Programme Officer - United Nations World Food Programme (Apply by: 06 April 2014)

UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NO. WFP IND/FT/2014/002

Date of Issue: 25 March 2014

Closing Date: 6 April 2014

Post Title : Programme Officer

Organization : United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

Duty Station : New Delhi

Supervision : Programme Officer (M&E, VAM & TPDS)

Duration : One Year (Renewable)

Type of Contract : Fixed Term Appointment

Level : NO-A


This vacancy is open to applicants of either sex. Preference will be given to equally qualified women candidates. WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

Background:

The World Food Programme (WFP), operating in India since 1963, aims to support the Government’s food safety-nets by suggesting ways to improve their effectiveness in order to address high levels of malnutrition and food insecurity in the country. Over the past several years, WFP has been actively working on strengthening TPDS operations.

The M&E-VAM & TPDS unit of WFP India is responsible for the food security analysis across the country and its gradual institutionalization within the government systems. The monitoring and evaluation of the ongoing pilot projects also has gained criticality and has expanded the scope in view of the increasing emphasis on technical assistance and need for proving the improvements in effeciency and effectiveness through solid evidence. The National Food Security Act has provided an opportunity for undertaking a benchmarking assessment and institutionalization of the food security, hence increasing the emphasis on VAM related activities. The position will work through several research agencies, experts and government institutions and will also be responsible for TPDS related activities.

The position provides analytical support for the design and implementation of the projects, assessments and evaluations and evidence based advocacy for scale-up by the country office, which forms the core of technical assistance to the government of India. This also involves assisting the benchmarking of food security situation for measuring the impact of National Food Security Act, institutionalizing the food security analysis and support the M&E inititatives and TPDS reforms inititatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the WFP Country Director and the Deputy Country Director, the position will report directly to the Programme Officer (M&E, VAM & TPDS). The incumbent of the position will be responsible for the following duties:

• Prepare concept notes, Terms of Reference and draft methodologies and proposals to undertake food security analysis/ vulnerability analysis.
• Contribute to the establishment and institutionalization of the the food security and vulnerability monitoring system.
• Undertake training, handholding and transfer of techniques to the government counterparts to undertake such analysis over a period of time. Prepare periodic thematic and issue based analytical reports using secondary data.
• Keep upbreast with latest developments, information, reports and trends and update the relevant Country Office staff. Prepare country briefs, background documents and talking points to reflect accurate technical information.
• Analyse geographic patterns of food insecurity and vulnerability by analysis of primary or secondary data in the GIS environment.
• Participate in analytical work of CO for strategy formulation, programme design and log frame developments, maintain database of relevant information, government data and schemes and strategies. Support in the development of annual work plans and its periodic reviews.
• Provide timely analytical inputs to the County Office on the draft project documents, training and communication plan, technical papers, evaluation/assessment reports, project planning
• Conduct regular monitoring and reporting activities, highlight overall problem areas, prepare analytical reports on progress for sharing at various fora. Support preparation of routine corporate and donor reports such as SPR, price monitoring, prepare quarterly food security bulletins, briefing documents, talking points .
• Contribute in finalization of evaluation and assessment methodologies, oversee data collection, validation, analysis and report writing.
• Assist conducting studies such as financial viability analysis, client satisfaction surveys, social audits or small sample assessment to keep track of the progress of the programme activities and outcomes.
• Assist in orignizing advocacy events such as workshops, cross learning visits and expert consultations by preparing the concept/background notes and relevant documents.
• Provide need based support to programme teams in TPDS reforms and nutrition related activities.
• Represent WFP at state level and in appropriate forums, UNDMT.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned

Qualifications required:

Education:

Univerity degree in one or more of the following disciplies: economics, agriculture, international affairs, social sciences, business administration, development studies or a field relevant to international development assistance. Advanced university degree in the related discipline will be an added advantage.

Experience:

At least one year of postgraduate professional experience working in the area of research and vulnerability assessment and mapping/food security assessments and project development. Prior experience of work in the development sector is desirable. 

Competencies & Skills 

The candidate should have good analytical skills, resourcefulness, has initiative, maturity of judgement, ability to deal patiently and tactfully, negotiating skills; ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing; ability to work in a team, flexibility in accepting work assignments outside normal job description, and establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Languages: 

Proficiency in written and spoken English and working knowledge of Hindi is desirable.

How to apply:

Application for the position should be submitted online through: 

http://122.180.7.122/wfperecruit/vacancylist.aspx. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the selection process.