Economist and Targeting Analyst SC-8
Organizational Context
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives and building a pathway to peace and prosperity. WFP uses food assistance to support people recovering from conflict, disasters, and extreme weather. The organization values diversity, inclusion, and a high-performing workforce committed to its mission.
Job Purpose
The Economist and Targeting Analyst will significantly strengthen the Research, Assessment, and Monitoring (RAM) Unit in Ukraine by applying advanced macro and microeconomic principles, data analysis, and visualization skills. This role is crucial for informing WFP's operational response to the ongoing crisis by monitoring economic trends, assessing household food security, and analyzing market dynamics. The incumbent will conduct sophisticated targeting analysis, including statistical modeling and error measurement, to enhance the effectiveness of WFP's assistance programs, such as emergency food distributions and cash transfers. By contributing to evidence-based decision-making, developing operational targeting approaches, and documenting best practices, the Economist and Targeting Analyst will play a key role in ensuring that WFP's interventions are efficient, equitable, and impactful in supporting vulnerable populations affected by the conflict.
Responsibilities
The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking an Economist to join its Research, Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) Unit in Kyiv, Ukraine. This role involves strengthening the RAM team by applying expertise in macro and microeconomic principles, data analysis, presentation, and visualization. The Economist will focus on economic analysis, including monitoring macroeconomic trends, assessing their impact on household food security, and integrating market and household data to inform WFP's operational response and programme prioritization. A key responsibility will be supporting targeting-related research and innovation, coordinating the drafting of technical documents, and conducting advanced statistical analysis to improve targeting effectiveness and validate alternative approaches. This includes establishing monitoring systems, documenting findings, and ensuring alignment with WFP's strategic and policy frameworks. The position also involves cross-cutting RAM activities such as training data collectors, contributing to survey design and analysis plans, supporting evidence-based decision-making, and visualizing survey findings. The ideal candidate will be a team player with strong analytical and conceptual skills, proficient in statistical software like STATA, R, Python, SPSS, or Excel, and possess excellent English and Ukrainian language skills. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to WFP's mission of saving lives and changing lives in a challenging humanitarian context.
Work Experience
Requires at least one year of post-graduate, progressively responsible, and relevant experience in an analytical function. Specific experience in quantitative evaluation techniques, economic modeling, market price and time-series analysis, household survey data analysis, food security analysis, field data collection, or project monitoring and evaluation is necessary.
Skills
Macro and micro economic principles, Data analysis, Data presentation, Data visualization, Economic analysis, Targeting analysis, Quantitative evaluation techniques, Economic modeling, Econometric techniques, Market price and time-series analysis, Household survey data analysis, Food security analysis, Field data collection, Enumerator training, Project monitoring and evaluation, Statistical analysis, Regression modeling, Proxy means testing (PMT), Targeting error measurement, Predictive modeling, STATA, R, Python, SPSS, Excel, Tableau, XML coding, Writing skills, Problem-solving, Creativity