Data/M&E Analyst Associate (with or without GIS experience), SC6, Bishkek, Osh Kyrgyz Republic

WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

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 encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability

This vacancy announcement is for Nationals from the Kyrgyz Republic. 

BACKGROUND

The Research, Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) team operates segregated from Programme under the supervision of the Deputy Country Director, and functions as a service provider, incl. for management and for external partners, for (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

• Evaluation, Review and Impact Assessment include coordination of monitoring activities, managing or supporting the management of decentralized evaluations, supporting thematic/mid-term reviews and positioning WFP as a reliable partner for governments to build monitoring and evaluation strategies.
• Economic analysis, coupled with nutrition, social, political, gender and environmental analysis, is an indispensable element for a comprehensive and multidimensional understanding of the causes and the effects of hunger. The complex interplay of economic forces operating at the international, national, local and household levels is manifest in economic signals and choices such as prices, production and consumption that can lead to food insecurity and vulnerability.
• Leave-No-One-Behind (LNOB) Assessment and Targeting generates analyses to inform tailored vulnerability and quality needs assessments and related targeting processes across WFP and beyond.
• Climate and Earth Observation undertakes the analysis of remote sensing data across the full range of spatial resolutions. By leveraging satellite data and monitoring from above, our geospatial analysts observe growing seasons, provide climate analyses, assess refugee and IDP camp status, detect land cover changes across regions and countries where WFP operates in.
• Field Monitoring for tracking, collecting and analyzing programme performance to inform decision-making, maintain operational focus on results, and generate data for outcome / impact analyses.
• Market Analyses, including the Market Functionality Index (MFI) package (in collaboration with Supply Chain), labour market and value chain analyses.
• Essential Needs and Nutrition Analyses, covering supply assessments for essential needs or dietary intake (incl. minimum expenditure baskets), as well as the measuring set-up for effective Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC).
• Price data collection and price analysis, incl. calculating and using the Alert for Price Spikes (ALPS) Indicator.
• plus other.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

With a commitment to strengthen research, assessments, monitoring and evaluation, both internally and in support of national systems, to help ensure that WFP and government programmes target people in vulnerable situations and meet their needs in a holistic, efficient and timely manner, data/M&E analyst positions are created in Osh and Bishkek offices to support (1) M&E, (2) Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping plus (3) Data Analytics and Research pillars of the RAM team and ultimately the Programme, incl. to support digitalization efforts. Data/M&E analysts also quality review data collection and cleansing as performed by more junior staff or external partners and are expected to increase data and digital literacy across the office.

Supervision: The Associate is supervised by a RAM Officer, in the case of the position in Osh with a dual reporting line also to the Head of Sub-Office and supervisory responsibilities for monitoring staff based in the south. RAM staff operate independently and are involved in operational activities in an advisory and support function with related analytical work. Where RAM staff are involved in proposal or report writing, in digital offerings and other programme-related tools and analyses, close consultation with the Head of Programme/ Outcome Managers is expected.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

1. Provide technical support and assist in the development and implementation of RAM projects and activities, plans and processes, supporting the analysis of relevant and strategic information compliant with WFP standards and international best practices to generate quality insights and to inform policy, strategy and programme design and implementation.
2. Provide specialized project management support to advance the use of tableau and other data analytics platforms and tools.
3. Prepare a range of reports and data analyses (e.g. capacity strengthening needs, resource utilization, programme status/performance) and highlight trends/issues ensuring deliverables adhere to corporate standards and quality control.
4. Ensure and/or perform accurate, timely recording of data within the specific technical area of work (e.g. assistance programmes, food security and vulnerability assessments) and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
5. Promote a knowledge-sharing and learning culture, engaging with internal counterparts for the resolution of a range of operational queries and problems using data analytics, and support Programme and other colleagues respectively as they liaise with external partners.
6. Contribute to building data analysis capability and support strengthening digital literacy of WFP staff and partners through training and information sharing, enabling an overall national system strengthening approach.
7. Liaise with relevant partners (internal and external) to monitor ongoing projects, ensuring effective collaboration, timeliness and efficiency and highlight potential risks to project delivery.
8. Take responsibility for integrating protection, gender and other cross-cutting perspectives in all areas of work, strengthening LNOB and human rights-based approaches.
9. Oversee and/or review the work of more junior staff, acting as a point of referral (supporting with cleansing, analysis & queries).
10. Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to ensure WFP is able to quickly respond and deploy needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.
11. Other as required.

SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS (tasks to be shared between positions in Bishkek and Osh):

12. Conduct data analytics, build dashboards or other forms of visualizations and/or deliver GIS services (remote sensing skills considered an asset, not required for applying to this position) to derive findings and recommendations (see below for details).
13. Provide support to the RAM team as relevant to internal WFP processes and procedures in accordance with all deadlines (e.g., potential partner proposals, field level agreements, service provision processes and contracts; invoice/transfers clearances; corporate systems such as WINGS/COMET/SCOPE; expenditure and programmatic planning and reporting.
14. Contribute to WFP’s national country capacity strengthening efforts in the areas of evidence generation and digitalization.
15. For position in Osh: Supervise monitoring staff based in Osh.
16. Any other business.

