World Food Program

Position: Monitoring and Reporting Expert Consultant

Job Time: Full-Time

Job Type: Contract

Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Posted date: 29 minutes ago

Application Deadline: Nov, 30/2021 (20 days left)

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

Ref.: VA No. 153464

Type of Contract: Consultant

Division: STR – AUC Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (DHRST) - WFP School Feeding Programme Support to the AUC 

Duty Station (City, Country): Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Duration: 11 months  

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The World Food Programme has supported the people and governments of Africa for over half a century on issues ranging from ending poverty and hunger to sustaining peace and promoting stability; and for nearly two decades, the organization has engaged the African Union (AU), a political institution established to articulate and advocate continental political, economic and social development ambitions and priorities. In recognition of the AU’s growing importance and influence in global and continental affairs, WFP has been enhancing its engagement, advocacy and technical support to promote the implementation of AU decisions, policies, strategies and programmes. WFP’s support to the AU is coordinated by the WFP Africa Global Office based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

As part of its efforts to operationalize Agenda 2063: Africa We Want, the African Union (AU), has developed and adopted the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016-25 (CESA 16-25); and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Both CAADP and CESA 16-25 support home-grown school feeding programmes as a common continental priority.

During the 2016 ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, a decision was passed recognizing the importance of home-grown school feeding (HGSF) to access education, educational outcomes and to support local and rural economies. As per the decision, the Assembly called for (1) the establishment of a multi-disciplinary technical committee (the School Feeding Cluster); (2) the commemoration of the 1st March as the African Day of School Feeding (ADSF); (3) regular reporting on school feeding programmes in the continent; and (4) promote South-South cooperation on HGSF among member states.

As per the Assembly Decision, the Home-grown School Feeding Cluster was established in 2017. The Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE); and Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS), as well as the African Union Development Agency (AUDA - NEPAD). Since the decision to establish this multidisciplinary platform WFP, through its Center of Excellence in Brazil and WFP Africa Global Office in Addis Ababa, has been providing support to its Members.

The Cluster’s mission is to improve the educational access and outcomes and nutritional and health status of school children and promote the home-grown school feeding model by enabling collaboration, coordination and knowledge exchange mechanisms. To support this agenda the Cluster needs to provide solid and strategic evidence on the development of school feeding in the continent and its impact on key development outcomes, as well as report on the implementation of commitments and activities among member states to create accountability. 

The AUC School Feeding Cluster is well-positioned to generate much-needed regional public goods, services and resources, and to work towards mobilizing political commitment of AU Member States to scale-up of national school feeding programmes. The Cluster has been established and members are committed to driving this agenda forward. 

However, despite some progress, there remain organizational and technical capacity constraints (incoordination, advocacy, monitoring, reporting, and research) that need to be addressed in order to effectively operationalize the Cluster. This position will help increase the capacities of the Cluster to monitor and report on the action plan already approved by the Member States and seek to address these bottlenecks to ensure effective implementation.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Lead management and follow-up of Cluster activities as per the Cluster work plan, including coordination with Cluster Members. 
2. Lead the development of a Monitoring and Reporting Plan which will capture progress and lessons learned and support evidence-based decision-making. As part of this process, current Cluster indicators should be reviewed and updated as necessary.
3. Lead the Cluster’s activity progress reporting (twice a year) to ensure activities are on track and support the presentation of the report in relevant events, e.g. AU Summit/Meetings of the Specialised Technical Committees. 
4. Lead the bi-annual reporting process for the state of school feeding in Africa, including the development of continental surveys, coordination, data collection and drafting of the report.
5. Lead the liaison with relevant focal points within the AUC to ensure cluster efforts are included in CESA overall reporting.
6. Lead engagement with other relevant thematic clusters within the AU to improve cross-cluster links and reporting, particularly clusters under the Education, Agriculture and Social Affairs Departments.
7. Coordinate/oversee the production of country case studies with best practice examples of implementation of school feeding programs.
8. Build M&E capacity of Cluster members and member states through design and delivery of training and information sharing.
9. Support the development and operationalization of the first Africa-wide school health and nutrition database as a continental public good. This includes supporting the coordination and alignment of indicators with AUDA, AU member states and other stakeholders.
10. Advise and support cluster members and member states with evidence-based decision-making on programme design and implementation, primarily through ensuring that evidence, monitoring and review findings are accessible, and developing innovative, user-friendly and informative products.
11. Support cluster members and the AUC in addressing recommendations from monitoring, reviews and reports to ensure that follow-up actions are taken as required in complex portfolios.
12. Contribute to the development and implementation of national government monitoring, reporting and evaluation frameworks, aligned with national school feeding goals.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• One monitoring and reporting plan with an updated set of indicators.
• At least two cluster activity progress reports were developed and presented to AUC management.
• At least two training for cluster members and member states to build M&E capacities.
• At least three country case studies were developed, highlighting specific development of school feeding policies/implementation. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced University degree in social sciences, statistics, development economics, performance management, monitoring and evaluation or other related fields, or First University degree with additional years of relevant work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience:

• Minimum of eight years of relevant professional work experience with development or humanitarian work. 
• Minimum of four years of experience in managing complex monitoring and/or evaluation activities spanning a range of policies and program initiatives. 
• Minimum of four years experience in managing monitoring and evaluation activities of school feeding programmes, education, social protection and/or nutrition projects. 

Knowledge and Skills:

• Has a solid understanding of a range of monitoring methods, is able to define key methodological requirements and processes and is able to support governments in developing monitoring plans for moderately complex programmes. 
• Has solid knowledge of international norms and standards for monitoring and reporting and is able to apply them appropriately, seeking advice where appropriate. 
• Oversees and provides guidance to others in the selection and application of high quality, credible, analytical approaches and qualitative and quantitative methods appropriate to AUC monitoring, review and evaluation needs.
• Is able to validate data quality and ensure that data collection and analysis have been conducted ethically. 
• Demonstrates sophisticated skills to communicate effectively key evidence from monitoring, reviews and evaluations to a range of stakeholders. 
• Demonstrates active listening and conflict resolution skills to promote constructive engagement of stakeholders with diverse, complex and high-stake interests.

Language:

• Excellent command and highly proficient in spoken and written English (C1 Effective Operational Proficiency)
• Working knowledge of French preferred

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.

How to Apply

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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.