JOBS Opportunities: Consultant-RAM Officer/PULLCA – United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Yaounde
Deadline for Applications: 1 October 2024 – 23:59 GMT+01:00 (West Africa Standard Time, Douala)
The World Food Programme (WFP) embraces diversity and promotes equal employment opportunities. WFP encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply, regardless of race, color, nationality, ethnicity, social background, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief, HIV status, or disability.
About the World Food Programme (WFP)
As the world’s largest humanitarian organization, the WFP plays a critical role in saving lives during emergencies and providing food assistance as a foundation for peace, stability, and prosperity. We focus on helping communities recover from conflict, disasters, and the challenges posed by climate change.
At WFP, people are at the core of our mission. We are committed to building a diverse, high-performing workforce that is selected based on merit. Our teams operate in a healthy, inclusive environment, embodying WFP’s core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion. Together with our partners, we strive to make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.
For more information, please visit our website at WFP.org and follow us on social media: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Why Join the World Food Programme (WFP)?
- 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate: WFP has been internationally recognized for its contributions to global peace and security.
- Diverse and Inclusive Environment: At WFP, we are proud to offer a work environment that is multicultural and highly inclusive, fostering collaboration among people from all walks of life.
- Personal and Professional Growth: WFP is committed to investing in the development of its employees. We offer a wide range of training programs, accreditations, mentorship, and coaching opportunities to enhance both personal and professional growth. Internal mobility also provides employees with the opportunity to work across different regional, country, and global offices.
- Meaningful Career Path: A career at WFP offers the opportunity to contribute to life-changing humanitarian missions while working with passionate colleagues dedicated to making a global impact.
- Competitive Compensation Package: We offer a comprehensive and attractive compensation package. For more details, please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of the job announcement.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest global humanitarian organization committed to saving lives and transforming futures. WFP provides critical food assistance during emergencies and collaborates with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. In Cameroon, WFP plays a pivotal role in combating food insecurity and malnutrition, especially in areas impacted by conflict, displacement, and economic hardship.
In response to the ongoing food crisis in Cameroon, WFP has initiated the Emergency Food Crisis Response Project (PULCCA). The project’s core objective is to mitigate the negative effects of the crisis by delivering timely and effective assistance to the most vulnerable groups. PULCCA takes a comprehensive approach, providing integrated support to at-risk households, particularly focusing on women, children, and economically active individuals. The activities within the project are designed to complement each other, allowing beneficiaries to gradually engage in resilience-building initiatives, thus enhancing long-term impacts. This integrated approach includes nutritional support for households, school meals sourced locally for children, and initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and resilience, such as better market access, value chain development, and agricultural production support.
A critical component of WFP’s success in Cameroon is the Research, Assessment, and Monitoring (RAM) Unit. The RAM unit plays an essential role in ensuring that WFP’s programs are designed, implemented, and evaluated effectively. Its key responsibilities include conducting vulnerability assessments, monitoring project outcomes, and delivering data-driven insights to guide strategic decisions. This ensures that interventions are tailored to the needs of the most vulnerable.
Key aspects of the RAM unit’s role include:
- Effective targeting: Ensuring resources are directed to those who need them most, thereby maximizing the impact and efficiency of interventions.
- Comprehensive studies: Offering in-depth insights into local contexts and needs.
- Robust monitoring: Providing continuous oversight, allowing for real-time adjustments to keep the project aligned with its objectives.
- Timely reporting: Keeping stakeholders informed through transparent updates on progress, challenges, and outcomes.
These elements form a cohesive structure that supports informed decision-making, efficient resource allocation, and ongoing improvements, all of which are vital to the success of WFP’s initiatives in Cameroon.
To support these efforts, WFP is recruiting a Research, Assessment, and Monitoring (RAM) Consultant. This role will be instrumental in overseeing RAM activities for the PULCCA project. The consultant will ensure that interventions are well-targeted, project results are measured and analyzed, and timely reports are produced to inform strategic decisions.
Responsibilities and Key Accountabilities
- Oversee the implementation of Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM), Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), and Complaint and Feedback Mechanism (CFM) activities, with a specific emphasis on the PULCCA project. This involves close collaboration with Field Monitors, Cooperating Partners (CPs), government representatives, and the PULCCA Project Management Unit (PMU).
