BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

WFP’s Country Strategic Plan 2018-2022 has six strategic outcomes and is fully aligned with national policy objectives, including Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the Third National Development Plan (NDP III). Through the CSP, WFP addresses the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition, supports the refugee response and strengthens social protection systems. WFP assistance is provided through direct implementation, evidence generation, knowledge sharing and capacity strengthening, while building strategic partnerships including through South-South and Triangular Co-operation.

In support of WFP Country Office in line with the Country strategic plan (CSP), the Research, Assessment and Monitoring unit undertakes regular large-scale surveys, monitoring activities, rapid assessments, and mapping services to inform with updated food security information including economic and price data. These helps programmatic, policy decisions and advocacy efforts.

The Research Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) portfolio includes activities to address national and local-level capacities with the potential to support the management of disasters and climate change risks, through the automatization of processes, and systems, promoting innovations and analysis of existing data, data collected using mobile technology, modelling, forecasting, and geospatial analysis. Under RAM, WFP Uganda ensures to reflect the concerns and needs of our beneficiaries, and the availability of high-quality data from the Community Feedback Mechanism (CFM), and Community engagement.

RAM is a core area for WFP and forms the basis for our operations' design and support. Prior to any intervention for Disaster Risk Management and Response, WFP in coordination with government and partners, undertakes an analysis of the food security situation and answers some critical questions: who is food insecure or vulnerable and why?; how many are they and where do they live?; what should be done to save their lives and livelihoods?; how is the situation likely to evolve and, what are the risks threatening them?

Related to changing lives activities, RAM provides geospatial and economic analysis, food security monitoring and assessments, and thematic analysis (related to climate change, resilience, markets and food systems). This contributes to effective targeting and defines the most appropriate type and scale of intervention (such as food distribution, school feeding, and cash-based transfer programmes).

In 2024, WFP Uganda CO has prioritized the refinement of the prioritization model for General Food Assistance, the launch of the self-reliance model and strengthening transformative food systems, the expansion of Cash Based Transfers, the strengthening of retailers monitoring, the strengthening of social protection systems, climate-sensitive approaches, the nutrition strategy and the continuous work to support evidence-based decision making processes.

Therefore, in this role, you will contribute to enhancing analysis and geospatial analysis, visualisation of assessments, monitoring and any tool to ensure accountability to affected populations in Uganda CO.

KEY ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The RAM data analyst and GIS officer will operate with a high degree of independence. It will report to the Vulnerability Analysis & Mapping Officer (Climate change Anticipatory Action, Resilience, Early Warning, Geo-spatial Analysis), and will undertake the following responsibilities:

1. Develop protocols and procedures to ensure Two-way Accountability (from implementers to beneficiaries) and Transparency of Food Security and Nutrition Assessments and Analysis
   • Contribute to (or lead when requested) the development of data analysis and management protocols, scripts, cleaning, storage and integration of databases of RAM assessments, monitoring, community Feedback Mechanism, and Community Engagement exercises.
   • Ensure high-quality, timely analysis and data visualization of assessment, monitoring and qualitative data.
   • Design the master database for WFP Uganda, allowing mapping of activities (area of intervention at Final Distribution Point, data collection tools coding)

1. Ensure high standards of quality, reliability and validity of the data and analysis in line with WFP's privacy and protection guidelines.
   • Ensure and/or perform accurate, timely recording of data, including data from third parties to avoid duplications.
   • Provide specialized project management support to specific and/or defined programmes to ensure that the various activities are performed within the established targets.
   • Prepare a range of progress reports and data analysis of the projects/ initiatives of the unit (Assessments, monitoring, reconciliation, markets, resource utilization) and highlight trends/issues ensuring deliverables adhere to corporate standards and quality control.
   • Prepare a repository of data (official sources) and update following protocols and procedures (metadata).
   • Write program code to support the development and implementation of efficient and effective data collection solutions, assist in the installation, configuration and customization of systems ensuring compliance with Government and WFP’s data privacy and data sharing standards, guidelines and procedures.
2. Support Data-driven evidence-based decision-making process in a timely manner according to programmatic and strategic needs. (data preparedness)
   • Assist in preparing materials and delivering training on GIS, quality assurance, data analysis, data privacy and protection, etc.
   • Provide technical support and assist in developing and implementing activities and process alignment for data visualisation.
   • Prepare data visualization products (dashboards, maps) for WFP ongoing projects/initiatives (coverage) and government support (online data library) with innovative systems and solutions.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:  A bachelor’s/master’s in data science, Geospatial analysis, GIS, Statistics, Computer Science or related areas.

Experience:  Minimum of four (4) years of postgraduate of relevant and progressive experience in data analysis, statistics, and assessments within food security, agriculture, nutrition, GIS or a closely related area, such as health, research, economics or information management systems.

Knowledge & Skills:

-   Extensive experience managing teams in complex contexts and promoting a highly collaborative and respectful workplace environment

-   Has contributed to implementation of programmes.
-   Has observed or assisted with policy discussions
-   Advanced experience in statistical analysis and mapping software like SQL, ARCGis, Statistical modeling/Machine learning.
-   Experience in the design or implementation of capacity strengthening on data collection, assessments, analytic work.
-   Experience in collaborative work with national governments, UN agencies, and NGOs, as well as key stakeholders in the area of food security.
-   Experience with data assurance applications.

Languages:  Fluency in oral and written English, including strong writing skills