PD Internship Programme 2021 – Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) Intern

Pacific Multi-Country Office, Suva, Fiji

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 the VAM Unit of the Pacific Multi-Country Office, based in Suva, Fiji, or home-based, depending on the pandemic-caused restrictions. The internship will typically be for the period of at least 6 months starting June 2021.

Brief description of VAM Unit, Pacific Multi-Country Office:

In September 2015, WFP established an office for the Pacific region in Fiji, with the aim of supporting the governments of Pacific Island Countries (PICs) in their emergency preparedness and response measures. Since then, WFP has provided emergency food assistance in Vanuatu (following cyclone Pam in March 2015), in Papua New Guinea (following the El Nino-induced drought in August 2015), and in Fiji (following cyclone Winston in February 2016).

For both emergency and non-emergency situations, data preparedness is imperative to achieve accurate and timely production of maps that inform decision-making. Therefore, there is a need for WFP to engage with government and regional partners to gather and consolidate country specific baseline and functional datasets. These partnerships allow WFP to continuously catalogue and maintain a federated storage of the most up-to-date and ready-to-use datasets. With a focus on innovation and technological advancement WFP through programmes such as VAM can study the spatial interactions of humans and physical geography to enhance food security in the region.

In addition, WFP has successfully rolled out the 72-hour Assessment tool in the Pacific with Solomon Islands being the front runner of the tool’s implementation after the Makira earthquake of 2015. The main aim is to work with local stakeholders on the ground to go more in depth and fill the current knowledge gaps – with a focus on providing information that will be useful for key stakeholders to plan and deliver emergency assistance.

General Information

• ****Title of Post:**** PD Internship_VAM
• Supervisor: Programme Officer VAM-GIS
• ****Unit:**** VAM
• Country: Fiji
• Duty Station: Pacific Multi-Country Office
• Duration of internship: 6 Months
• Expected Start Date: June 2021

Duties and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer VAM-GIS, the candidate will perform the following duties:

• Assist with establishing workflows to boost technical capacity and implement integral spatial methodology in the context of emergency preparedness and response
• Provide mapping and analysis support for the Pacific region as required
• Assist with compiling/cleaning baseline spatial, non-spatial tabular data which will contain predefined base indicators at the lowest possible administrative level in a timely manner
• Support the preparation of questionnaires, data analysis and drafting of reports/bulletins
• Participate in food security and vulnerability assessments as well as other joint assessments
• Undertake statistical analysis of household-based surveys and analyze trends
• Assist in the extraction of relevant datasets and the production of data visualization (e.g. infographics)
• May undertake field visits for primary data collection and reporting as required
• Perform other related tasks and duties as directed

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 related to GIS, Agriculture, Official Statistics, Population Demographic Studies, Climate Change
• Excellent English verbal and writing skills
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• Strong research and analytical skills

Required soft skills/WFP Competencies:

• Ability to work as a team in a multicultural environment as well as independently
• Ability to write clearly and concisely
• Integrity and transparency
• Sensitivity to diversity
• Customer and result oriented

Working Languages

Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) is required.

Supervision (Level/Methods of Supervision)

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer VAM-GIS, 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 Programme Coordinator 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:

• Very good understanding of VAM strategies, plans and activities and overall operations in WFP Pacific Multi-Country Office
• Enhanced technical capacity with analysis and mapping of data
• Strengthened coordination skills with internal and external counterparts
• General understanding of WFP as an organization.
• Strengthened analytical capabilities and report writing skills

Information on the Country of Assignment

• ****Living conditions in Suva, Fiji****

Suva is the capital of Fiji and is the most developed city of the country. Suva boasts being the economic and social hub and has seen less of an impact of COVID-19 in comparison to other more tourist towns that have been greatly impacted by the lack of visitors to the country.

• Housing conditions: There is a large quantity of hotels and lodging options available in the main central business district (CBD) as well as close to the city limits. Residing closer to the CBD would mean higher rental charges. Renting a house is an alternative option and landlords usually ask for 1 month’s lease payment together with a bond payment in advance Usually, this initial payment will not include any utilities.

• Transportation: Public local transportation is available and is easily accessible by first obtaining a transport e-card. Taxi services are available, however at significantly higher prices around the country and even higher starting rates at airports. These options would be the best to use for any WFP staff.

• Medical Facilities: Hospital facilities are available, with high number of private clinics and a major hospital located in the capital. There are also 2 private hospitals that local WFP staff use often.

The security situation in Fiji for the WFP Pacific Multi country office can be deemed as a low-threat location. There are no specific threats against the UN in Fiji. Crime is a continuing problem in Fiji and can have a major impact on the work and life of the community. Most of the crime occurs in more densely populated urban areas. Whilst UN staff continue to be victims of minor crime such as street robbery and apartment break-ins, the infrequency of attacks and random nature of locations do not indicate that UN staff are at an elevated risk in comparison to residents or tourists in Fiji. Fiji has experienced an increase in frequency of natural hazards with at least 3 tropical cyclones above category 4 in the last 10 months. The vulnerability of population, households and local infrastructure to these natural hazards is often severe and devastated local markets and livelihoods.

VA Reference no: 141725

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$1,000 per month
• 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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