- Ensure the integration of project requirements into the M&E framework in line with WFP standards, guaranteeing that all monitoring processes are aligned with program objectives and performance indicators.
- Collaborate with field teams and local partners to ensure accuracy and fairness in beneficiary targeting and cooperative selection, maintaining transparency and equity in all interventions.
- Maintain ongoing consultation with relevant ministries and government partners to ensure that M&E activities are aligned with national priorities, fostering cohesive and integrated program management.
- Represent WFP in technical meetings with government partners, other UN agencies, and key stakeholders, ensuring that WFP’s goals and methodologies are well understood and supported.
- Analyze collected data to assess the effectiveness of interventions and propose strategic adjustments when necessary to optimize program outcomes.
- Develop and distribute information products that highlight VAM and M&E findings, including visualization tools like dashboards, maps, and data summaries to communicate results effectively.
- Design and lead feasibility studies to evaluate the potential for cash-based assistance in various regions. This includes assessing market conditions, security, and beneficiary needs to ensure optimal assistance delivery.
- Conduct impact studies to measure the effectiveness of cash assistance programs and incorporate findings into future programming strategies, enhancing the efficiency of these interventions.
- Provide technical support to the RAM unit by organizing and facilitating meetings, assisting in research studies, and ensuring field activities align with strategic goals and corporate guidelines.
- Draft comprehensive monthly and quarterly progress reports, which include monitoring outcomes, data analysis, and actionable recommendations for continuous improvement of the project.
- Ensure timely submission of all reports to WFP, PULCCA PMU, and other relevant partners, maintaining transparency and accountability.
- Deliver ongoing training to field teams and local partners on best practices in monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, enhancing their capability to meet program goals.
- Develop training guides and tools to strengthen the capacity of local stakeholders in conducting VAM/M&E activities, fostering local ownership and sustainability of projects.
- Collaborate with other units and agencies to contribute to the development of comprehensive, evidence-based strategies that align with WFP’s objectives.
- Prepare and present study results, impact assessments, and other relevant findings to key stakeholders, ensuring the effective communication of data-driven insights.
- Develop and produce detailed cartographic representations to support data-driven decision-making, ensuring that complex data is visually accessible.
- Coordinate with academic partners and mentor volunteers, providing guidance on research methodologies, data collection, and analysis techniques to support WFP’s operational research.
- Implement innovative approaches, such as the introduction of QR codes in WFP’s processes, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of assistance programs.
- Assist management with the preparation and presentation of information during strategic meetings, ensuring data and findings are communicated clearly to inform decision-making.
- Perform any other duties as required, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to emerging needs within the scope of WFP’s operations.
Qualifications & Experience Required
Education: A Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Economics, Statistics, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or a closely related discipline.
Experience:
A minimum of 4 years of progressively responsible professional experience in monitoring and evaluation, vulnerability analysis, and mapping. At least half of this experience should involve direct work with a UN agency or international organization. Knowledge of the humanitarian, development, or peace-building sectors is also advantageous.
Key Knowledge & Skills
- Proven ability to manage M&E frameworks for large-scale projects, including the design and execution of feasibility and impact studies.
- Demonstrated experience in engaging with government partners and stakeholders, ensuring project activities align with national priorities.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, particularly with stakeholders at all levels, including government representatives, field teams, and community members.
- Proven track record in leading cross-functional teams and coordinating with multiple stakeholders to meet project objectives.
- Advanced proficiency in statistical analysis software (such as SPSS, Stata, R) and data visualization tools like Python and Tableau.
- Expertise in data visualization and GIS mapping using QGIS.
- Familiarity with WFP operational procedures, particularly in emergency response and resilience-building activities, is a strong asset.
- Experience in implementing innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency.
- Ability to quickly learn and adapt, working effectively as part of a team.
Languages: Fluency in both English and French (oral and written) is required.
Terms & Conditions
- Number of Positions: 1
- Location: Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Contract Type: International Consultancy
- Level: CST I
- Duration: 11 months
WFP Leadership Framework
The WFP Leadership Framework outlines the behavioral standards that guide how we work together to achieve our mission.
For more details, access the WFP Leadership Framework here.
All applications must be submitted online via the following link: https://wd3.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/wfp/job_openings/details/Consultant-RAM-Officer-PULLCA_JR105000?locationCountry=b579d21545a140c49418f0a3451a3160
