PEACE CORPS RESPONSE VOLUNTEER POSITION DESCRIPTION

Country: Assignment Title: Partnering Organization: # PCRVs Requested: Desired Start Date: Length of Assignment: Guatemala Technical Assistant in Monitoring and Evaluation Secretary of Food and Nutritional Security (SESAN) 4 September/2013 12 months

Partner Background:
Name: Secretary of Food and Nutritional Security (SESAN) Type: National Governmental Organization Title of PCRV Counterpart: Working since: April 6, 2005 Organizations Mission and Vision: SESAN is the agency responsible for the planning, coordination, integration, and monitoring of interventions for food and nutritional security among the public sector, society and international cooperation agencies in Guatemala to optimize efforts and resources in order to achieve greater impact in the country. Their goal is that the Guatemalan population, especially the most vulnerable, reach their full potential, based on a sustainable food and nutrition security for achieving full and productive life, this being a commitment by the whole society. SESAN is responsible for operational coordination ministerial is responsible for operational coordination ministerial Strategic Plan for Food and Nutritional Security, as well as joint programs and projects of the various national and international institutions related to food and nutritional security in the country. It will be responsible for establishing procedures for technical planning and coordination among state institutions, Guatemalan society, NGOs and international cooperation agencies at the national, departmental, municipal and community. Please download the work plan, Zero Hunger Pact (PPH0) with goals and objectives at this link: http://www.sesan.gob.gt/index.php/documentos

Project Background and Purpose:

In 2010, USAID launched an international initiative, called Feed the Future in order to support vulnerable women, children and family members, in their escape from hunger and poverty. Feed the future helps countries transform their own agricultural sectors to make a larger contribution to sustainably meeting their food security goals and services to advance their nutrition and prevent stunting and child mortality. Peace Corps, in contribution to this initiative is partnering with SESAN in order to improve the food security situation in Guatemala where 49.8% of children under 5 years old are chronically malnourished even while the most important economic activity is agriculture. Most of the rural population cultivates only corn and beans, which constitute the basic diet, creating a serious problem of chronic malnutrition, manifesting through irreparable damage to cognitive development, low productivity levels and vulnerability to disease. To address the problem of chronic malnutrition, severe malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and food and nutrition insecurity affecting the country, based on the Politics and Law of the National Food and Nutrition Security, the Government of Guatemala and representatives from all sectors of the country, signed the Pact of Zero Hunger in February 2012, starting a national movement and a commitment to state seeking addressed directly and blunt the problem of hunger in the country.

In this context, the SESAN coordinates the development of the Zero Hunger Pact with Ministries, Departments of State and various members of the public, private and international cooperation. This Plan is the political and operational realization of the Strategic Plan for Food and Nutrition Security (WEIGH) 20122016. The Zero Hunger Pact is the Government roadmap for operationalizing the Covenant with the participation of all sectors to join in changing the country in this national effort. The M&E PCRV will be assigned to support the functions of the department level SESAN in urban Guatemalan municipality and will work in the surrounding communities during the 1-year assignment. The PCRV will primarily support in training and supervising the successful implementation of the Annual Operating Plan for Food Security and Nutrition (POASAN), consequently the Zero Hunger Pact within the department. The general objectives of this volunteer include quantitative analysis and training partners with documentation and facilitating the exchange of knowledge between them. The M&E technical assistants will work in close coordination with the PCRV serving as an M&E Coordinator in the central part of the region. By the end of the assignment, the PCRV will have: Prepared a training plan and trained on basic practices of tracking, monitoring and evaluation in conjunction with departmental delegates of SESAN; Reviewed the annual food and nutritional security plan at the departmental level; Reviewed, integrated and consolidated data generated by SIMON; Coordinated, directed and evaluated M&E processes at the departmental and municipal level together with delegates of SESAN.

Country Programming:
This assignment will complement, extend and provide technical expertise to objectives of monitoring and evaluation under posts Food Security Project that is to be phased out in November of 2013. It will also aid in the strengthening of a global partnership that Peace Corps holds with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by contributing in the Global Hunger & Food Security Initiative, Feed the Future. For reporting purposes, this assignment will fall under the Feed the Future, Whole of Government, indicators that Peace Corps contributes to. This particular assignment will contribute to the accuracy and reporting into project indicators.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Support the implementation of tools for the monitoring and evaluation of programs related to food and nutritional security; Accompany and support the processes of coordination, planning, monitoring and evaluation of cooperation activities between SESAN and GIA; Assist in the coordination and facilitation of departmental and municipal food and nutritional security meetings in reorientation processes of the POASAN and SIMON; Prepare reports on outcomes and learning; Organize events for learning and knowledge sharing for SESAN partners.

