West Africa Remote Monitoring Consultant

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) Early Warning Team (EWT) seeks a remote monitoring consultant (RM) based in the Central African Republic. The anticipated period of performance runs through June-September 2022. The anticipated level of effort is up to 20 days over the performance period. FEWS NET is an integrated set of activities to provide timely, accurate, evidence-based, and transparent food security early warning information and analysis. Chemonics International (Chemonics) implements the FEWS NET EWT, a team charged with integrated emergency food insecurity analysis through a Washington-based technical office and more than 20 field offices.

The West Africa RM Consultant for Liberia is a member of the EWT’s West Africa regional technical team and is responsible for supporting the regional office. The West Africa RM Consultant for Liberia will assist the Regional Representative (RR) and the Regional Remote Monitoring Specialist (RRMS) in completing project deliverables, as assigned, and helps to ensure that associated activities and products are delivered in a timely manner.

Responsibilities :

• Developing/updating knowledge base products though both in-country activities and secondary data analysis related to food security-relevant sectors, including: agroclimatology, livelihoods, markets and trade (M&T), and nutrition
• Developing/updating seasonal monitoring plans and undertaking acute food insecurity monitoring through surveillance of key issues via discussions with partners, participation in field assessments where relevant and possible, and collection of secondary data and information
• Collaborating with the Regional Food Security Specialist (RFSS)-M&T and other M&T colleagues to provide price data from Liberia
• Coordinating with the RRMS in developing, maintaining, and updating a database of network partners and key informants across the country in various sectors to gather data/information
• Collaborating with all other RFSSs, the RR, and Washington-based technical team members to meet reporting requirements and respond to requests
• Contributing to the fulfillment of RM reporting requirements, including Remote Monitoring Updates, the Food Assistance Outlook Brief, as relevant, the development of other country reports
• Participating in network activities (e.g., joint assessments when necessary, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)/Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analyses), as needed/feasible
• Developing and maintaining collaborative formal and informal relations with USAID Mission representatives, US Embassy technical contacts, UN agency representatives, government ministry staff, and key international and local NGO colleagues to facilitate technical exchanges; promote consensus-building; work to resolve technical disagreements; and facilitate joint, coordinated actions to mitigate acute food insecurity

Qualifications:

· Fluency in written and spoken English is required; proficiency in French is desirable. Other local language skills relevant to the country and/or region are desirable.

· Bachelor’s degree in a discipline relevant to the work of FEWS NET, such as economics, agricultural economics, agronomy, food security, nutrition, climatology, anthropology, or social geography is required; advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) is desirable.

· At least two years of relevant experience (with PhD), four years of relevant experience (with Master’s degree), or six years of relevant experience (with Bachelor’s degree) is required. Relevant experience includes working on food security information systems, food security analysis, early warning, or other related fields; experience working with UN agencies and/or NGOs is desirable.

· Demonstrated ability to effectively conduct food security assessments, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and to analyze data from relevant sectors using both qualitative and quantitative methods is required.

· Demonstrated ability to work and coordinate effectively with national and regional partners and stakeholders is required.

· Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills are required.

· Excellent analytical and report-writing skills are required.

· Strong computer skills are required; ability to use statistical software packages and/or GIS applications is desirable.

· Previous experience with the IPC or CH is desirable.