Targeting Data Analyst
WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, color, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.
Job Title: Targeting Data Analyst
Type of Contract: Consultancy
Division: Needs Assessment and Targeting unit (RAM-N), Research, Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) Division
Duty Station (City, Country): Rome, Italy
Duration: 6 months
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
Assisting over 120 million people in more than 80 countries in 2021, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies, working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience, and partnering with governments to strengthen social protection systems. To effectively deliver on its mandate WFP must ensure that it reaches the right people and that it manages its relationship with those individuals and
their communities in a responsible, accountable, and effective manner.
As a result of conflict, climate change and the impact of COVID-19, the world is facing a hunger crisis. The number of people facing acute hunger is rapidly increasing across continents, and while WFP thanks to increasing donor contributions has been able to significantly scale up its response in recent years, the gap between needs and resources available to address those needs is growing. This stresses further the importance of robust targeting and prioritization processes, ensuring that the most destitute and vulnerable people are assisted timely.
With more pressure on country offices to plan and implement sophisticated targeting and prioritization decisions, there is rapidly growing demand for support from Regional Bureaux (RBx) and Headquarters (HQ). In response a joint project between the RAM and Programme & Policy Development divisions in HQ and WFP’s six RBx was initiated in 2020. The Targeting Strengthening Initiative recognizes the continuous and cross-functional nature of targeting and is focused on enhancing capacities and
strengthening the evidence-base to inform policy decisions, which in turn are reflected in better and more comprehensive guidance, tools and learning materials for colleagues in the field.
In addition to internal efforts to strengthen targeting, the Joint UNHCR and WFP Programme Excellence and Targeting Hub was established in 2020 and is co-managed by RAM and Programme on the WFP side. ‘The Hub‘aims to operationalize joint commitments building on the 2011 Memorandum of Understanding, including the Joint Principles on Targeting. Thematic experts provide country-level support to priority operations across the programme cycle, including needs assessments and targeting,
and is an important operational partner of WFP and the Targeting Strengthening Initiative.
To complement these efforts, RAM-N is building a geospatial vulnerability mapping and targeting system called GeoTar, which will inform targeting decisions in the WFP operations around the world.
GeoTar is one of the winners of the 2022 innovation challenge and the Sprint program of the WFP Innovation Accelerator.
RAM-N is piloting GeoTar in 3 country offices over the next six months. RAM-N is now looking for a talented Targeting Analyst with experience in quantitative and geospatial data collection and analysis to support the development and testing of the Geospatial Vulnerability framework and index in the pilot countries.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the supervision and guidance of the Senior Targeting Analyst (GeoTar Project manager); the Targeting Analyst will be responsible for the following activities:
- Coordinate technical discussions with key internal and external partners
- Gather and process primary and secondary quantitative and geospatial datapoints
- Contribute to the development and testing of the geospatial vulnerability framework and index
- Conduct statistical and spatial econometric analysis
- Develop analytical outputs in the form of maps, datasets, summaries, and reports
- Contribute to the implementation and systematic documentation of geographic targeting using the analysis outputs
- Any other assignments as agreed with the supervisor.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
- Robust analyses using the geospatial vulnerability framework and index
- Targeting decisions are informed by the analysis
- The analytical approach, scripts, and outputs are documented
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Advanced University degree in geoinformatics or related field
Experience:
- Advanced Geospatial Analytics skills (eg: Spectral, Urban Change, Land Degradation and Land Cover change, Water Extent, Night Lights, Vegetation phenology, Vegetation Change) Expert data science knowledge and experience with Python and SQL.
- Experience in using and developing on Jupyter Notebooks.
Knowledge and Skills:
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Previous experience in the humanitarian sector is desired
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Good understanding of vulnerability assessment methodologies and tools
- Demonstrated ability to write analytical reports and present findings
- Experience working in dynamic and innovative environments
- Willingness to travel to support the pilot, including hardship duty stations
- Cognitive Capacity, Teamwork, Action Management, Innovation, Partnering, Client Orientation
Languages:
Fluency in English required
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: 17 September 2022
Ref.: VA No. 172951
All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
