Consultant for a WFP-IFPRI Project “Delivering Social Assistance in Fragile and Conflict Setting: Does the method of delivery matter?”

Job Summary and background

Social safety nets (SSNs) are essential programs for mitigating poverty and promoting food security, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings. The WFP and IFPRI are partnering to conduct a rigorous research study to improve the effectiveness of SSN delivery methods in these challenging environments. The study aims to evaluate the relative impact of delivering methods on program beneficiaries in Sudan. The findings will inform evidence-based decision-making for WFP and other humanitarian organizations designing and implementing SSN programs in fragile and conflict settings.

Objective

The overall objective of this consultancy is to recruit a qualified consultant to provide technical leadership and expertise in implementing, monitoring, and analyzing a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the impact of different social assistance delivery methods in a fragile and conflict-affected setting. The consultant will be responsible for the logistical management of the study, enumerator management, preparing reports, and supporting travel and meetings.

Essential Duties (include but are not limited to)

1) Logistical management:

o Implementing transfers to beneficiaries in collaboration with WFP colleagues.

o Liaise with all relevant internal and external stakeholders, including government officials, local communities, and NGOs, to ensure smooth implementation and data collection.

o Regularly coordinate WFP officers to ensure accurate beneficiary intervention.

o Ensure implementation of activities and transfers as prescribed in the experiment.

o Maintain daily communication and working relationships with IFPRI researchers to ensure that the evaluation design is implemented accurately and to communicate intervention issues as they arise in the field.

2) Enumerators management:

o Closely monitor the daily performance of enumerators, during data collection, and report data collection progress and challenges to IFPRI and WFP on a weekly basis.

o Assist enumerators’ training so that enumerators become familiar with the data collection survey tool and the online data collection software.

o Promptly respond to questions raised by enumerators in the field regarding the survey tool or any other obstacle faced by them during data collection.

o Support with Arabic/English translation and software testing of the survey.

o Arrange data quality measures (call-backs, field visits, etc.).

o Respond to IFPRI enquiries regarding data issues during and after data collection.

3) Preparing the implementation and field report:

o Oversee the project’s implementation progress and data collection progress.

o Manage reporting requirements for the project as per WFP guidelines.

o Serve as the primary contact person regarding WFP’s policies and procedures.

o Draft official memorandums/letters to local IRBs and other stakeholders, as needed.

4) Support with logistics for travel and in-person (in Sudan) and virtual meeting for project team.

5) Performing other duties as required by WFP and IFPRI.

Required Qualifications and Experience

· Bachelors’ Degree (or equivalent qualifications) in a relevant discipline.

· Extensive organizational and communications skills.

· Demonstrated fluency in written and spoken English and formal Arabic.

· Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team-oriented multi-cultural environment.

· Demonstrated ability to multi-task as needed, consistently meet deadlines, and manage time well.

· Demonstrated professional level of attention to detail and accuracy of work.

· Ability to work independently and with initiative.

· Interest and motivation for supporting research for informing humanitarian and development priorities.

· Previous experience with the UN system or in a research environment.

· Prior project management experience, particularly working for UN agencies or other international organizations is highly desirable.

· At least 5-7 years’ relevant experience.

Reporting

The consultant will report directly to the WFP and IFPRI project leads.

Duration of the Contract

The consultancy is expected to be for a period of [8] months, starting from [May 20, 2024].

Duty Station

The duty station for this consultancy will be Port Sudan in Sudan. However, some travel within Sudan may be required.