Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping Officer (Economic & Market Analysis) SSA 10 for Beirut Country Office

- This position is open to qualified Lebanese candidates. Female candidates in particular, are encouraged to apply.

- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment and/or interview

Organizational background

The World Food Programme activities include food assistance for nutrition, livelihoods, relief and emergency school feeding, while also supporting humanitarian air and logistics services, food security coordination and infrastructure rehabilitation projects.

The UN World Food Programme (UNWFP) is the frontline humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. On average, WFP reaches more than 80 million people with food assistance in 75 countries. Around 14,000 people work for the organization, most of them in remote areas, directly serving the hungry poor.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the VAM and M&E Officer and the overall supervision of the Head of Programme, the VAM Officer (Economic and Market Analysis) will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Provide programme design (i.e. vulnerability analysis and rationale for who WFP reaches and why), including regular updated analysis that produces beneficiary lists.
2. Provide technical advice and support WFP and its partners on matters pertaining to food security and nutrition strategies, policies, programmes, and facilitate the timely and productive use of related outputs in a manner that complies with WFP standards and processes.
3. Contribute to the development of systems and tools for the monitoring and assessment of food assistance needs in line with innovative methodologies and best practice.
4. Manage and/or conduct food security, nutrition, markets and resilience analysis and prepare timely reports on food assessment needs in line with wider VAM policies, processes and guidance to enable effective decision-making on the development of country strategy, policies and programmes.
5. Keep up to date with and advise on food assistance developments and issues and the potential impact upon WFP activity to enable timely and appropriate programme evolution and intervention.
6. Contribute to the development of programme activities, providing technical analysis, interpretation and recommendations to facilitate food assistance needs to be met effectively.
7. Provide coaching and guidance to VAM staff as required to ensure appropriate development and enable high performance.
8. Support the monitoring and evaluation of WFP activities, providing technical analysis, interpretation and information as required to support the assessment of activity impact.
9. Represent WFP during meetings with partners to contribute to technical discussions, exchange of knowledge and experience, and seek for appropriate interventions (based on an evidence base), and areas for potential collaboration.
10. Build capacity of WFP staff, partners and national government to conduct analysis on food security, nutrition, markets, resilience, and related topics to effectively inform policies and programmes.
11. Provide support to relevant partners that are focusing on food security and nutrition to enable sharing of experience, lessons learned and best practice.
12. Act in an assigned emergency response capacity as required to meet emergency food assistance needs.
13. Economic analysis of macro-economic trends that could impact targeting and implementation of programmes.
14. Support cash-based interventions with ad hoc analysis, including food security and (S)MEB, supply chain and inter-sectoral assessments. Sectors WFP Lebanon currently works on: direct food assistance and other basic needs, livelihood and school meals and nutrition.
15. Other as required.

Minimum requirements: 

Education: Advanced University degree in Economics, Food Security, Statistics or other related field, or First University degree with additional years of relevant work experience and/or training/courses

Experience: At least five (5) years of post-graduate professional experience, of which at least two (2) years of experience closely related to food security and market analysis functions.

Gained valuable experience in collecting geospatial and socioeconomic food security data, conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis, and reporting findings to senior leaders.

Has led surveys, multiple assessments in countries, including the design, data collection and analysis.

Has participated in design and implementation of WFP programmes focusing in food security.

Demonstrated proficiency in the use of several statistical tools and methods for food security and market analysis.

Demonstrated technical knowledge and understanding of WFP vulnerability mapping systems and emergency assessment standards

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Arabic languages.

Additional desired skills:

• Good communication and leadership skills.
• Able to explain technical information a lay audience.
• Advanced knowledge of SPSS and Excel.
• Well-developed stress-management skills.