Programme Policy Officer (Research), Baghdad, Iraq, 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

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity, and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change. In 2022 WFP supported 711,635 people in Iraq. Through providing food for vulnerable people, skills to build futures, and enhanced social protection, WFP is helping the Government of Iraq build people’s food security and resilience. For more information, see wfp.org/countries/iraq and ar.wfp.org/countries/iraq.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

WFP corporately has embraced a stronger and more proactive stance on social protection, which is now a key pillar of WFP’s ‘changing lives’ agenda and will be prominent in the new Strategic Plan, as well as being a top priority for most regions and countries. The Social Protection Unit of the World Food Programme prioritizes implementation of social protection strategy through embedding and mainstreaming social protection in regular programmes and projects while initiating specific social protection initiatives.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is well known for its ability to deliver food assistance rapidly to people in need. While continuing to respond to immediate needs, WFP also wishes to contribute to longer-term efforts to end hunger in countries in need, and to support governments, in partnership with development partners, catalyzing a more effective social protection response in the short-term, and to accelerate reform of the overall social protection system. As part of the implementation of the social protection strategy, WFP has initiated support for building capacity for long-term development programmes through strengthening the national and international priorities and commitments. WFP is supporting efforts to put social protection as a high-priority agenda. WFP has initiated evidence-building for social protection through modernization of data collection and analysis mechanisms in a number of countries. WFP is contributing to social protection reforms through adapting, expanding, and innovating social protection responses to address the immediate needs of vulnerable households, while mitigating the adverse impact of crisis (like COVID-19) on resilience, livelihood, and human development.

WFP Iraq Country office is looking for a Programme Policy Officer for Social Protection, with experience in quantitative and qualitative research to support the country office in the various interventions, related to the design and implementation of policies, frameworks and strategies for shock responsive and food security sensitive social protection.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the supervision and guidance of the Head of Social Protection, the Programme Policy Officer (Research) will be responsible for the following activities:

• Review, analyse and interpret economic, social and political issues, linking them to research and programmes. Provide analysis and recommendations to senior management on technical cooperation activities and formulate and set priorities.
• Lead the research interventions for the social protection through supporting the design and implementation of policies and frameworks
• Gather and review primary and secondary quantitative and qualitative data sources to determine their quality and comprehensiveness, and thus to the extent the information is fit- for-purpose to inform targeting and prioritization decisions;
• Conduct and present advanced statistical analysis including bi-variate and multivariate analysis to identify potential eligibility criteria for beneficiary selection, as well as priority information gaps informing recommendations on primary data collection and analysis;
• Utilize the generated evidence to design targeting and prioritization approaches, considering the operational requirements and contextual aspects;
• Support instrument design, collection and analysis of qualitative data enabling a people-centered approach whereby the lived realities of affected populations and their communities are reflected in targeting and prioritization decisions;

• Contribute to the implementation and systematic documentation of coherent and rigorous targeting and prioritization processes globally, aligned with existing and informing new global standards for targeting in WFP;

• Support the production of guidance, training and learning materials to promote global standards in terms of quantitative and qualitative data quality, standardization, analysis and presentation;

• Contribute to policy design interventions at the Country Office, related to social protection programmes
• Support the social protection team for analytical reports, policy papers, donor/CO reports
• Collaborate with Needs Assessments and Field Monitoring colleagues to establish and promote standards for the systematic gathering and analysis of targeting-related information throughout the programme cycle; and
• Any other assignments as agree with the supervisor.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in economics, social science, statistics or related field

Experience: At least 8 years of experience in quantitative and qualitative multi-sectoral vulnerability analysis

Languages: Fluency in English is required, knowledge of Arabic is preferred.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Sound experience of research in social protection areas preferably in Middle Eastern countries
• Good knowledge of statistical packages (SPSS required, STATA and R an advantage);
• Good knowledge of qualitative research methods, preferably with experience of employing them in humanitarian settings.
• Good understanding of vulnerability assessment methodologies and tools.
• Demonstrated ability to write analytical reports and present findings;
• Experience working in dynamic and innovative environments; and
• Willingness to travel extensively to support Hub projects in-country Competencies: Cognitive Capacity, Teamwork, Action Management, Innovation, Partnering, Client Orientation

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Position Title: Programme Policy Officer (Research)

Type Of Contract: International Consultancy (CST II)

Contract Duration: 11 months

Unit: Social Protection Unit

Duty Station: Baghdad, Iraq

Medical Plan: Medical plan for the employee only

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications close on 14th December 2023

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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.