JOB TITLE:                                       Evaluation Analyst (Impact Evaluation)

TYPE OF CONTRACT:                       CSLT Regular (Level 1)

UNIT/DIVISION:                            Office of Evaluation

DUTY STATION (City, Country):    Rome, Italy

DURATION:                                     11 months full time.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The WFP Evaluation Policy 2022 reinforces WFP's commitment to evidence-based decision-making and a culture of learning and accountability. Impact evaluations, as defined in the policy, play a pivotal role in assessing the attributable changes in development outcomes resulting from WFP's programs and policies. Impact evaluations are managed and conducted by the Impact Evaluation Unit in WFP’s independent Office of Evaluation (OEV), in partnership with external experts.

In line with this commitment, OEV established a dedicated Cash for Nutrition workstream, in partnership with WFP’s Nutrition Division, Gender, Protection, and Inclusion Division, and the Gates Foundation

The initiative aims to generate rigorous evidence to inform the design, targeting, and implementation of cash interventions, especially layering digital innovations into cash prorgamming to boost women’s and children’s health and nutrition-related outcomes.

A key component of OEV’s approach is the use of "lean" impact evaluations, designed for rapid implementation and adaptability to the dynamic nature of humanitarian settings. OEV also supports knowledge sharing, collaboration, and capacity building in impact evaluation, bringing together stakeholders from across the humanitarian and development sectors.

THE ROLE

This Evaluation Analyst (Impact Evaluation) will support impact evaluations and related activities, aligning with WFP's strategic priorities, the Evaluation Policy 2022, and the objectives of the Cash for Nutrition workstream. The Analyst will play a key role in designing, implementing, and analysing impact evaluations, contributing to a stronger evidence base for assistance and informing decision-making within WFP and the broader humanitarian community.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop and maintain comprehensive evaluation management tools, data repositories, and information systems, adhering to WFP's Impact Evaluation Quality Assurance System (IEQAS) and ethical standards.

Conduct literature reviews and data analysis to inform evaluation activities and ensure alignment with the latest research and best practices.

Support the utilisation of innovative data sources and collection techniques, keeping abreast of emerging trends related to randomised controlled trials and impact evaluation.

Provide data analysis support at all stages of impact evaluations (e.g., design, inception, data collection, analysis).

Participate in field missions as needed to support the implementation and management of impact evaluations, ensuring adherence to WFP's operational guidelines and safety protocols.

Support enumerator training for data collection and provide technical guidance on data quality checks and analysis, ensuring data accuracy and reliability.

Assist in the development of robust sampling and randomization protocols, ensuring ethical considerations are prioritized and potential biases are minimized, in line with lean impact evaluation principles.

Closely monitor the implementation process to ensure alignment with the evaluation design and data collection protocols.

Co-author briefs, reports, and other evaluation-related publications, adhering to WFP's reporting standards and quality assurance processes.

Support capacity building for WFP staff throughout the impact evaluation process, fostering a culture of evaluation and learning within the organization.

Synthesize and disseminate lessons learned from impact evaluations, highlighting successful approaches, effective tools, and key findings, contributing to organizational learning and knowledge sharing.

Support evaluation trainings and events aimed to raise awareness and build capacity for WFP staff.

Support the cash for nutrition community of practice (10%):

Support OEV efforts to fostering a community of practice on cash for nutrition impact evaluations, connecting researchers, evaluators, and practitioners across different organizations and sectors, leveraging the Impact Evaluation Forums as a platform for engagement and knowledge sharing.

Prepare comprehensive briefings and presentations to effectively communicate the evaluation results to external stakeholders, tailoring the communication to different audiences and needs.

Support the coordination of external events, conferences, and workshops (including the Impact Evaluation Forums) to share findings and engage with the broader community, promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Other Duties as Assigned by the Director of Evaluation

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

Complete library of well-organized evaluation products, databases and process as per OEV standard procedures;

Record of active support and CO engagement for the cash for nutrition workstream.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:            · Masters or doctoral degree in academic disciplines relevant to assignment (gender studies, evaluation, economics, political science, development studies, etc.).

Experience:  · Either a master’s degree and 3 years professional experience, or completed doctoral degree in relevant field. Experience supporting the delivery of impact evaluations in countries where WFP is operational.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Solid knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods used for identifying and measuring gender-transformative outcomes (e.g. survey design, implicit association tests, etc.).
• Demonstrated interest and practical experience in assessing intra-household dimensions of gender is desirable.
• Proficiency in using statistical software packages (Stata, R, Python, etc.).
• Fully computer-literate with excellent skills in Word, Excel, Power Point and database management.
• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively and sensitively in diverse teams. Experience working with government partners is desirable.
• Excellent communication skills, written, verbal and visual. Experience effectively translating between academics and practitioners is highly desirable.
• Well organized and systematic.