IMPACCT Working Group Coordinator
Consultancy opportunities with the World Food Programme based in its Headquarters in Rome, Italy
Do you have extensive experience with international customs and emergency response? Do you have a deep knowledge & understanding of customs regulations, standards, and responsible bodies? Do you have experience of supply chain in emergency response and the crucial role of customs and importation in facilitating efficient response? If yes, this opportunity is for you!
We are looking for candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. We select our candidates on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.
Currently, we are seeking to identify possible candidates to join our team.
ABOUT GLOBAL LOGISTICS CLUSTER & THE IMPACCT WORKING GROUP
The Global Logistics Cluster (GLC) is part of the humanitarian architecture of the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC), together with other 10 global clusters. It is led by WFP and it is about enhancing cooperation and partnerships in the Logistics sector. The GLC works directly with its partners and stakeholders to coordinate the Logistics response during a humanitarian crisis. Its partners and stakeholders include international NGOs, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, other UN organizations, Governments, academia and Donors. The GLC was formally endorsed by the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) on the 15 December 2010.
The Global Logistics Cluster Support Team (GLCST) contributes to the implementation of the IASC Reference Module for Cluster Coordination at country level in line with the WFP Executive Director Directive on "WFP Leadership in IASC Clusters". The Cluster approach is about enhancing cooperation and partnerships in the logistics sector.
The IMPortation And Customs Clearance Together (IMPACCT) Working Group was founded in 2017 to address delays in importation and customs clearance processes for humanitarian aid. The focus of the IMPACCT Working Group has primarily been on the importation of relief items during natural disasters. IMPACCT receives requests from humanitarian partners regarding the cross-border movement of relief items during complex emergencies and coordinates with official sources of information to enable relief items to pass efficiently. The IMPACCT Working Group represents a network of strategic partners coming together to develop collective and coordinated approaches and tools to support national coordination mechanisms related to customs and importation processes for disaster relief goods and equipment.
JOB PURPOSE
The IMPACCT lead oversees the implementation of the IMPACCT working group strategy and will coordinate on operational matters with the GLC operations team, the IMPACCT working group and national and international partners and stakeholders as necessary. The IMPACCT lead will be accountable for coordinating with national authorities in the event of any emergency response that requires the cross-border movement of relief supplies.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
1. Global outreach and communication
• Build increased awareness through outreach, coordination, and networks.
• Represent the IMPACCT Working Group at the highest levels with international and national customs officials, and other government and inter-government officials.
• Strengthen partnerships with humanitarian agencies to ensure that best practices, guidelines, and recommendations are considered in all humanitarian responses.
• Advocate at high level, and with implementers (State or non-State), for the implementation of internationally recommended measures by Member States to facilitate and speed up the importation of emergency relief items.
• Promote coordination and cross-fertilization of ideas.
• Regularly capture challenges and good practices to import emergency relief items.
2. Preparedness
• Serve as the primary focal point with the logistics officers involved in the implementation of tailored country-specific activities to increase the preparedness of governmental regulatory agencies and humanitarian partners.
• Increase the availability and quality of training materials and opportunities for humanitarian partners to enhance their skills and understanding of the sector, and provision of platforms for information sharing on importation and customs.
• Strengthen the collaboration with the Health Cluster and the Emergency Telecommunication cluster.
3. Support to disaster response efforts
• Represent the humanitarian logistics community in meetings with national, regional, and international authorities and regulators as necessary and appropriate.
• Serve as the primary focal point with national cross-border agencies involved in importation and customs clearance processes of humanitarian aid.
• Share information and publish bulletins on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures.
• Collate information on bureaucratic impediments and ensure these are addressed at the right level.
OTHER
• Perform any other relevant duties as required
• Take responsibility for an equitable and inclusive workplace which incorporates all dimensions of the WFP diversity and inclusion framework.
STANDARD MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Education
• University degree in relevant field (incl. Law, Logistics, Supply Chain, Development, Management, Business Administration, Political Sciences, International Relations, or another related field).
Experience
You have at least six (6) years of relevant international professional experience in the disciplines of preparation of disaster response law, developing contingency plans and standard operating procedures for the importation and customs clearance of emergency relief goods. Specific experience in which the development of instruments similar to the proposed toolkit will be assessed.
You have extensive experience in working with Bureaucratic & Administrative Impediments related data, and developing tools to gather and analyse such information, as well as developing plans of action to identify bottlenecks and propose relevant solutions to address the identified common issues.
Languages
• Business Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Fluency in an additional UN language, preferably French or Spanish, is a plus.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
• Strong understanding of international good practice in emergency management
• Strong knowledge of importation and customs procedures for emergency management at the national and international level.
• Extended experience in building trust with authorities and other stakeholders to understand and respect humanitarian principles, and humanitarian partners to consistent understand and respect national rules and regulations.
• Experience in devising strategies and high-level policy recommendations for cross-border movement of aid.
• Have a good understanding of the humanitarian community and the United Nations.
• Have a robust network of humanitarian partners, including customs officials.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.
Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP:
http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS Application deadline: 04 October 2022 (midnight Rome time)
Please note
i. Your CV must be submitted in English
ii. You must submit a Cover letter in English with your application
