Monitoring Officer -- Location: Chagang

A consortium of 5 agencies (Mercy Corps, World Vision, Christian Friends of Korea, Global Resources Services and Samaritan’s Purse) is about to implement a multimillion dollar Single-Year Assistance Program (SYAP) in DPRK to response to the current food crisis. This program is funded from USAIDs Office of Food for Peace with objective to provide food to the most vulnerable populations in North Pyongan, South Pyongan, Chagang and South Hamgyong provinces through existing local institutions. The consortium, known as USNGOs will respond by addressing a number of overlapping and associated needs with food distribution activities, as well as on-going nutrition assessment and monitoring designed at improving the nutritional intake of vulnerable populations. The USNGOs goal for this program is to implement a successful feeding program according to international humanitarian standards in partnership with the Korea-America Private Exchange Society (KAPES) of the DPRK government, WFP, local institutions, and communities. The program is expected to start in June 2011 and will end one year from the start-date.

The Monitoring Officer will be one of a team of monitors from the USNGO partnership. The Monitoring Officer will work collaboratively with this team to provide on the ground monitoring of the program, overseeing the shipping, storage, handling and distribution of 165,000 metric tons of US food aid commodities. The position will be based within DPRK in either Pyongyang or in one of four provinces mentioned above.
Assess beneficiary selection. DPRK representatives will choose specific beneficiaries according to agreed upon criteria. The Monitoring Officer will assess beneficiary selection by comparing how recipients compare to the established criteria for their selection. This will take place visits to distribution sites, taking place after only the minimum amount of notice of 24 hours is made with DPRK authorities.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assess commodity distribution. DPRK representatives will provide the USNGOs a Global Implementation Plan for distribution to meet the needs of the intended beneficiaries. The Monitoring Officer will assess the implementation of those plans, during the random visits to distribution sites for institutional and other recipients as well as home visits.
• Assess commodity handling and storage. Food aid commodities will be shipped from the port of entry to local, government-controlled distribution sites by DPRK representatives. The Monitoring Officer will monitor the transportation, storage, and distribution, and recording of commodities, to ascertain that international standards are met in order to maintain the accountability of the US NGOs to their beneficiaries and ensure the quality of commodities.
• Capacity building. Many of the food commodities will be distributed to vulnerable populations through institutions such as hospitals, orphanages and schools. Where relevant, the Monitoring Officer will provide capacity building to these institutions to enable them to better meet the needs of their clients. Capacity building can include such subjects as commodity management training, food processing and preparation, and health and nutrition.
• Reporting. The Monitoring officer will ensure all relevant documentation from the PDCs, clinics and other institutions are collected before the end of the month. This are included but not limited to signed beneficiary list, waybills, warehouse physical inventory report, loss/damage report, etc. The Monitoring Officer also provides regular updates into the commodity tracking system managed by World Vision and produces monthly narrative progress report. Monitoring reports will also be provided to the Head of Office.
• Evaluate program impact. The Monitoring Officer will evaluate the impact that the US NGO program has on the food security status of the targeted geographic area to determine how well activities are having their intended effect and to recommend adjustments as needed.
  Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

REQUIRED:
• MA/S or equivalent experience in international development, nutrition/health, agriculture, logistics/commodity management or other relevant field.
• 3 to 5 years’ of demonstrated experience managing and/or evaluating food security programs and commodity resources from USAID/FFP, USDA and other donors, particularly those with a substantial food distribution component.
• Experience working in isolated conditions.
• Effective verbal and written communication including proven ability to conduct oneself with sensitivity and respect toward others.
• Strong diplomatic and negotiating skills are essential.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in difficult and isolated conditions. Ability to work cooperatively with team members.
• This post requires a high computer literacy with full knowledge of office applications.
• Prior experience working in the DPRK is highly valued.
• Working proficiency in both spoken and written Korean is preferred, with good knowledge of English absolutely necessary.

Monitoring Officer -- Location: Chagang