VAM Officer – Team Lead for the Caribbean Multi-Country Office (CMCO)

  • Contractor
  • Remote
  • TBD USD / Year
  • World Food Programme profile




  • Job applications may no longer being accepted for this opportunity.


World Food Programme

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 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 nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The WFP Caribbean Multi-Country Office supports 22 countries and territories in the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean and also works with regional bodies including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and others. Since establishing the office in 2018, WFP has emerged as a thought leader in several areas, including shock-responsive social protection (SRSP), linking disaster risk financing mechanisms with SRSP, and food security analysis. Building on a strong research and evidence agenda, as well as partnerships with multiple governments to expand social protection support during COVID-19, WFP Caribbean is working in partnership with multiple governments and CDEMA to strengthen emergency preparedness and resilience in the face of shocks, including through social protection, disaster risk management and food systems. WFP’s skills on data, analysis and digitalization are a cornerstone of WFP’s capacity strengthening efforts with governments and regional institutions.

Complementing this work and ensuring excellence in programming in a development context, WFP adapts to respond to emergencies with a strong enabling mindset. The MCO focuses on supporting governments to lead their responses, bringing in WFP expertise in analysis and assessment, digitalization, shock-responsive social protection/cash transfers and disaster risk management. This approach requires staff with the ability to work within that mindset, but also that bring the necessary technical expertise relevant in the context of small island developing states and upper middle income to high income countries.

JOB PURPOSE

To lead and/or manage the generation of the VAM evidence base that supports food security and nutrition policies and programmes (e.g. needs assessment and situation analyses, programme design, targeting, cost effectiveness, and operational efficiency).

This role leads WFP Caribbean’s VAM engagements with government and inter regional partners on capacity strengthening on analytical and data processes relating to shock-responsive social protection, food security and disaster preparedness. This position leads and manages the generation of the VAM evidence base that supports food security and nutrition policies and interventions (e.g. needs assessment and situation analyses, programme design, targeting, monitoring, research on payment solutions, cost-effectiveness, and operational efficiency). The position will focus strongly on building national VAM capacities in the team across the multi-country set-up. This Consultant will report to the Head of Programme in the Caribbean MCO.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

  1. Provide expert advice and support WFP and its partners on matters pertaining to food security and nutrition strategies, policies, programmes, and ensure the timely and productive use of related outputs in a manner that complies with WFP standards and processes.
  2. Coordinate and manage any support required through VAM activities to ensure strong linkages to programme design and implementation. Support innovative practices to best inform the efficient delivery of shock responsive social protection programmes to vulnerable populations.
  3. Contribute to the development of systems and tools for the monitoring and assessment of food assistance needs in line with innovative methodologies and best practice.
  4. Lead/conduct complex food security, nutrition, markets and resilience analysis and prepare timely reports on food assessment needs in line with wider VAM policies, processes and guidance to enable effective decision-making on the development of Country strategy, policies and programmes.
  5. Keep up to date with and advise on food assistance developments and issues and the potential impact upon WFP activities to enable timely and appropriate programme evolution and intervention.
  6. Provide advice and guidance on the development of programme activities, providing technical analysis, interpretation and recommendations to enable food assistance needs to be met effectively.
  7. Coordinate and/or provide technical support on global/regional/country initiatives to implement VAM activities.
  8. Lead operational partnerships, including inter-agency collaboration, to ensure a solid VAM support in both emergency and non-emergency settings.
  9. Manage VAM team, providing coaching and guidance as required to ensure appropriate development and enable high performance.
  10. Support the monitoring and evaluation of WFP activities, providing technical analysis, interpretation and information as required to support the assessment of activity impact.
  11. Represent WFP during meetings with partners to contribute to technical discussions, exchange of knowledge and experience, advocate for appropriate interventions (based on an evidence base) and identify areas for potential collaboration.
  12. Build capacity of WFP staff, partners and national government to conduct food security, nutrition, markets and resilience analysis to effectively inform preparedness and response activities.
  13. Provide leadership and support to relevant partners that are focusing on food security and nutrition to enable sharing of experience, lessons learned and best practice.
  14. Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men.
  15. Act in an assigned emergency response capacity as required to meet emergency food assistance needs.
  16. Other as required.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name – Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level

  • Food Security Analysis – Leverages in-depth understanding of the food security challenges at household and community level to help implement holistic solutions ranging from preventive to resilience building interventions. Provides strategic direction for problem identification and analysis that underlies programme response.
  • Food Security Monitoring – Leads management, design and implementation of food security monitoring systems. Ensures that such analysis is timely and responsive to programmatic needs and adjustments.
  • Technical Specialized Knowledge (e.g., Economics, Statistics, Public Health, Remote Sensing, GIS, etc.) – Demonstrates holistic understanding of inter-disciplinary linkages underlying food security concepts and their application. Provides leadership and guidance for building food security information systems that track changes at the global, regional, national and community level, linking results to key decisions and internal and external actors.
  • Food Security Assessment – Manages independent, multi-agency and multi-sector assessments to ensure appropriate coverage of food security topics. Ensures analytical rigor, relevance of the findings and timeliness of the report.
  • Strategic Operational Understanding – Leverages thorough understanding of operational needs and food security analyses to ensure evidence based policy formulation and programmatic response at the country level.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in Economics, Food Security, Statistics, Data Science, Public Health/Nutrition, Geography or other related field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Language: Fluency (level C) in English language.

Experience: 5 -10 years of relevant experience.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

  • Has developed high-performing teams and managed vulnerability analysis exercises including emergency and food security assessments at country and regional levels
  • Has worked directly with governments on strengthening government capacities on data and vulnerability analysis
  • Is knowledgeable of social protection and disaster risk financing
  • Has direct experience related to small island developing states; ideally in the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean
  • Has established food security and vulnerability monitoring systems
  • Has led surveys, multiple assessments in countries, including the design, data collection and analysis

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The World Food Programme Caribbean Multi-Country Office (CMCO) is seeking a VAM Officer – Team Lead Consultant for 11 months with the possibility of extension.

Who Can Apply?

All applications received will be reviewed and go through a selection process to assess relevant experience and qualifications. Applicants who meet the selection criteria may be contacted for further interviews or assessments and to confirm their continued interest and availability. WFP offers a competitive compensation package determined on the basis of the Terms of Reference and the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Employment Particulars

  • Type of position: Short Term – Full Time.
  • Type of Contract: Consultancy
  • Duration of Contract: 11 months
  • Duty Station: Caribbean MCO (to be determined upon appointment)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

The deadline to apply for this position is November 15, 2022 (Atlantic Standard Time).

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.

How to apply

To apply, please create a personal account and fill out the profile form with your personal information at http://www1.wfp.org/careers/job-openings.

In the application form, ensure to fill out the mandatory sections, attach your CV, answer the pre-screening questions, and agreeing to the legal statement before submitting your application. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis on account of potential and performance. All applicants will undergo a rigorous process which includes screening against job requirements, a technical test, and a panel interview.


Job Notifications
Subscribe to receive notifications for the latest job vacancies.