Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

at  World Food Programme

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

1 October 2024-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)
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.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:
Advanced University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, statistics, development economics, performance management, monitoring and evaluation or other related fields, or First University degree with additional years of relevant work experience and/or training/courses.
Experience:
Minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience including in international development or humanitarian work. Minimum of two years of experience in monitoring and/or evaluation, including strong experience using a variety of quantitative and qualitative analytical tools and methods.

Knowledge & Skills:

• M&E Theories and Practices: In-depth understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, methodologies, and best practices, with the ability to implement them effectively.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Proficiency in both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and analysis, including the use of statistical software (e.g., SPSS, STATA, R) and qualitative analysis techniques.
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Strong analytical skills to interpret complex data sets, derive meaningful insights, and solve problems effectively.
• Communication and Reporting: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for preparing detailed reports, presenting findings, and conveying complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, ensuring timely and high-quality deliverables in a dynamic environment.
• Interpersonal and Training Skills: Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with stakeholders and experience in developing and delivering training programs to build M&E capacity.
• Familiarity with food security, early warning systems, and AI-enabled products would be a plus.

Languages:
Excellent spoken and written English. French is an asset.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The Early Warning and Forecasting Unit at the World Food Programme (WFP) plays a critical role in anticipating and mitigating the impacts of food insecurity worldwide. By leveraging cutting-edge data analytics, forecasting models, and real-time information, the unit supports decision-making processes to preempt crises and ensure timely interventions in vulnerable regions. Key tools like HungerMapLIVE enable WFP and its partners to monitor global food security trends, predict potential crises, and respond proactively to emerging threats, ultimately helping to safeguard the livelihoods of millions of people.
The Early Warning and Forecasting Unit is developing an AI-enabled early warning tool to detect impending food crises, with initial pilots in high-priority countries. In partnership with the private sector, the objective is to provide early warning signals that facilitate proactive interventions, integrating real-time data, satellite imagery, news data streams to enhance response capabilities and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of efforts to prevent food crises in vulnerable communities. As part of the project team, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the outcome of the project deliverables. Specifically, the M&E specialist will establish a continuous monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the tool’s impact, usability, and effectiveness in enhancing early warning capabilities. This will in-turn be used to develop the evidence base that clearly articulates the impact of forecasting and early warning as an efficient and effective approach to prevent and mitigate humanitarian crises.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Consultant will be responsible for the following activities:

• Design and Implement M&E Framework: Develop and implement a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the impact, usability, and effectiveness of the early warning tool.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Oversee data collection processes, ensuring high-quality and timely data is gathered. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate the project outcomes.
• Reporting and Documentation: Prepare detailed reports and documentation on the project’s progress, including insights on its effectiveness and recommendations for improvements.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including Google Research and WFP teams, to ensure alignment and integration of M&E activities with overall project objectives.
• Capacity Building: Train and support project staff and partners on M&E methodologies and best practices, enhancing their ability to contribute to the monitoring and evaluation efforts.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify lessons learned and best practices, incorporating them into the M&E processes to continuously improve the project’s impact on early warning and food crisis prevention.