics, sociology, economics, nutrition, agriculture, geography, nutrition, international development or similar relevant discipline. Language: Proficiency (Level C) of English. Proven ability to write in clear, easy-to-understand English. Portuguese (Level B) would be an asset.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Job holder will work under the supervision of Deputy Country Director at WFP Timor Leste.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

WFP Food Security Specialist Responsibilities:

• Support food security monitoring quarterly bulletin. Review and make recommendation for improvement; support production on next bulletin in English as contribution to periodic food security monitoring in the country
• Lead WFP survey in close partnership with FAO for acute Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) to track the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and food price crisis on households.
• Support review of food security and nutrition data and system and make recommendation for improvement of Food Security and Market Information Monitoring System including consideration for gender, disability, age disaggregation.
• Work closely with government (Ministry of Agriculture and Statistics) to improve government owned/implemented FS structures.
• Support relevant Country Office teams and government on the SIDS (Small Island Development States) SDG Project

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
• Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
• Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
• Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
• Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Food Security Analysis Demonstrates ability to conduct structured food security analysis—Identify underlying macro and micro factors impacting food security of communities and countries. Provides findings and recommendations for the programmatic response. Food Security Monitoring Manages the implementation of food security monitoring systems. Investigates any observed anomalies in the datasets and informs program management for operational response. Technical Specialized Knowledge (e.g., Economics, Statistics, Public Health, Remote Sensing, GIS, etc.) Provides managerial and technical guidance for designing and conducting analyses, including computation, interpretation, and presentation of results for food security surveys and key indicators (comprehensive food security and vulnerability surveys, food security monitoring, implementing mobile surveys, market analysis, food consumption scores, coping strategies indices. data disaggregation, etc.) Food Security Assessment Leads all aspects of surveys including design, implementation, analysis, findings and reporting. Ensures that assessment findings are easily translated into operational programmatic response. Strategic Operational Understanding Demonstrates strong understanding of country operations to participate in response analysis exercises to improve the cohesion between analytical findings and programmatic response. Constructs evidence base underlying technical and policy advice given to stakeholders.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge and personal qualities:

• Solid expertise in food security and the conduct of food security assessment
• Strong knowledge and experience in using database and statistical software, such as SPSS, R, STATA, MS Excel etc.
• Strong English written and oral communication skills.
• Strategic thinking and initiative-problem solver
• Cultural savviness and interpersonal skills
• Ability to deliver work in a timely manner
• Strong knowledge and experience in previous CFSAM and/or similar assessments
• Ability to maintain and develop a strong partnership with national Government and other relevant partners

Technical Skills and Knowledge: Knowledge of data analysis for humanitarian/development purposes.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• At least 5 years of relevant work experiences
• professional experience in food security, vulnerability analysis or a closely related area, such as food security information management systems.
• Has experience in surveys, multiple food security and nutrition assessments in countries, including the design, data collection and analysis to inform decision making.
• Has solid track record of report writing.
• Has experience in partnership building and capacity building for national partner.
• Has participated in design and implementation of WFP programmes focusing on food security and resilience building.
• Past work experience related with/in Timor Leste is an asset.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

7 August 2022, mid night of Timor Leste time

This vacancy is not applicable for Timorese nationality

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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.