Business Support Assistant (IT Solutions Developer) Intern World Food Programme (WFP)

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. In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their lives. On average, WFP reaches more than 80 million people with food assistance in 80 countries each year.

Brief description of WFP in Uganda

WFP delivers food assistance in emergencies and work with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. WFP provides life-saving food assistance and livelihood opportunities to refugees in Uganda. In addition, WFP assists the most vulnerable people in Uganda with food and nutrition assistance. Finally, WFP works with smallholder farmers and links them to markets.

As Uganda strives to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030 and become a middle-income country by 2040, WFP is also assessing its relevance and repositioning its role in Uganda.

ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?

We are seeking qualified individuals for the position of  Business Support Assistant (IT Solutions Developer) SSA3 to be based in Kampala. Selected candidates will be employed on Special Service Agreement.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The WFP Uganda country office Country Strategic Plan 2018-2025 supports the Government’s work to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 17 (Partnership for the Goals). WFP maintains an emergency response capacity and supports the Government in hosting the growing number of refugees, addressing the causes of food insecurity and malnutrition, and improving the social protection system.

Digital transformation is one of the organization’s top priorities and in the Uganda country office the TEC division hopes to provide Information Technologies that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations as well as allow us to measure change quality and impact of WFP’s programmes in Uganda.

JOB PURPOSE

This position is in the Digital Assistance Services team of the TEC unit and the incumbent will assist the business transformation officer to continue the UGCO digital transformation journey by deploying appropriate digital technologies to support the programme and realize the objectives and outcomes of the country strategic plan by maximizing the value brought by IT digital solutions through understanding business and end-user requirements, suggesting solutions, prioritizing the work to be done and overseeing implementation. The position aims for IT digital solutions which achieve the highest quality in terms of technical usability, user acceptability, and domain suitability.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Work with and analyze data; comfortable using data software (e.g., Tableau, MS Excel, Microsoft Power BI, SPSS etc.) to conduct analyses and relate the findings to challenge at hand.
2. Understand CO business needs collect business requirements and suggest technical solutions. Test and analyze Digital Assistance Services (DAS) solutions and document the match against business requirements for quality and accuracy.
3. Simplify business processes by suggesting application of appropriate digital automations where applicable.
4. Supporting appropriate IT assessments to assist informed DAS related operational decision making.
5. Develop software solutions using WFP approved languages within Field Software Development Network Guidelines. Motivation to learn and develop a skill set is a plus. (Server-side – Python: Django/Flask/Pyramid, PHP: Zend Framework, Front-end – React, Content Management – Drupal, Databases: SQL, MariaDB/MySQL, PostgreSQL, DevOps – Docker, or similar).
6. Map existing data infrastructures, data sources, data flows, and preparing raw data from these multiple sources for analysis.
7. Provide helpdesk and maintenance support.
8. Perform any other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Builds an understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives.
•  Be a force for positive change: Approaches individual tasks and responsibilities with a positive attitude and demeanor.
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Understands the impact of WFP activities in beneficiary communities.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Connects individual tasks and responsibilities to unit’s goals and mission.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people’s skills: Seeks opportunities to build and enhance individual skills.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Demonstrates respect and understanding for diversity and cultural differences.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Identifies and approaches colleagues or supervisors to serve as coaches.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Sets clear goals and measurable targets for own tasks and responsibilities.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Assesses own tasks and responsibilities to find ways to be more efficient.
•  Focus on getting results: Maintains accurate records of completion times and tasks in own areas of responsibility.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Understands responsibilities and the metrics associated with own tasks.
•  Be Decisive: Notifies supervisors of dangerous situations or potential issues that may arise while in the field or office.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Understands WFP’s organizational structure, including the purpose and mission of each unit.
•  Build strong external partnerships: Supports team in working with colleagues and WFP’s partners in the field toward common goals.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Maintains a professional and courteous relationship with other WFP employees and partners in the field.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Understands own team’s contributions in its partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education : Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field

Knowledge and Skills: 

• Knowledge and hands on experience of relationship database management system (RDBMS) such as SQL, Postgre SQL, MySQL and Microsoft SQL server.
• Knowledge and hands on experience of reporting data analytics tools such as Tableau and Power BI is a plus.
• Experience in designing, writing code and implementing web-based applications using PHP, C#, JavaScript in a SQL server environment
• Demonstrated hands-on experience designing and implementing business solutions using web-based and mobile technologies
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong client service skills, and the ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with WFP, business owners and users

Languages: Fluency in oral and written English, including strong writing skills