Senior Academic Advisor

OverviewDEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 3 February :59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome).WFP celebrates and embraces diversity.It is committed to equal employment opportunity for all employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.ABOUT WFP: The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.WFP aims to build diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion).For more information, visitWHY JOIN WFP?: WFP offers an inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment and invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and internal mobility opportunities.A career with WFP offers opportunities to work across country, regional, and global offices with colleagues who strive to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches millions.JOB TITLE: Senior Academic AdvisorTYPE OF CONTRACT: Daily ConsultancyUNIT/DIVISION: Office of Evaluation, World Food ProgrammeDUTY STATION: Remote basedDURATION: Between ***** days over a period of 11 monthsBackground and Purpose of the AssignmentThe Evaluation Policy **** strengthens WFP's contribution to ending global hunger by embedding evaluation into accountability and learning.Impact evaluation is defined as measuring changes in development outcomes attributable to a specific programme or policy through a credible counterfactual.WFP views rigorous impact evaluation as a tool to support learning and to generate policy-relevant evidence.The WFP Impact Evaluation Strategy has four objectives: (1) contribute to the evidence base for global goals; (2) deliver operationally relevant evaluations; (3) maximize responsiveness to evolving contexts; (4) harness best tools and technologies for Impact Evaluation.The Office of Evaluation builds capacity to deliver impact evaluations in humanitarian contexts and collaborates with external experts.The assignment sits within a Gates Foundation funded, multi-country impact evaluation on cash transfers and women's empowerment, among other topics.The project will implement harmonized impact evaluations in Kenya, Somalia, and Bangladesh to study cash delivery to women and related outcomes.This is the first phase of a multi-year project with potential extension based on performance and funding.Accountabilities/ResponsibilitiesProvide senior academic and technical advice and quality assurance at all stages of the impact evaluation, including reviewing the impact evaluation concept note, surveys, and analytical plans; collaborate with the Office of Evaluation Impact Evaluation Unit; and participate in possible mission travel.Review or develop deliverables related to the impact evaluation, including ethical clearance applications, concept notes, surveys, data collection procedures, data quality checks, sample size calculations, quantitative analysis plans, qualitative protocols, interim presentations, design/results materials, and dissemination outputs.Support dissemination of impact evaluation work through policy and academic channels for diverse audiences, including policymakers, practitioners, and media.Miscellaneous notes: The Office of Evaluation retains ownership of design, implementation, and outputs.Data shared will be anonymized; care will be taken to remove PII.Data may only be used for the impact evaluation unless written consent is obtained.All academic outputs may be co-authored with WFP staff.The consultant will adhere to ethical and legal standards.Deliverables at the End of the ContractDeliverables are defined within each assignment and may include reviewing IRB applications, editing concept notes and surveys, co-leading midline presentations, and coordinating with the evaluation team.If extended, potential deliverables include endline analysis, final reports, and dissemination activities.Qualifications & Experience RequiredEducation:PhD-level degree in a relevant field (economics, international development, public health, public policy, or social sciences).Experience:At least 12 years in managing or conducting research and impact evaluations in humanitarian or development contexts (8 years post-PhD).Demonstrated research on women's empowerment, gender dynamics, and/or maternal and child health/nutrition; strong publication record.Knowledge & Skills:Extensive experience with qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods; proven experience in development/humanitarian evaluations; knowledge of UN systems and evaluation norms; understanding of gender and human rights considerations in evaluation; strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to convey complex technical information clearly.Languages:English fluency; Level B in another UN language (French or Spanish).WFP Leadership FrameworkWFP Leadership Framework outlines standard behaviors for how we work together to accomplish our mission.Reasonable AccommodationWFP provides reasonable accommodations during recruitment.If you require accommodation, please contact:No Fee DisclaimerThe United Nations does not charge any application or processing fees.Be cautious of solicitations for payment and protect personal information when applying online.Reminders Before You Submit Your ApplicationApplications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruitment system.For technical support, contact (not for applications).Prepare your CV and Cover Letter; additional documents may be requested later; only shortlisted candidates will be notified.All employment decisions are based on merit and organizational needs.WFP is committed to a harassment- and discrimination-free workplace and will conduct rigorous reference and background checks.#J-*****-Ljbffr