USAID Junior Officer Programme through United Nations World Food Programme

 Overview

Through USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA), the United States sponsors qualified U.S. citizens for employment in the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Program. These fully funded JPO positions strengthen the humanitarian coordination capacity of WFP. They further encourage U.S. citizens to become active members of the international community.After completing their JPO assignments, a number of JPOs successfully compete for positions at WFP, and in other international and non-governmental organization 

General Information 

Title: Regional VAM Officer (Markets & CBT) 

Organization/Office: World Food Programme/Programme 

Unit Supervisor: Senior Regional VAM Officer 

Duty Station: Johannesburg, South Africa 

Date Required: As soon as possible 

Duration: 2 years 

Duties, Responsibilities, and Output Expectations 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Regional VAM Officer and in close collaboration with Regional Supply Chain Analyst and Regional Social Protection Officer, the JPO will have the following responsibilities: 

● Monitor and early warning of market prices, policies, and natural and man-made hazards that affect market functionality; 

● Assist in food security analysis with an emphasis on food marked market impacts; 

● Prepare a joint bi-monthly regional price bulletin (Regional Market Watch) in collaboration with Supply Chain; 

● Plan, design and conduct market and trader surveys and analysis to assess food insecurity using the market functionality index approach; 

● Support WFP Offices to set-up remote mobile systems (mVAM) to facilitate monitoring of household food security and market functionality; 

● Act as VAM regional focal point on cash-based transfers (CBT) issues especially pertaining essential needs assessment (ENA) and minimum expenditure basket;

● Identify programme information needs to inform choice of transfer modalities (food, cash and vouchers); their targeting criteria, and monitoring & evaluation frameworks; 

● Assist in developing and implementing market-related capacity building tools and modules to support WFP and partner staff; 

● Participate on behalf of WFP in international fora such as in Regional Vulnerability Analysis Committee (RVAC) meetings and the Regional Market Working Group; 

● Represent VAM in the internal Regional CBT Steering Committee 

● Conduct/provide support on other WFP food security assessments upon request such as CFSAM, JAM, EFSA and CFSVA; 

● Act as WFP focal point on Urban assessments especially pertaining the market assessment and analysis component; 

● Carry out other markets-related activities as necessary; 

● Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Expected Outputs: 

● Timely and regular regional food market reports and early warning issued resulting in improved market situational awareness. 

● Cash-based programmes implemented and informed by sound evidence through market assessments and other food security assessments. 

● Strong coordination is established externally with the regional coordination fora and internally with the CBT and Food Procurement units

Qualifications and Experience 

Education: Advanced university degree or first level university degree with additional relevant work experience in Economics, Development Economics,Agricultural Economics or other related field. 

Work experience: Two years of relevant working experience in conducting field assessment and analysis, especially in a food security context. 

Languages: Fluency in English. 

Other skills: 

● Proficiency in Windows MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook); 

● Behavioural competencies such as Action Management, Client Orientation, Cognitive Capacity, Innovation, Partnering and Teamwork. 

● Demonstrated ability in qualitative and quantitative analysis and knowledge of relevant software; 

● Excellent writing skills and proven ability to produce quality reports;

● Ability to give presentations to wide audience of varying educational backgrounds; 

● Ability to work independently, shows good initiative and resourcefulness; prepared to work in difficult field situations; 

● Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team in a multi-cultural context; 

Desirable Requirements: To perform the wide range of tasks and excel in this position, the ideal candidate would also possess: 

● Exposure to the international arena either by direct work for an international institution/organization; or, if working for a national entity, by way of interacting with international stakeholders; 

● Intermediate level of one, or more, of the following official languages: French and Portuguese. 

● WFP’s international professionals are required to serve in different locations around the world during the course of their career (including in hardship duty stations); willingness to be mobile would maximise opportunities for long-term retention into the Organization. 

Learning Elements 

At the end of the two-year assignment, the JPO should have obtained: 

● Very good knowledge of market assessment, analysis and within an broader context of food security; 

● Good skills on statistical analysis and reporting; 

● Familiarity with general VAM concepts, tools and methods; 

● Good general understanding of WFP’s overall operations and activities in the region of assignment. 

Background Information 

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Southern Africa is home to 4 out of 10 most unequal countries in the world and is experiencing a combination of frequent and severe extreme Weather/climatic events, such as droughts and cyclones/flooding, macro-economic conditions and hunger and malnutrition which require a transformative and longer-term programme approach to address chronic vulnerability issues and build resilience.The region is also designated as a climate hotspot, and the food insecurity situation, which is currently estimated at nearly 51 million people, could be exacerbated by these challenges. VAM in Southern Africa aims to add value to existing information, generate insights and knowledge needed to eliminate hunger and reduce malnutrition in Southern Africa, and make it useful and accessible to WFP, governments and partners.This is achieved through the implementation of the Southern Africa regional VAM strategy which aims to reposition VAM to achieve Zero Hunger 2030 Agenda. In addition,VAM is overseeing a technical assistance programme to strengthen national vulnerability assessment and analysis programme. Therefore, the purpose of the assignment is to provide effective operational and analytical support through provision of timely and relevant evidence and early warning for market functionality and suitability of cash-based modality as part of WFP food assistance in the region, oversee capacity development for Governments,WFP and partners in market monitoring and assessment. 

Application Instructions 

The JPO Program selection process is carried out jointly by USAID/BHA andWFP. You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply.

To apply please send 

1. completed UN Personal History Statement (P11) (see link below), 

2. resume (CV) and; 

3. cover letter to explain your interest in this position 

Send the above to BHA.JPOCoordinator@usaid.gov .

Please state which position you are applying for in the subject line of your email. If you wish to apply for multiple positions, please complete a Personal History Statement (P11) for each position and submit these to us in separate emails with the appropriate subject heading. 

Application Details 

Please complete the UN Personal History Statement (P11) thoroughly. The P11 provides the opportunity to include all required information in one document, including your professional work experience and references. Please attach a cover letter to explain your interest in the position and interest in working with the UN, along with a general resume. The P11 has instructions on how to complete the profile; however, please be sure to also follow the additional instructions below: 

● The P11 must be completed in English only. You can find the P11 form at BHA job website. 

● You may leave the signature/date sections blank at this time. If selected for one of the positions, you will then need to submit a signed version. 

● Do not submit a photograph. 

● Incomplete applications will not be considered; 

● Application deadline: January 31, 2022, 5:00 PM Eastern Time 

● For more information please consult the Frequently Asked Questions– https://bhajobs.net/files/resources/FAQ_JPO.pdf