Nutrition Information Systems and Early Warning Specialist

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance

Job Title: Nutrition Information Systems and Early Warning Specialist

Type of Contract: Regular Consultant

Division: Nutrition division NUT

Duty Station (City, Country): Remote/ home-based

Duration: 11 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

WFP’s strategic priorities are focused on combatting the key drivers of hunger to support countries in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), guided by SDG 2 on ending hunger and malnutrition and SDG 17 on revitalizing partnerships for the implementation of the global development agenda.

As conflict, climate crises and economic shocks become more frequent, WFP’s strategic priorities will be to support people in meeting their urgent food and nutrition needs and achieving better nutrition, health, education, and sustainable livelihoods.

As part of the Nutrition Division’s strategic alignment and priority-setting, a series of task teams have been formed. One team, focusing on risk as a general concept for the division and organization, aims to explore early warning and early action systems, which are at present inadequate to respond in a timely and effective manner to changing nutritional risks. To be able to prevent and mitigate the effects of different shocks on the diets and nutritional status of affected communities, the risk task team is seeking an early warning specialist to support in identifying existing EW platforms and mechanisms at WFP and externally as well as how nutrition, more generally, and WFP’s Nutrition Division’s strategic interests specifically, can be strengthened or integrated within those.

Presently, myriad, and robust mechanisms and tools exist around early warning systems (EWS) and general forecasting global food insecurity at WFP and globally.

Indeed, information and data focused on reliable, timely information regarding food production, availability, and prices, and global hunger levels do exist and are accessible.[1]

Several early warning systems have been established to collect, analyze and disseminate such information at the global and the country levels (such WFP’s Hunger Map Live)–though few of those include nutrition-related information. The goal of this work will be to strengthen nutrition into relevant existing EWS.

The main scope of work will be focused on identifying current early warning processes, tools and products, within WFP and externally – and how nutrition can become an integral component of those. The consultant, sitting under the Nutrition Operations team, will identify key opportunities and subsequent actions to better integrate/reflect nutrition into corporate EWS. The consultant will also develop guidance and tools including baseline standards, that could be employed at the country level to systematically reflect nutrition in WFP’s EWS.

As part of WFP nutrition engagement at global level, a pilot project in collaboration with UNICEF on nutrition vulnerability assessment is under development. The consultant will lead the technical part jointly with UNICEF focal person with identified countries to provide real time modelled data on forecasted aggravating malnutrition vulnerabilities to enable more coordinated decisions and optimize the impact of nutrition interventions.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Assist the Task Team with general support in the implementation of the work plan

• • Support for the implementation of specific elements of the task-team work plan (to be identified and prioritized on an ongoing basis)

• • Participate in all task-team related meetings and activities

1. Conduct desk review of existing internal and external EWS (including processes, tools, platforms etc.) relevant to WFP and nutrition and identify entry points and actions to integrate nutrition

• Conduct a comprehensive desk review and analysis including review of relevant existing EWS and frameworks at WFP and externally including food security, nutrition, and health.

• Identify key stakeholders across global EWS landscape at WFP and externally.

• Identify key stakeholders across WFP at global, regional and country office (CO) levels.

• Identify key entry points for nutrition integration and subsequent action steps.

1. Develop advocacy materials and knowledge products related to desk review findings

• Lead the development of advocacy documents that highlight entry points and areas of collaboration between the Nutrition Division and other relevant WFP divisions.

• Develop briefing materials and talking points to be used for the Director of Nutrition when discussing nutrition integration and EWS.

1. Develop recommendation on how nutrition information systems can be better leveraged to support timely decision-making within EWS

• Map existing information systems at WFP at HQ, RB, and CO levels including what data is collected, by who, at what frequency and how this data is currently being used as it pertains to nutrition-relevant information.

• Based on the mapping as well as existing literature on nutrition information systems, provide recommendations around how nutrition information could be more effectively and efficiently feed within EWS.

1. Represent WFP in Nutrition Vulnerability Assessment in Crisis (NuVAC) technical group

• • Lead the technical group jointly with UNICEF focal person for the pilot project to provide real time modelled data on forecasted aggravating malnutrition vulnerabilities.

• • Identify the different model to be tested during the pilot phase of the project.

SUGGESTED DELIVERABLES:

1. Summary report on EWS systems desk review and recommendations entry points for nutrition.

1. Briefing material on recommendations WFP nutrition management.

1. Mapping of existing information systems at WFP and what information is collected as well as recommendation around how this could be included within EWS at WFP.

1. NuVAC pilot project implemented in countries with WFP contribution.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education: Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, nutrition, or related field

Experience:

• Extensive experience with global food security and nutrition and EWS (at least 5 years)

• Experience with nutrition information systems considered an asset

• Building strategic partnerships with partners to support policy and programme decision-making

• Presenting findings or evidence to diverse audiences, including government stakeholders, programme staff and academic partners, in a digestible and context-relevant format

• Working within and managing multi-disciplinary teams

Knowledge and Skills:

• Extensive understanding of the global food security and nutrition landscape and key stakeholders

• Deep understanding of EWS, particularly as they relate to nutrition, food security and health sectors

• Knowledge and ability to interpret literature and analyze data related to nutrition

• Ability to coordinate and manage efforts from multiple stakeholders for common a common purpose

• Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of WFP

Language: English and another UN language is an asset.

Terms and Conditions

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP.

http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

Deadline for applications: 12 September 2022

Ref.: VA No. 172745

Qualified female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status

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.

[1] https://www.foodsecurityportal.org/tools/early-warning-hub

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