Vam Officer - Economic, Market & Food Security Analyst (Consultant Level II)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of extreme weather shocks.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. WFP's mission is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works globally to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable—particularly women and children—have access to the nutritious food they need.

The food insecurity situation in Somalia remains fragile due to the combined effects of below-average and poorly distributed rainfall, limited household access to income opportunities, elevated and stagnant high food prices, ongoing insecurity, and conflict. WFP Somalia’s four-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2022–2025 emphasizes flexible modalities of food assistance (e-vouchers and mobile money), conflict sensitivity, gender mainstreaming, and referral linkages across its programme activities. WFP Somalia is currently in the process of transition to its CSP for 2026–2030.

This position, based in Mogadishu, will provide robust food security analysis and strategic guidance to support both the implementation of the CSP. The incumbent will serve as the focal point for assessing and monitoring food security, informing preparedness and response activities, and providing oversight and technical advice on assistance planning and targeting. Within the Country Office VAM team, the incumbent will also lead the market and economic analysis pillar.
 

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the head of the Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping unit, the VAM officer will be responsible for delivering following outputs;

• Guide and supervise the relevant teams in food security assessments, survey design, sampling methodology and statistical data analysis.
• Strengthen the current WFP Somalia market and economic monitoring system, addressing gaps related to coverage, reporting and key market and economic monitoring indicators.
• Provide oversight and advice to the implementation of data driven beneficiary targeting, including application of statistical models and scoring algorithms for general food assistance programmes and review and update the targeting manuals, guidelines and SOPs.
• Provide technical assistance, trainings and capacity strengthening to improve the implementation of data driven targeting in Somalia.
• Manage cross-sectional, longitudinal food security assessments, experimental research and statistical analysis informing the food assistance policies, duration, targeting models and, algorithms.
• Update current data quality assurance systems and develop capacity and skills for national and area office data collection teams, including WFP partners and roll out the use of revised tools using WFP mobile data collection platforms such as MoDA (Mobile operational Data Acquisition).
• Run data quality checks and develop algorithms to automate data cleaning, data quality checks and reporting error detection.
• Manage and analyse market price database at the country level by ensuring data quality, integrating new parameters (commodities, markets, etc.), time series analysis and automating data collection and visualization using the Mobile Operational Data Acquisition (MODA) platform, Tableau applications or dashboards.
• Provide technical guidance, coordinate with technical agencies to monitor and update the Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) and adjust food/MPCA assistance transfer values as appropriately using household essential needs assessment findings and market monitoring data by applying quantitative analysis.
• In collaboration with the supply chain team, update SOPs for market price monitoring and enhance current Market Functionality Monitoring (MFI) and update food prices, biannual trends of exchange rates and fuel prices.
• In consultation with the head of VAM, plan capacity-strengthening training programmes for national staff at the country office level and area offices and provide coaching and guidance as required to improve the skills in markets, food security and economic monitoring.
• Participate and contribute to the Cash working group, food security working group and Operational Information Management (OIM).
• Participate and contribute to VAM food security assessments, including training programmes, IPC analysis workshops and drafting of reports and highlights.
• Participate and lead technical discussions on the establishment of single registration system for referrals and referral scoring system in Somalia.
• Collaborate with relevant entities, including key ministries, agencies and relevant stakeholders, to address issues relating to market, commodity flows, and price commodities for Somalia and the region, especially on cross-border trade monitoring.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Revisited current household targeting models for food and multi-purpose essential needs, validated and disseminated.
• Led the thematic technical area- targeting workstream 2 of the reset-reform task team of the HCT.
• Collaborated with OCHA, Food Security Cluster, Area Based Coordination (ABC) for streamlining targeting and prioritization methods in humanitarian cash/food assistance.
• Run assistance prioritization analysis, programme integration and provide oversight and technical advice to the finalization of annual implementation plans.
• Completed literature reviews and a study on the recommended duration of cash assistance for life saving food and multi-purpose assistance programmes.
• Jointly with the Cash Working Group, established joint market and economic monitoring systems to inform monitoring of Minimum Expenditure Basket.
• Monitored and managed the implementation of capacity-strengthening activities for the National Bureau of Statistics.
• Using CFSVA data, updated the transfer values for food, MPCA assistance and nutrition cash top-ups.
• Supported Government and partners in strengthening current monitoring of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB).
• In consultation with the supply chain and other cross-functional units, disseminated weekly and monthly market monitoring reports, periodic market functionality reports, analysis reports and quarterly country economic analysis reports.
• Conducted training for VAM staff, including National VAM officers and area office VAM focal points, covering market data analysis, statistical modelling and projections.
• Developed algorithms and analysis codes required for running targeting scores and targeting verification.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education: Advanced University Degree in Economics, Econometrics, Social Sciences, Agriculture, Food Security, Nutrition, or other related fields, OR a First University Degree with additional years of relevant work experience and/or training/courses. Academic qualifications with a focus on market analysis, food security, vulnerability assessment, livelihoods, economics, or other closely related disciplines are highly desirable.

Experience: At least five (5) years of relevant experience with an Advanced University Degree OR a First University Degree with a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in market and economic analysis, vulnerability assessment, food security analysis, early warning systems, or related fields. Experience in humanitarian and development programming, including the provision of timely analytical products and evidence-based decision-making support, is highly desirable. Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision, manage competing priorities, and supervise and coordinate teams effectively is an added advantage.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong knowledge and experience in using database and statistical software (SPSS, STATA, R script) and data visualization platforms.
• Strategic thinking
• Analyzing
• Initiative - Problem solver
• Interpersonal skills

This position is open to qualified international candidates. The candidates must be nationals of a country other than the country of assignment. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. WFP Somalia offers female friendly spaces in the workplace.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

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Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.

• We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.

• At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

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.

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.