International Consultant – Programme Policy Officer (Head of Monitoring and Evaluation)- CST II

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WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourage qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity, and disability.

JOB DETAILS

 

Job Title: International Consultant- Programme Policy Officer (Head of Monitoring and Evaluation)
Grade: CST II
Type of contract: Consultancy
Duration: 11 Months (with possibility of extension)
Duty Station: Kabul
Vacancy Number: 831532
Date of Publication: 06 Feb 2024
Deadline of Application: 20 Feb 2024

ABOUT WFP

 

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. 

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

 

The hunger crisis in Afghanistan is unfolding at a rapid pace, with 15 million of population now facing acute food insecurity. Work opportunities are shrinking, with most households now reporting just one day of work per week. This comes on top of the worst drought in years, which is especially concerning for the 85 percent of the population who rely on agriculture for livelihoods. Preventing and mitigating a drastic increase in hunger and malnutrition is the aim of WFP in Afghanistan which can only be achieved through the scaled up and sustained complementary food security and nutrition interventions, combined with a scale-up of resilience interventions to safeguard gains. WFP has embarked on a significant month on month scale-up of its crisis response and resilience programmes across the country, ensuring that the programme is delivered at the right scale and time, targeted to the right areas. WFP is also actively following up on evolving trends to pre-empt hotspots, while guaranteeing quality and maximum impact of the programme through the monitoring of these hotspots to be able to support continued donor advocacy.

 

JOB PURPOSE

 

The Head of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) will lead the monitoring, review and evaluation activities of the Country Strategic Plan, ensuring that the Country Office (CO) generates quality evidence on the processes, outputs, outcomes and effects of all programme activities on the lives of beneficiaries, to inform operational decision-making, programme adjustments and strategic reorientation. The staff member will work under the guidance and supervision of the Head of Research, Assessment and Monitoring and in close cooperation with programme teams and with the Regional Bureau Monitoring Advisors and Regional Evaluation Officers as well as with the Field Office teams. 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

 

Implementation of Corporate Result Framework, M&E corporate policies and guidance, and Country Office RAM and Evaluation Strategy

 

• At Country Strategic Plan (CSP) design stage, contribute to the development of a Theory of Change, Needs based Plan, Country Portfolio Budget and ensure M&E narratives and required budgets are incorporated in all CSP documents.
• Contribute to the development of the Country Office RAM and Evaluation Strategy, and ensure it is aligned with regional and corporate strategies.
• Oversee the design and development of the CO Monitoring, Review and Evaluation plan, logical framework (logframe), and the VAM, Monitoring and Evaluation Planning and Budgeting tool, ensuring all evidence generation activities and indicators are included in line with corporate and country office requirements.
• Contribute to the development of CO funding proposals ensuring alignment with the CSP logframe and MRE plan.
• Oversee and ensure that the CO M&E system and tools are in place and compliant with standard operating procedures (SOPs) , the Corporate Results Framework (CRF)  , the Indicator Compendium, M&E corporate policies and guidance and data protection and privacy policies.
• Coordinate with key programme units at all levels within the country to ensure a coherent approach to evidence generation.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of M&E in inter-agency frameworks, including the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNSDCF), UNITED NATIONS Strategic Framework (UNSF), and the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), as well as through UN Monitoring and Evaluation Working Groups.

 

Evidence Generation and Use

 

• Provide oversight to the collection and analysis of output, process and outcome monitoring data, using questionnaires and question guides developed by the CO building on corporate tools.
• Provide oversight and ensure the prioritization of monitoring activities across the CSP is based on levels of assessed risks and determine site coverage requirements as per the Risk-based Monitoring Framework.
• Oversee the M&E team’s analysis and interpretation of the country monitoring data that responds to the Country Office and corporate information needs.
• Oversee the establishment and/or enhancements of process monitoring escalation mechanisms at CO level.
• Arrange regular meetings between M&E, Programme, Supply Chain and other relevant units to review monitoring findings and discuss recommendations, and ensure to follow up on the use of findings.
• Communicate key findings from monitoring analyses to CO senior management and donors through written and oral briefs.
• Oversee the preparation of accurate and timely monitoring reports and presentations (e.g. Monthly Monitoring Presentation, Monitoring analyses, donor reports, Annual Country Reports)
• Provide oversight and ensure provision of country office data to open platforms such as WFP’s global hunger monitoring system and UN Info.
• Provide oversight and ensure effective engagement from CO in centralized evaluations managed by the Office of Evaluation including global/strategic evaluations, CSP evaluations and impact evaluations, as appropriate.
• Provide oversight and ensure effective management of Reviews and Evaluations (e.g. decentralized evaluation, thematic reviews, CSP mid-term reviews) including the review of management responses to review and evaluation recommendations.
• Provide oversight on WFP’s engagement in joint evaluations as part of UN M&E working groups whenever these exists, as well as engagement with donor-led evaluations in country.

TPM Management

 

• Contribute to the development of Third-Party Monitor (TPM) strategy.
• Provide oversight on the selection and contract managementof TPM service providers ensuring the transparency and effectiveness of the process and selection results. Lead coordination and discussions on TPM matters externally with TPM companies and internally with Procurement, Gender, Access and other teams.
• Provide oversight and ensure effective implementation of TPM strategy and activities throughout the cycle as well as performance management and contract renewal.
• Lead analyses to increase WFP’s direct monitoring and possible implementation and transition plan.

 

Capacities building and team Management

 

• Manage CO M&E team members and supervise individual staff within the team providing constructive feedback to develop a cohesive and high performing team at country and field levels.
• Oversee and provide quality assurance to the development and update of country specific monitoring and review guidance, tools, and training materials based on identified needs of the CO.
• Build M&E capacity of WFP M&E staff and partners through provision of learning and development opportunities and knowledge management.
• Provide second level, technical oversight to field office M&E staff. Coordinate oversight and technical support missions to the field offices, ensuring that monitoring activities are aligned to CO and corporate needs.
• Ensure that adequate M&E costs are budgeted for and advocate for appropriate financial and human resourcing, using the VAM, Monitoring and Evaluation Planning and Budgeting Tool as a key resource.
• Support the recruitment processes of M&E staff under all contract types.

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 two years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

 

Experience:

 

• At least six (6) years of relevant professional work experience and exposure to M&E management systems and implementation.

 

Desirable Work Experience:

 

• Experience in designing and leading monitoring and evaluation activities in countries, including collecting food and nutrition security data, conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses and reporting findings to senior management. Experience doing this as part of a humanitarian response a strong advantage.
• Experience in managing and supervising teams, preferably in the relevant technical area and field based.

 

Knowledge and Skills:

 

• Proven knowledge, abilities and skills in the area of monitoring, including advanced analytical skills and practical knowledge on how M&E data is collected, compiled, analysed and presented for management decisions, programme adjustment and donor reporting.
• Knowledge of programme design, implementation and operational challenges in food and nutrition security.
• Experience in working and building capacity for staff, counterparts, and cooperating partners in M&E related skills – developing training materials and training facilitation methods.
• Demonstrable innovative skills in databases, data collection, analysis, visual presentation, and communication.
• Proficiency in the use of spreadsheet and data analysis tools (e.g., MS-Excel, database management systems, SPSS, and/or STATA) to collect, organize, share, and use corporate information.
  

Language:

 

• Fluency (level C) in English language.

HOW TO APPLY

 

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. We want to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible. Please contact us at afg.hrrecruitment@wfp.org to advise us of any accessibility needs you may have.

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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.