Beirut – NPTP Researcher SSA 9
– This position is open to qualified Lebanese candidates only.
– Female candidates in particular, are encouraged to apply.
– Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
This Vacancy Announcement will close on 13 September 2022 at 11:59 PM Rome Time.
Contract Duration:
The NPTP Researcher will be contracted for an initial term of 6 months. Contract may be extended based on business need and satisfactory performance.
Organizational background
Since 2014, and in response to rising poverty levels in communities hosting refugees and to help mitigate tensions between the refugee and Lebanese communities, WFP has been supporting the cash-based assistance component of the NPTP through e-cards which can be used in more than 400 WFP-contracted shops to buy food. WFP supports the NPTP in two ways: 1) by securing funding for food assistance (while the Government finances the health and education components), and 2) by extending the use of WFP’s systems to deliver cash-based assistance (the NPTP uses the same cash transfer platform and network of shops that WFP established for the refugee response).
In response to the economic crisis that hit Lebanon in the last quarter of 2019 and resulted in severe devaluation of the Lebanese currency coupled with rocketing increase in the prices of food and other basic commodities, the NPTP expanded its reach to respond to these new emerging needs and adapted its modality to the fluid context. Consequently, in May 2021, in addition to the LBP 100,000 per capita for food needs, NPTP beneficiaries started receiving a cash top up at LBP 200,000 for the non-food component at the household level, redeemable at ATMs or shops to offset the negative impact of inflation and support NPTP households to fully meet their food and other basic needs. In September 2021, WFP further increased the food transfer value of the assistance from LBP 100,000 to USD 15 per person per month (with a cap of 6 household members) and from LBP 200,000 to USD 25 per family per month for other needs. Today, NPTP beneficiaries are able to use their cards at any shop equipped with a POS or withdraw cash at an ATM in USD or LBP. As of July 2022, 50,000 Lebanese families approximately were assisted by WFP through the NPTP with the plan to reach 75,000 households by September 2022.
To know more about WFP’s mission, please check the below video:
https://www.facebook.com/WorldFoodProgramme/videos/10154930622760178/
Job Purpose
Eight years into the implementation of WFP support to the NPTP and in light of the changing and challenging operational context, as well as the expanding partnership with the Government counterparts in the frame of the NPTP, WFP would like to examine some aspects of the programme that could be essential to informing programme management and adaptation in the coming years.
Key Responsibilities (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):
Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Head of Social Protection Unit, the incumbent will be responsible for reviewing the available NPTP monitoring (process and outcome) data available as well as complementing with qualitative data collection when/if needed to examine the following two areas of inquiry and issue operational recommendations to the Programme team:
Restricted vs. unrestricted assistance, LBP vs. USD:
NPTP followed the restricted cash modality from inception in November 2014 and until September 2021. A shift to unrestricted cash and change in currency (from LBP to USD or equivalent) also followed in September 2021. Ten months into implementing this change, there is need to investigate, controlling for confounding variables, the impact of each modality on food security, consumption of nutritious foods, as well as poverty alleviation outcomes of NPTP households in the more positive way and determining accordingly whether one modality contributes to better outcomes than the other.
Suggested methods:
• Analyse the existing outcome monitoring data and compare the results of the restricted cash modality (prior to September 2021) vs. unrestricted cash modality for e-card holders who use it in WFP-contracted shops.
• Analyse the existing outcome monitoring data and compare the results for the group who withdraws their assistance in LBP cash vs. the group that withdraws assistance in USD cash.
• Conduct additional qualitative or quantitative data collection to assess the reasons for noted redemption preferences.
End-to-end NPTP beneficiary experience:
The researcher is expected to document beneficiaries’ experiences in accessing and using NPTP/WFP’s assistance, as well as hear their own suggestions related to programme enhancement and reaching more sustainable results. This study will report on the use and the impact of the assistance, the needs of the beneficiaries and the safety issues related to said assistance. This is particularly pertinent in light of a potential formulation of an NPTP+ model which aims to link NPTP “graduates” to livelihoods and income generation opportunities for self-sustainability.
Suggested methods:
• Analyse existing process and outcome monitoring data and summarize beneficiaries experience accordingly.
• Conduct focus group discussions (or other qualitative tools) on experience with assistance, with beneficiaries representing different backgrounds and vulnerability profiles: age group, sex, education, disability, geographical location.
Desirable Knowledge and Skills:
• Previous experience in conducting research related to humanitarian or development contexts and knowledge of the humanitarian and development activities and procedures in the country.
• Very good experience in using statistical tools, quantitative and qualitative assessments.
• Ability to undertake statistical analysis using SPSS or STATA.
• Ability to conduct focus group discussions and one-to-one interviews.
• Very good experience using computers including Microsoft Office specifically Microsoft Word, Power Point and Excel.
• Ability to coordinate and facilitate communication with relevant units/teams.
• Good knowledge of gender and protection analysis,
• Well-organized.
• Excellent English writing skills.
Standard Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition, Public Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or other field relevant to international development assistance.
Experience: At least eight (8) years of post-graduate professional work experience in survey research including in humanitarian contexts. Experience using a variety of quantitative and qualitative analytical tools and methods.
Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Arabic.
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.
