Vulnerability Based Targeting Analyst

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, color, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.

Job Title: Vulnerability-Based Targeting Analyst

Type of Contract: P3 - LFT

Division: APP-FA – Assessment and Targeting Unit

Duty Station (City, Country): HQ-Rome

Duration: 1st Jul 2024 – 30 June 2026

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Assisting over 100 million people in more than 80 countries each year, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies, working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience, and partnering with governments to strengthen social protection systems. To be effective in this mandate WFP must ensure that it reaches the right people and that it manages its relationship with those individuals and their communities in a responsible, accountable, and effective manner.

As a result of conflicts, climate change, and the impact of COVID-19, hunger has been on the rise globally over the past years. While WFP thanks to increasing donor contributions has been able to significantly scale up its response, the gap between needs and resources available to address those needs is growing. This stresses further the importance of robust targeting and prioritization processes, ensuring that the most destitute and vulnerable people are assisted timely.

With more pressure on country offices to conduct complex targeting and prioritization exercises, there is a rapidly growing demand for support from Regional Bureaux (RBx) and Headquarters (HQ) on targeting-related issues. To better meet demand, a joint project between the Research Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) and Programme & Policy (PD) divisions in HQ and WFP’s six RBx was initiated in 2020. The Targeting Strengthening Initiative recognizes the continuous and cross-functional nature of targeting and is focused on enhancing capacities and strengthening the evidence-base to inform policy decisions, which in turn are reflected in better and more comprehensive guidance, tools and learning materials for colleagues in the field.

In addition to internal efforts to strengthen targeting, the Joint UNHCR and WFP Programme Excellence and Targeting Hub was established in 2020 and is co-managed by RAM and Programme on the WFP side. ‘The Hub ‘aims to operationalize joint commitments building on the 2011 Memorandum of Understanding, including the Joint Principles on Targeting. Thematic experts provide country-level support to priority operations across the programme cycle, including needs assessments and targeting, and is an important operational partner of WFP and the Targeting Strengthening Initiative.

In addition to internal efforts to strengthen targeting, the RAM and Programme & Policy divisions are collaborating to implement the BHA-funded “Enabling Integration- EN-IN” project, which aims to enhance WFP's methods to measuring vulnerability and targeting for social protection programs, ensuring responsive action in both emergency and transitional contexts. This project aligns with WFP's

strategic goals, championing evidence-based, people-focused targeting, and innovation in line with WFP's Social Protection and urban strategies.

WFP’s Needs Assessment and Targeting Unit (RAMN) is actively seeking a Vulnerability Based Targeting analyst to enhance the technical targeting capabilities within RAMN. This role is pivotal in augmenting targeting competencies across a diverse range of WFP initiatives. The incumbent will also play an important role in providing both technical and operational assistance to key operations and RBxs. The responsibilities will also encompass the creation, testing, and evaluation of targeting methodologies. Furthermore, the incumbent will contribute to converting research insights and practical experiences into comprehensive guidelines, tools, and educational resources for field practitioners.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Unit, and the direct supervision of the Targeting Officer, the VBT analyst will work in close collaboration with the unit’s targeting team, and will coordinate with relevant divisions and units at global-, regional- and country office levels, the Joint UNHCR/WFP Programme Excellence and Targeting hub, and be responsible for the following activities:

• Providing technical support for targeting and enhancing its operational capacity, facilitating of targeting-focused capacity strengthening events and producing guidance materials.
• Providing technical and operational support on Targeting and Prioritization to WFP country offices, with a focus on high-risk operations.
• Contributing to the development, testing, evaluation and mainstreaming of targeting methods and documenting best practices.
• Developing targeting related learning materials for regional and country-level learning events, including webinars.
• Providing strategic technical support to the global targeting network, including regional targeting officers, the WFP-UNHCR joint HUB, and similar teams.
• Supporting the development of vulnerability measurement and targeting methods for social protection systems as part of the \"Enabling Integration- EN-IN\" project.
• Contributing to targeting-related research and innovation efforts for the advancement of targeting methods and approaches.
• Any other related tasks as agreed with the direct supervisor and Head of Unit.

  DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

  • Strategic and technical advice, support and guidance provided to RBx and priority country operations.
  • Targeting capacity across functions at country-, regional-, and headquarter levels enhanced.
  • Lessons learned and best practices are documented and inform improved Targeting and Prioritization guidance and related learning materials; and
  • “Enabling Integration- EN-IN” project is advancing as per the project plan STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Education:

    Advanced university degree in social science, public health, statistics, geography, economics, or related field.

    Experience:

    • At least 5 years mixed experience in conducting assessments, analysis, targeting, as well as programme implementation in humanitarian and development contexts.
    • Proven expertise in designing, implementing, and evaluating targeting systems, in the humanitarian and social protection contexts.
    • Experience with evaluation methods and other evidence-based policy design and evaluation approaches.

      Knowledge and Skills:

      • Demonstrated expertise in advanced statistical and econometric analysis, with proficiency in STATA and R.
      • Experience in conducting and overseeing participatory qualitative data collection, including through Focus Group Discussions, key Informant Interviews etc.
      • Experience working in multistakeholder and complex structures.
      • Ability to work independently, interacting with a diverse set of internal and external stakeholders;
      • Willingness to travel to hardship duty stations as allowed and required; and
      • Competencies: Cognitive Capacity, Teamwork, Action Management, Innovation, Partnerships, Client Orientation

        Languages:

        Strong written and oral English skills (proficiency/level C), working knowledge in a second UN language is required.

        Terms and Conditions:

        WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

        Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP.

        http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

        Deadline for applications: 30 April 2024

        Ref.: VA No. 832344

        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.