Ukraine: Assessment and Research Lead Consultant, Kiev, Ukraine

Dec 26, 2023 | World Food Programme
View Original

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. At WFP, people are at the heart of everything it does, and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves. 

To learn more about WFP, visit the website: UN World Food Programme (WFP) and follow on social media to keep up with its latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

Position Description

The Research, Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) Team in the Ukraine CO carries out food security and other types of needs assessments, undertakes targeting analysis and performs economic and market analysis. The RAM team is also responsible for all monitoring of WFP’s programme activities in Ukraine, including process and outcome monitoring. The team collaborates with various external partners on various research and knowledge generation pieces in the area of food security, agriculture and economic impacts of the war. Through the generation of evidence and knowledge, the RAM team helps facilitate the design of WFP’s strategies and activities in Ukraine, ensures timely and relevant follow-up on implementation and contributes to advocacy efforts.

The RAM team is looking to hire an experienced and dedicated lead for its assessment, targeting and research activities, to join its highly motivated, hardworking and technically strong team. The Lead Consultant will strengthen the RAM team by adding critical skills and knowledge in managing technical teams, leading large household assessments, food security and other needs assessment methodologies including livelihoods analysis. The Lead Consultant is expected to bring a sound understanding of needs assessments and targeting in a humanitarian context, market analysis and excellent report writing and communication skills to the RAM team. The Lead Consultant should have a keen interest in working in the unique context Ukraine offers.

Why WFP?

The war in Ukraine has had drastic consequences, both for people inside the country and for those around the world dependent on its huge grain supplies. It is inflicting untold suffering on civilians, displace families, and disrupt supply chains and food production. It has caused one of the fastest forced population movements since the Second World War. Close to 6 million Ukrainians are still living as refugees across Europe, and almost 5.1 million are internally displaced. Many have lost their homes and livelihoods. As food production and supply lines are disrupted by fighting, many families in the east and south do not have reliable access to nutritious food.

WFP uses a flexible mix of food and cash assistance to support communities affected by the war wherever they are. This includes working with local partners to distribute food rations in areas near the frontline and providing cash transfers wherever people have access to banks and markets to buy food. Since March 2022, WFP has distributed food and cash assistance equivalent to 2.4 billion meals to families displaced and affected by the war, partnering directly with local responders.

  • WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. 
  • WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse and multicultural working environment.
  • WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of trainings, accreditation, coaching, mentorship and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
  • A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
  • WFP offers a competitive benefits package including salary, leave plus a medical insurance.

Make a Difference

The consultant will act as the lead for assessments and market analysis and will report to the Head of RAM. Tasks include:

Assessments, targeting and research activities

  1. Act as technical and managerial lead for needs assessments, including food security, essential needs, markets, livelihoods analyses and vulnerability profiling
  2. Lead on survey design for household needs assessments, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches
  3. Oversee the development of household and market analysis data tools in accordance with corporate standards
  4. Act as RAM lead on targeting including design of appropriate vulnerability profiling methodologies, advise on targeting approaches and contribute to the targeting framework of the CO
  5. Seek out opportunities for new methodological developments and assessment methods as appropriate for the Ukrainian context
  6. Coordinate assessment activities, including food security, livelihoods and market analyses, across the Country Office and Field Offices in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro and Odesa
  7. Provide support and capacity building to WFP staff and partners on food security and other relevant analytical areas
  8. Develop relevant research concepts

External engagements

  1. Represent WFP in various analytical coordination platforms and inter-agency working groups
  2. Facilitate collaboration and joint projects with external research bodies, e.g. academic institutions, third party monitoring companies and research partners

Crosscutting RAM activities

    1. Supervise staff as required
    2. Support the development of the Interim Country Strategic Plan and provide internal and external processes and presentations with assessment data and analysis
    3. Contribute to the development of programme activities, providing technical analysis, interpretation and recommendations to enable effective programme design
    4. Any other assigned task

Qualifications

Education: Advanced university degree in one or more of the following disciplines: Statistics, economics, development economics, public policy, social science, food security, or similar relevant discipline, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or coursework/trainings. Coursework/trainings in statistics, econometrics, database management, data visualisation, household economics or other relevant topics is an advantage.

Experience: At least six years of postgraduate professional experience with increasing levels of responsibility in an analytical function.

Solid experience in the following areas is essential:

  • Data cleaning, management and analysis of household survey data;
  • Management of household assessment;
  • Food security and related methodologies;
  • Market assessments;
  • Targeting;
  • Report writing and dissemination;
  • Supervision of technical teams.

Experience in the following areas is a strong asset:

  • Poverty methodologies
  • WFP’s analytical frameworks and suite of indicators
  • Collaboration with academic institutions and other knowledge providers

Knowledge & Skills: 

  • Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
  • Excellent data management and analytical skills;
  • Strong command of Excel and either one of STATA, SPSS or R;
  • Problem-solving mindset and creativity;
  • Team player attitude and the ability to effectively collaborate across teams and functions;
  • Ability to establish effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
  • Willingness to participate in field missions.

Language: Fluency (Level C) written and spoken in English is essential. Working knowledge (level B) of another UN language is an advantage.

Standards of behaviour: See original job posting.

Different expectations of behaviour are defined depending on grade and role/responsibilities within WFP. Candidates’ alignment with these behaviours is assessed in its selection process.

Before Applying

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share its humanitarian principles. 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.

WFP aims to achieve parity in its teams in Ukraine. Qualified women applicants are especially encouraged to apply.

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.

How to Apply

To be considered, apply via WFP’s recruitment portal. CV and cover letter must be submitted in English language. Only those who are short-listed candidates will be contacted for the next steps of its recruitment process. WFP also encourages candidates to create a candidate profile and set up WFP job alerts to learn more about all the opportunities available to join WFP and make a difference in the lives of the people it serves.