Mandatory Qualifications:
Proficient in written and spoken Spanish; Excellent oral and written communications skills; Proactive leader with a positive, problem-solving attitude that is able to work under pressure and with a multi-sectoral and multicultural team; Availability to work flexible hours and travel and/or live in rural areas; Experience in using adult education methods for teaching; Experience in conducting research; Relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation; Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative research methods, and data analysis.

Desired Qualifications:
University degree in one or more of the following disciplines: Statistics, Administration or Computer Sciences; Experience within the last three years in the management or implementation of different methods for monitoring and evaluation of rural development programs; Experience working with government, non-governmental and international cooperation.

Working Conditions:
The PCRVs work will be focused in the ethnically diverse communities of Guatemalas western highlands in homes and public meeting places in target villages working mostly with indigenous people of Mayan decent. The work on this assignment PCRV 50% of their time in monitoring and evaluation support in the field and in the office, 25% on the organization of courses and events and 25% for developing reports. PCRVs will need to use public transportation or walk to get to local communities however, Peace Corps does have a private shuttle system for all travel along the InterAmerican highway as a safety precaution and convenience to volunteers. The PCRV will have access to office space and will have access to computers/internet through internet cafes or personal USB modems for wireless internet. Cell phone service is good throughout Guatemala and PCRVs will be provided with a cellular phone for the period of their service. The PCRV will live close to the impacted and target communities. As appropriate, hiking at high elevation will be required. Eligible PCRVs must be physically able to walk potentially long distances at high altitude. If translation/interpretation services are required, the SESAN technicians will aid in looking for a community liaison for translation into the local Mayan language.

Supervision & Reporting Requirements:

The PCRV will report directly to the appointed departmental delegate of SESAN and periodically to posts Food Security/PCR Coordinator. All volunteers will also report to the Peace Corps Country Director as any Peace Corps Volunteer and will be expected to abide by all Peace Corps rules and regulations. The assigned PCRV will report to the appointed regional delegate of SESAN on a periodic basis. On a quarterly basis, Response Volunteers will report into the Food Security project framework using an electronic monitoring tool called the Volunteer Report Form. At the end of the assignment, PCRV will be expected to create a final report, presentation, evaluation, and Description of Service (DOS) that will be presented to both Peace Corps and SESAN. The PCRV must submit a copy of all materials created during the period of service with their final report to Peace Corps as well as to SESAN.

Housing & Living Conditions:

PCRV housing can take many forms depending on the type of housing available in a particular location; however, the standard practice employed by the Peace Corps Guatemala is to place each volunteer with a host family, either living in a family compound or in a room within a home. This is due to higher rates of integration and the fact that volunteers living with host families are safer much more successful than in other situations. As always, security and safety will be a primary concern for all housing and living situations. Final housing will be determined in coordination with the SESAN personnel. The PCRV will likely have few options choose from. The PCRV will live in close proximity to other volunteers as the western highlands is a main area for project implementation and PCV interventions have been very successful there over the past few years. The assignment region has a relatively temperate climate with elevation of approximately 2,222 meters above sea level. The temperature drops at night to frost levels so appropriate attire is required. PCRV should bring clothing appropriate for layering to accommodate warm days and cold nights. The rainy season begins in May continues through October; therefore PCRV should also be prepared with rain gear.

Orientation:
Generally, Peace Corps orientation will last about 2 weeks including an orientation by the partnering organization. Peace Corps orientation includes the following sessions: medical, administrative policies and procedures, introduction to Peace Corps staff, PCRV project specific information, additional reporting requirements, culture and language introduction, safety and security, inclusion in the Emergency Action Plan, and swearing-in. SESAN will also provide a brief orientation to introduce the PCRV to key staff members, to discuss internal policies and procedures and to review the organizations general safety and security guidelines. In addition to orientation, PCRVs can prepare for this assignment prior to arrival by researching current practices used in monitoring and evaluation and adult learning methodologies for development projects.

Safety and Security:

All PCRV site assignments will be thoroughly reviewed by the Peace Corps Security Officer, Medical Team, and Food Security Coordinator prior to approval. It should be noted that during times of crisis, increased vigilance regarding personal safety is necessary. Peace Corps Guatemala has taken tremendous efforts to ensure safety of PCVs and it is expected that the PCRV will adhere to all post guidelines. The PCRV will receive a comprehensive safety and security briefing during orientation with Peace Corps. It is critical that PCRVs use caution and common sense and follow the security guidelines developed by Peace Corps/Guatemala. PCRVs who violate safety and security protocols may be administratively separated. Further information on safety and security can be found in the Welcome Booklet upon acceptance. Jim Bach & Jill Messinger 1111 20th Street, NW, 7th Floor Washington, DC 20526 Jbach@ peacecorps.gov & jmessinger@peacecorps.gov 1-800-424-8580, ext 1889 or 202-692-1889 Fax: 202-692-2251