Head of Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) Unit

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

6 July 2026-23:59-GMT+03:00 Arabian Standard Time (Aden)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its 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.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

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WHY JOIN WFP?

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

General Information
Title of Post: Head of Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) Unit
Grade: CST II
Supervisor: Country Director
Unit/Division: Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation (MLE)
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Aden, Yemen
Duration of Contract: 11 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, and the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetime. Every single day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

Vision of the Unit:
The vision for the Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation Unit is to actively and carefully monitor all WFP Yemen programmes using monitoring data to enable WFP Yemen to continuously adapt the implementation of its activities, to address operational constraints and changing realities, to invest in learning , to improve the design of future WFP programmes, to produce evidence of best practices to advocate among WFP partners for appropriate policy and programmes, and to hold itself accountable to the communities it serves and its partners to achieve results. The vision for the Monitoring and Learning system is based on three principles:
a) Evidence-based programming.
b) Evidence-based learning.
c) Accountability.

Purpose of the Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation Unit:
a) Act as custodian of Annual Planning and entire Programme Cycle Management in collaboration with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
b) Improve the quality of delivery of our interventions.
c) Inform and shape future design of projects and programmes.
d) Contribute to the efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and transparency of our interventions.
e) Capture learning to critically review our projects and programmes.

f) Capture learning for scaling up, replicating and promoting appropriate practices, and informing policy changes and development.

JOB PURPOSE:

As part of the Country Leadership Team, the Head of Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation Unit will contribute to WFP Yemen Country Office as a learning organization. The Head of MLE will lead the Monitoring, Analysis and Evaluation activities to enable improved planning and delivery and to ensure learning becomes a critical part of how WFP Yemen operates.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Contribute to the quality delivery of the Interim CSP 2026 – 2029, play a leadership role as stated in Yemen Country Office’s governance structure and support driving the corporate and country priorities. This includes reporting against iCSP log frame and ensuring the MLE activities are aligned to YECO iCSP.
• Define an integrated Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation workplan in a consultative manner to provide strategic direction to the team, identify key priorities and have a realistic plan of activities for the unit in alignment with MLE strategy
• Build a high performing team through demonstrating world class people management practices. Attract and recruit the best talents, lead in an inclusive manner, provide development, learning and coaching opportunities for the unit team members and for the extended teams in the Field Offices.
• Provide leadership and project management for the MLE unit to ensure the continuous improvement of the MLE modus operandi and evidence generation strategy in Yemen Country Office. This includes overseeing MLE operational implementation and TPM management, maintaining and regularly updating an agile evidence generation plan to meet evolving programmatic needs, managing MLE budgets, and leading the development and implementation of knowledge transfer events (KTEs) and related products.
• Ensure that Yemen Country Office and its cooperating partners (CP) use a well-prioritized M&E plan leveraging the proper tools that will provide the activity managers the most relevant and strategic information to manage the iCSP activities. This entails ensuring the integration of M&E plans in CP FLAs, developing CPs capacities, and establishing and maintaining feedback mechanisms to ensure continuous learning and improvement of evidence processes.
• Establish quality assurance and oversight mechanisms for MLE processes in general and TPM management in particular, to ensure Yemen Country Office has a coherent, reliable and valid approach in monitoring and assessing WFP’s outcomes and impact.
• Revise MLE guidelines and SOPs to ensure quality, coherence and effectiveness of monitoring activities at all levels: Country Office, Field Offices, and cooperating partners.
• Lead the assessment of data and identify additional and/or different monitoring requirements based on the analysis and interpretation of the iCSP dashboard results
• Lead the improvement and expansion of monitoring modalities, tools and check lists for new types of monitoring required, based on the assessment of data and on the changing context
• Assess and enhance existing monitoring reports and dashboards, and develop additional products, ensuring their relevance, accuracy, utility, and user-friendly formatting. Strengthen the overall user experience and maximize the usefulness and applicability of evidence for outcome owners, activity managers, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure quality management and continuous improvement of MLE Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) tools and activities, in alignment with WFP compliance strategy and in close consultation with the RMU unit. This includes relaunching and strengthening the CFM team and CP help desks, ensuring the timely and effective management of SugarCRM, and providing regular feedback to activity managers, field offices (FOs), and cooperating partners (CPs) on operational issues and beneficiary feedback related to programme implementation.
• Define a ML&E capacity development plan based on a comprehensive needs analysis aligned with the Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation Vision and Plan.
• Establish regular feedback mechanisms to ensure regular utilization and dissemination of evidence as well as following up on implementation of recommendations and corrective actions based on findings.
• Support the development of learning agendas for all activities managers to define the needs in terms of scaling up, replication, promotion of appropriate practices, policy and advocacy.
• Other relevant duties requested by line manager.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced University degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Development Studies, Economics, Agriculture Economics Statistics, or other relevant field.

Experience:

• At least eight (7) years of postgraduate progressively responsible and international professional experience in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning with expertise in setting up complex monitoring and learning systems, capacity development and establishment of results-based data systems.
• Experience managing teams with outstanding leadership and coaching skills.
• Work experience in humanitarian and development context is desirable.
• Experience in managing stakeholders. Ability to cultivate sustainable relationships with office colleagues, government authorities, local NGOs, and other implementation partners.
• Demonstrated extensive experience in research methodology and results-based programming, including the application of quantitative and qualitative (mixed-methods) approaches. Strong expertise in data analysis, data management, data reporting, data quality assurance, and knowledge management.

Language:

Fluency (level C) in English language. Knowledge of Arabic language is an added value.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong knowledge of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) frameworks, systems, and tools.
• Proven capacity development and coaching skills, with the ability to mentor and build institutional competencies.
• Solid expertise in results-based monitoring and evidence-based programming.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences effectively.
• Advanced analytical and research skills, combined with strong strategic thinking capabilities.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS :

• The applicant shouldn't be a Yemeni national.
• This position is required for a period of consecutive 11 months with a possibility of extension subject to operational needs and availability of funding in Yemen Country Office.
• Consultancy contracts will be subject to a mandatory break in service after a period of service of 11 continuous months.
• WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package in line with WFP HR Manual.
• Applications must be submitted online with:
• Use English language only
• Indicate all your job TOR
• Indicate clear years of experience with each job (Month/Year)
• By submitting your application, you have read the Terms of Reference for this position and agree that any false, wrong or incomplete information might lead to your disqualification in this recruitment process.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.

• We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.

• At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.