PD Internship Programme 2021 – Monitoring & Evaluation and Knowledge Management

Monitoring & Evaluation and Knowledge Management, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We are currently seeking motivated and qualified candidates to fill positions of the 2021 Policy and Programme Department (PD) Internship Programme..

The position will either be based in our Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) unit in Bishkek, in the Kyrgyz Republic, or home-based, depending on the pandemic-caused restrictions. The internship will be for a period of 4 months during the period of June to September 2021.

Brief description of the Monitoring & Evaluation internship:

The internship period will coincide with an ongoing Common Country Analysis and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) evaluation as well as the evaluation of WFP’s Country Strategic Plan, all feeding into the design of the next UN cooperation framework and WFP’s own programme design, offering interesting insights and a steep learning curve on evidence collection for design decisions. Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director/Head of programme, the M&E unit works in close collaboration with the Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) unit, analyzing the programme performance and operating context, which has substantially changed following the COVID pandemic (socio-economic consequences and substantive changes in government and constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic). The M&E unit is also responsible for knowledge management (KM) practices, including the effective use of MS Teams, and a number of new data analytics/visualization tools (dashboards) have been introduced since the beginning of the year. The intern can contribute to process optimization and better informed programmatic decision-making by further optimizing and supporting the mainstreaming of these M&E/KM tools and practices.

General Information

• Title of Post: PD Internship_Monitoring & Evaluation and Knowledge Management
• Supervisor: Head of M&E unit
• ****Unit:** Monitoring & Evaluation**
• Country: Kyrgyz Republic
• Duty Station: Bishkek
• Duration of internship: 4 months
• Expected Start Date: June 2021

Duties and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head of M&E, the candidate will perform the following duties:

• Support the ongoing evaluations and reviews by facilitating access to relevant information and reports, building on these processes to also enhance internal information-sharing
• Assist in performing and improving data collection, analysis and visualization for ongoing M&E activities and the use of performance data for decision-making
• Contribute to building M&E capacity of WFP staff and partners through training and information sharing.
• Draft monitoring reports on status of results and implementation progress and contribute to the data analysis and visualization in tableau.
• Contribute to improving the KM architecture and SharePoint solutions to address issues related to performance and troubleshooting
• Explore and pilot alternative tools for enhancing internal communications and information management with workflow automation tools through various Office 365 tools (Flow, Forms, PowerApps, etc.), and for enhancing information design (communication processes and products).

Qualifications and experience

• Currently enrolled with in a graduate programme and have attended classes in the past 12 months, or a recent graduate from a graduate programme (within six months prior to the application to the internship programme) preferably in any of the following areas: Agriculture & and Environmental Science, Business & Public Administration Development Studies, and Social Work
• Excellent command of English; Working knowledge of Russian (or Kyrgyz) would be an asset
• Has basic knowledge of a range of evaluation, data collection and analysis methods as well as data visualization tools such as tableau, seeking advice where appropriate.
• Is able to validate data quality and ensure that data collection and analysis have been conducted ethically.
• Proficiency in the use and experience in the configuration of MS Office365 (or their consumer equivalents) and related applications for information, document and knowledge management
• Knowledge or experience with specific Office 365 tools (or their consumer equivalents) such as Planner (Trello), Teams (Slack), OneDrive (DropBox, Google Drive), Power BI, Tableau, etc. is a distinct advantage
• First experience in structuring an archive/document management system and/or in optimizing document flows would be an asset
• Completion of courses, training or certificates in communication and project management are considered an asset
• Knowledge of theories and practices in monitoring and evaluation is considered a plus.

Required soft skills/WFP Competencies:

• Strong listening and communication skills
• Conceptual thinking and methodological work style to advance and promote structured solutions
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate information with attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to observe and understand team dynamics and adapt approaches accordingly
• Client orientation
• Drive for change and results
• Comfortable in a rapidly changing environment, with competing and shifting priorities

Working Languages

Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) is required. Knowledge of Russian or Kyrgyz would be an asset.

Supervision (Level/Methods of Supervision)

Under the direct supervision of Head of M&E, the incumbent will be provided with close mentoring, guidance and technical supervision. Performance planning and reviews as well as learning and development discussions will be elemental part of the supervision. The Deputy Country Director will be the second-level supervisor. With the support of a comprehensive induction package and assignment of a buddy/mentor, the intern will rapidly become a productive member of the team.

Training components

Throughout their assignment WFP interns have access to an industry leading learning platform, WeLearn. Depending on opportunities and availability of funds, he/she may participate in WFP workshops or seminars, as appropriate.

Learning Elements

At the end of the assignment, the Intern should:

• Have gained hands-on work experience in structuring an archive/document management system, in optimizing document flows and in leveraging Office 365 for information and knowledge sharing purposes
• Have been actively participating in the Office 365 community, staying tuned on news and updates, learning with peers and building solutions that make colleagues’ work easier, more flexible, and accessible from anywhere
• Have contributed to a larger business-process optimization and change project, within which smaller building blocks may be assigned to the intern to practice project management skills and approaches
• Have had the opportunity to contribute to the design of processes and templates, to bring in ideas and to develop strategies to promote innovative approaches
• Have become familiar with evaluation and review processes and its documentation requirements, as well as with the opportunities for creating value-add knowledge products and for improving communication flows for better informed programmatic decision-making
• Have been exposed to a multi-cultural and multi-lingual work environment within WFP but also through inter-agency evaluation and review processes.

Information on the Country of Assignment

• ****Living conditions in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic**** (Living conditions, security, health, etc)

The Kyrgyz people are well known for their hospitality. While the UNV will be based in Bishkek, a pleasant capital allowing for inexpensive yet good quality life-style, the assignment may include missions to the field, and there is a difference in availability of amenities between urban and rural areas. Winters can be very cold and summers hot, and there is lot of temperature difference in cities like Bishkek and high-altitude mountains. While the UN country team has made investments for COVID-19 treatment support, the health care system lacks modern health care technology, equipment and supplies of Western standards.

Undergoing complicated transition period, the Kyrgyz Republic has a history of turbulent civil unrests (so called revolutions of 2005 and 2010, interethnic conflict in the Southern part of the country in 2010 and recent protests against the October 2020 elections), but the security situation is now calm and stable. The Kyrgyz Republic is located in an active seismic zone. Thus, among the variety of natural hazards, an earthquake has the highest potential to become a natural disaster.

• Other relevant information:

The Kyrgyz Republic has lifted travel restrictions (a negative PCR test required) and the UN allows, after an initial upon-arrival quarantine, presence in the office and in-country travel, following physical distancing and other safety measures (the return-to-office-plan currently allows for up to 50% in-person presence in the office with certain seating and ventilation requirements). The UN is closely monitoring the situation and adjusting the COVID-19 measures accordingly. Should an in-person presence internship not be possible, most tasks can be performed remotely.

VA Reference no: 141744

Closing Date: 2 May 2021

Please note that the deadline is at 11:59 pm Rome time (GMT + 1)

Terms and Conditions:

• Interns receive a monthly stipend from WFP up to the maximum amount of US$1000 per month depending on the duty station of assignment.
• WFP is not responsible for living expenses, arrangements for accommodation, necessary visas and related costs.
• WFP will reimburse travel ticket for candidates who are nationals of developing countries and are pursuing their studies in their home country.
• WFP will recognize candidates’ educational credentials from recognised institutions that have been certified by competent international or national authorities such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or Ministries of Education.
• Candidates who bear any of the following relations to WFP staff members are not eligible to apply: sons, daughters, brothers or sisters.

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply. WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of 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.

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