Research Consultant | SSA 8 | Manila, Philippines

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.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the food aid arm of the United Nations and the largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition worldwide. WFP will embark on an 11-month Project on Social Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) in Maguindanao, Philippines, called “BAMBINA—Better Access of Mothers and Babies on Integrated Nutrition Agenda”.

WFP will assign a Research Consultant to support the following activities: conducting formative research, developing strategy and action plan, executing capacity building activities among identified partners, and coordinating among these partners. The Research Consultant, along with a team of Manila-based and Cotabato-based Business Support Assistants (Research) will carry out the activities under the leadership of the SBCC Consultant and overall guidance of the Program Policy Officer (Activity Manager 2).

The WFP developed the five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2018-2023 that supports the Philippine Development Plan (PDP 2017-2022) and the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN 2017-2022). The BAMBINA project will support one of its Strategic Outcomes (SO), specifically SO 2: “Women, boys and girls in provinces prioritized by the government have adequate and healthy diets to reduce malnutrition in line with government targets, by 2022. (END MALNUTRITION)”

The Research Consultant will help oversee a project team that will carry out the activities under this project. Under the guidance of the SBCC Consultant, the Research Consultant will support the planning, implementation, monitoring and completion of the assigned tasks stipulated in this Terms of Reference.

The position is based in WFP Manila Country Office. Remote work maybe occasionally required including possible field visits, mainly in Maguindanao areas.The Research Consultant will directly report and work under the technical guidance and routine coordination and collaboration to the SBCC Consultant with overall supervision of the Programme Policy Officer (Activity Manager 2).

The main objective of the SBCC project is to contribute to the improvement of the nutrition situation in Maguindanao, by 2022, by addressing existing behaviors, norms and practices that are barriers to pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and children’s access and utilization of healthy nutritious diet. It also aims improve delivery of social services to the target audience and equip staff from different sectors with knowledge and tools that will help them improve delivery of those services. It will be made possible through multipronged social behavioral change communication strategies and context–specific actions designed for the PLWs, caregivers of children and the people and networks influencing them.
Specifically, by the end of 2020, the project aims to:
1. Conduct a formative research that will:
          a. Determine knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of individuals, families, and other target groups regarding food, diet, and nutrition
          b. Determine how family “influencers” are linked to food purchases and preparations, particularly for PLWs and children under-5 years old
          c. Determine KAP among government workers and other sector personnel in delivering services, as these are linked to awareness-raising, counselling and influencing behaviour towards better food preferences and practices
          d. Assess media landscape (including social marketing strategies) that may be associated with access and intake of healthy nutritious diets, especially among PLWs and children
2. Develop SBCC Strategy and Action Plan (including monitoring and evaluation), based from the findings of the formative research
3. Conduct needs-base capacity building activities to identified sectors base from the result of the formative research and reflected in the SBCC strategy and action plan
4. Establish an SBCC core group to consult research findings and validate strategy and action plan, and a network that would serve as an oversight for the implementation and monitoring of the SBCC Strategy and action

The project is led by the SBCC Consultant, who ensures its overall ethical conduct. In close coordination with the WFP Program Policy Officer, the Consultant oversees all aspects of the project and holds primary responsibility.

1. Oversee and coordinate daily activities of the project
2. Ensure that formative research procedures occur and are completed as specified in the protocol and workplan
3. Supervise accurate and timely data management, including identifying key data points for collection and analysis
4. Oversee a lean team that will support all aspects of the project
5. Plan, coordinate, and implement research programs
6. Harmonize the work of research assistants to ensure equitable tasks and responsibilities
7. Manage use of project resources, ensuring effectiveness and efficiency, including project budget
8. Collaborate actively within WFP and externally, including target groups as well as private and public sectors
9. Coordinate and communicate with target groups and stakeholders
10.Work closely and routinely with the SBCC Consultant and the Programme Policy Officer (Activity Manager 2)
11. Perform other related duties as required.

1. Detailed work plan
2. Formative Research Report for Maguindanao (1 narrative report in soft copy, 1 in PowerPoint format for presentation purposes)
3. Approved SBCC Strategy (This strategy will be based on the result of the formative research and will address the need of the primary, secondary and tertiary audiences.) - 1 soft copy
4. Approved SBCC Action Plan (The costed action plan will be based from the SBCC developed as informed by the formative research.) - 1 soft copy
5. Creative Briefs
6. Workshops, coordination meetings and networking (as required)
7. Monthly progress or accomplishment report to be submitted to the SBCC Consultant and for final approval of the Programme Policy Officer (Activity Manager 2)

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
•  Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
•  Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
•  Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
•  Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

• At least two to three years of professional experience in mid-level research operations, including planning and organizing research related activities
• Experience in designing and conducting formative research and monitoring/evaluation related to social and behavioural change; experience in community mobilization and program management; exposure to nutrition or health environment in rural areas
• Has gained experience in implementing technical programs (i.e. nutrition, etc.).
• Has implemented programmes and provided input into designing operations.
• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.

• Excellent interpersonal skills required, including strong professional communication skills;
• Knowledge on formative research methods, including qualitative methods;
• Strong analytical and report writing skills;
• Ability to work within tight deadlines and manage multiple tasks simultaneously independently;
• Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, plan and manage programs, leadership and teamwork skills, good analytical, communication, negotiation and advocacy skills;
• Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Advanced computer skills with mastery of Windows and Microsoft Office;

Education:
• At least a master's degree (MA/MS) in the social and behavioural sciences, public health, development studies, or anthropology
• Advantages: Formal training in nutrition, health promotion/education, and/or communication; PhD/DrPH units in a health field

Language:
• Fluency in both oral and written English and Filipino communication
• Advantages: knowledge of local languages (Maguindanao, Hiligaynon)

Deadline for applications is on 23 July 2020; 11:59 PM. Qualified candidates are required to complete an online candidate profile in  UN WFP Careers Website (https://www.wfp.org/careers). Only applications received from this website are considered valid and will be processed. 

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.