Programme Associate (M&E)

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, established to save lives in emergencies and to use food assistance as a means to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. WFP operates in numerous countries around the globe, employing thousands of individuals dedicated to humanitarian efforts. The organization is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging qualified candidates from various backgrounds to apply. WFP has been recognized for its efforts, notably being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, which underscores its commitment to addressing hunger and promoting security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security worldwide. WFP's mission is driven by its core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion, which guide its operations and interactions with partners and beneficiaries. The organization invests significantly in the professional development of its employees, offering training, mentorship, and opportunities for career advancement across its global offices.

Job Overview:
The Programme Associate (M&E) position is crucial for the effective monitoring and evaluation of school meal programs in Sindh, Pakistan. The incumbent will work closely with the School Meal M&E Officer and will be responsible for ensuring that the school meal activities are implemented in alignment with WFP's objectives and operational guidelines. This role requires a proactive approach to monitoring, where the associate will independently verify the progress of program implementation, identify gaps, and support evidence-based decision-making to enhance the effectiveness of the program. The position emphasizes the importance of data collection, analysis, and reporting, which are vital for maintaining accountability and improving program delivery. The Programme Associate will coordinate monitoring activities across various districts, ensuring timely reporting and effective communication with stakeholders, including schools, government counterparts, and cooperating partners. This role is not only about oversight but also involves capacity building for staff and partners involved in the program, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge for effective monitoring and evaluation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical support in planning, implementing, and monitoring school meal activities, ensuring they align with WFP objectives and M&E frameworks.
• Manage and monitor school meal projects to ensure adherence to established plans and WFP policies.
• Prepare and analyze monitoring reports, field findings, and program performance indicators, recommending corrective actions as necessary.
• Ensure accurate collection and management of monitoring data related to school meals, maintaining data quality for reporting.
• Liaise with internal counterparts to support coordination and reporting of school meal activities.
• Communicate with schools, partners, and stakeholders to verify program delivery and address challenges.
• Support capacity strengthening of WFP staff and partners on monitoring tools and reporting requirements.
• Serve as a focal point for monitoring queries, providing guidance and resolving operational issues.
• Supervise field monitoring activities, ensuring compliance with standards. 1
• Ensure adherence to WFP’s data protection policy at the field level. 1
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the school meals team.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a completion of secondary school education, with a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s) in social sciences, public health/nutrition, project management, development studies, or equivalent disciplines being desirable. Candidates should possess strong statistical and analytical skills, as well as excellent interpersonal and communication abilities. The ability to work independently with minimal supervision is essential, along with proficiency in Excel and database management software.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have completed secondary school education, with a preference for those holding a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s) in relevant fields such as social sciences, public health/nutrition, project management, or development studies. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of program management and evaluation in a humanitarian context.

Experience:
A minimum of 6 years of experience in project cycle management, monitoring implementation, and data collection, processing, and analysis systems is required. This experience should demonstrate the candidate's ability to manage and evaluate programs effectively, ensuring that they meet established objectives and standards.

Languages:
Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Urdu is mandatory. Knowledge of the local language, Sindhi, is highly desired, as it will facilitate better communication with local stakeholders and beneficiaries.

Additional Notes:
This position is a fixed-term contract for a duration of 12 months, based in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is specifically open to Pakistan Nationals, with a strong encouragement for qualified women to apply. The role offers a competitive benefits package, including salary, pension, medical insurance, and various forms of leave. Additionally, this vacancy announcement will be used to build a roster of prequalified applicants for future opportunities within the same job profile at the current or lower level in Pakistan. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment and supports individuals with disabilities by offering reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.