Data Analysis

• Support development of systems and tools for monitoring and assessment of food assistance needs and projects in line with innovative methodologies and best practice;
• Support coordination and liaise with staff and partners to ensure data collection efforts are meeting required standards, ensuring effective collaboration, timeliness and efficiency, and highlight potential risks to project delivery;
• Support preparation of timely reports on food security/ nutrition assessment needs;
• Provide capacity building and technical support to partners and government counterparts in conducting assessments including data collection, data structuring, analysing data, preparing reports, maintaining databases, and archiving of geographic information related to food security and vulnerability data as well as in support of emergency preparedness (i.e., risk analysis, early warning, preparedness planning, organizing and conducting emergency needs assessments);
• Provide support to staff and partners to enable sharing of experiences, lessons learned, and best practices;

Geographic Information and Remote Sensing Services

• Serve as the country office’s main liaison for remote sensing initiatives such as the Asset Impact Monitoring System, and other platforms pertaining to climate services and hydrometeorology;  support the integration of geospatial databases with relevant primary and secondary data;
• Ensure the development and production of maps and related documents; maintain a geodatabase for all WFP projects;
• Supplement project reports with relevant maps and data gathered from GIS, remote imagery and sensing; 
• Support cooperating partners, academic partners, and government counterparts in identifying needs and advise on relevant GIS, mapping, and remote sensing products, providing (or soliciting services for) training as required; 
• Support the development and customization of opensource GIS online tools and solutions, building WFP and partner capacity to operate and implement such software, as applicable.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

Data analytics-related experience: ideally, with a good understanding of the M&E chain in development programming or other thematic analytics for research and evidence generation, ability to use monitoring tools (questionnaires, instructions, sampling, analysis plan, etc.), track record to perform or oversee data cleansing and processing (using statistics software – SPSS, R or STATA), knowledge of analytics and visualization in Excel (or Tableau or similar analytics tool, considered an advantage), and overall familiarity with quantitative and qualitative data collection and processing methods (incl. with AI and innovative tools, as in use in WFP).

• Ability to work independently and efficiently, with experience to plan and organize work under tight deadlines ensuring delivery of high-quality products.
• Demonstrated technical M&E, analytics or research background, providing for practical experience with e.g. remote sensing, statistics, quantitative or qualitative analyses.
• Strong analytical and communication skills demonstrated through preparation of well-analysed data and comprehensive reports.
• Advanced knowledge of GIS (plus experience in mapping and cartography) is an asset.
• Previous practical (field) experience working in humanitarian or development contexts and familiarity with Kyrgyz national systems considered an asset.

Functional Capabilities (Knowledge & Skills):

• Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance: Demonstrates ability to identify key variables and contextual factors that affect food assistance problems and programmes throughout the lifecycle to inform quality programme design or re-design.
• Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Vouchers): Demonstrates ability to implement, under guidance, food assistance programmes deploying the full range of transfer modalities with an understanding of basic principles guiding modality selection and implementation.
• Broad Knowledge of Specialized Areas: Understands basic technical concepts and data and their relevance to food assistance programmes.
• Emergency Programming : Displays capacity to provide inputs into the development, implementation and realignment of high quality emergency programmes.
• Strategic Policy Engagement w/Government: Understands and applies basic principles of engagement with government counterparts at the national or local level.

Experience:

Minimum of six years of progressively responsible work experience in research, data analysis, statistics, data visualization or monitoring & evaluation.

Education: Completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary certificate in the related functional area or a university degree in social sciences, statistics, development economics, performance management, monitoring and evaluation or other related fields, as well as project management certificates and/or further university education an advantage.

Language: Fluency (level C) in both oral and written communication in English and proficiency in the duty station’s language(s) (Russian or Kyrgyz, both considered an advantage).

All WFP Employees are expected to demonstrate the competencies and standards of behavior aligned with our core values and defined in the WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK, namely:  

Leading by example with integrity,  

Driving results and delivering on commitments,

Fostering inclusive and collaborative teamwork,  

Applying strategic thinking,

Building and maintaining sustainable partnerships.

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.

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. 

Request for Disability related Reasonable Accommodations: 

It is important to WFP to create an accessible and inclusive workplace for everyone.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.  If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection and hiring process, please direct your request and inquiries to the Diversity and Inclusion team on:  global.inclusion@wfp.org, cc’ing bangkok.recruitment@wfp.org. A member of the reasonable accommodation team will contact you to confidentially discuss your needs. 

This email is only to be used for any disability related accessibility requirements, and not for sending the application itself. Due to volume of applications, any applications or CVs sent through this email address will not be considered as a formal application and will not receive a reply from WFP. 

Please note that WFP may keep candidates who successfully passed recruitment tests and interviews, but were not the first-choice candidate selected for a position, on a roster for similar (or lower-level) upcoming positions or short-term opportunities for direct contracting. Successful candidates will be informed about their inclusion into the roster.
 

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

WFP’s vision is that people in the Kyrgyz Republic will have substantially increased access to national social protection systems that safeguard and foster their ability to meet their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs, and to manage the risks and shocks they face, with ample opportunity to graduate from poverty and contribute to sustainable food systems, national disaster risk management efforts and social cohesion.

WFP, the second largest UN agency in the Kyrgyz Republic, will support and promote the inclusion of people with diverse and often intersecting vulnerabilities and inequalities, by supporting nationally led social and civil protection systems and programmes (strengthening the government’s ability for anticipatory action and ensuring that no one is left behind) and by modelling new approaches within complementary WFP interventions (which can be adopted or transitioned), leveraging WFP’s global expertise in promoting healthy diets and sustainable food systems, climate risk management, warehousing, food safety, smallholder market access and innovations such as private sector-oriented solutions, micro-insurance and digital public goods.

Derived from the UN Cooperation Framework and national priorities, promoting participatory community engagement and nutrition-sensitive approaches, the 2nd generation Country Strategic Plan (2023-27 EN|RU) continues WFP’s human capital development, capacity building and productive asset creation activities to enhance the resilience and livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable, with a focus on food systems strengthening across three core pillars: (i) Social Protection and Active Labour Market strengthening; (ii) Climate Change Adaption, Disaster Risk Management & Emergency Preparedness; and (iii) Schools as platforms for healthy diets. In addition, a contingent emergency response outcome can be activated in case of need.

WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.