Business Support Assistant (Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping) 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

In support of WFP Country Office in line with the Country strategic plan (CSP), the Research, Assessment and Monitoring unit undertakes regular large-scale surveys, monitoring activities, rapid assessments, and mapping services to inform with updated food security information including economic and price data. These helps programmatic, policy decisions and advocacy efforts.

JOB PURPOSE

he Research Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) portfolio includes activities to address national and local-level capacities with the potential to support the management of disasters and climate change risks, through the automatization of processes, systems, promoting innovations and analysis of existing data, data collected using mobile technology, modelling, forecasting, and geo-spatial analysis. RAM is a core area for WFP and forms the basis for the design and support of all of our operations. Prior to any intervention, for Disaster Risk Management and Response, WFP in coordination with government and partners undertakes an analysis of the food security situation and answers some critical questions: who is food insecure or vulnerable and why?; how many are they and where do they live?; what should be done to save their lives and livelihoods?; how is the situation likely to evolve and, what are the risks threatening them? Related to changing lives activities, RAM provides geospatial and economic analysis, food security monitoring and assessments, and thematic analysis (related to climate change, resilience, markets and food systems). This contributes to effective targeting and define the most appropriate type and scale of intervention (such as food distributions, school feeding, cash based trasnfer programmes). Therefore, in this role you will generate the evidence base that supports nutrition, food security, social protection policies and programmes.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Develop protocols and procedures to ensure Two-way Accountability (from implementers to beneficiaries) and Transparency of Food Security and Nutrition Assessments and Analysis

• Discuss with program unit their need in terms of documentation and knowledge management

• Liaise with IT, area office, field office staff, and program unit to understand what approach/tools and the system could best serve the program

• Present the proposed filling system to program and implement

• Develop a simple Knowledge management guide/protocol

2. Ensure high standards of quality, reliability and validity of the data and analysis in line with WFP’s privacy and protection guidelines.

• Support information management activities (build/update a repository of key documents)

• Assist in supporting the maintenance and development of electronic and manual tools used for records keeping

3. Support Data driven evidence-based decision-making process in a timely manner according to programmatic and strategic needs. (data preparedness)

• Liaise with other teams to compile lessons learned and recommendations to improve programme implementation.

• Assist in report writing (market monitor bulletins, Remote monitoring of Food Security bulletins, Tracking sheet for risks and mitigation measures)

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 : Applicants must be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent); Or have graduated with the relevant university degree within 6 months period at the time of taking up the internship, if selected.

– Applicants must have studied any of the following degree programmes; Bachelor of Data science, Statistics, Nutrition, or a closely related area, such as health, research, economics or information management system

Knowledge and Skills: 

• Proficient reporting writing skills.
• – knowledge and experience in MS Office, Stata, SPSS
• – Knowledge in SQL, R, Python is desirable.

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