Programme Policy Officer – Climate Change

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Climate change multiplies existing threats to food security, hunger and malnutrition. Expected impacts of climate change include an increase in the number and intensity of climate related disasters, increased scarcity and lack of access to land and water, decreases in agricultural productivity. Impacts will be felt disproportionally by the most vulnerable people, the majority of whom live in fragile areas prone to natural hazards, ultimately putting hundreds of millions of people at risk. The World Food Programme (WFP) approaches the challenge of climate change from the point of view of its impact on hunger and under nutrition through activities that manage climate risk, build resilience and help people adapt to climate change.

Food insecurity in Ecuador has increased significantly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with those most vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition having faced difficult challenges to meet essential needs. The conflict in Ukraine started at a time when Ecuador was already dealing with the economic damages caused by COVID-19, resulting in rising inflation, production deficits and strained Government capacity to offset the effects of the pandemic. The Economist Intelligence Unit, reporting in June 2022, expects consumer price inflation in Ecuador to accelerate to an average of 4.6 percent in 2022, the fastest annual pace since 2012. Two global factors will exert upward pressure over the coming months, namely the rises in global prices for energy and agricultural commodities. As a result of the crisis, WFP’s latest remote assessment (March 2022) shows that almost 16 percent of Ecuadorians intend to migrate to other countries, with more seeking to migrate internally.

At the same time, the impacts of climate change threaten to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and lead to displacement and external and internal migration, which may lead to reduced social cohesion in receiving communities, reduced economic growth across the country, and reduced food security. Across the world but particularly in Ecuador, climate change is leading to warming temperatures, increased extreme weather activity, and water scarcity – a trend that is expected to increase by 2050 and onward. Of particular concern is the potential for rural outflows, because of climate change, to reduce rural food production, which may impact livelihoods in rural areas and food security countrywide, especially in growing urban areas.

As a result of this evolving context, WFP Ecuador is seeking a consultant to advise on programme development and management, particularly as it relates to climate change-related programming and partnerships. The consultant will be responsible to develop, manage, and support a large and complex programme containing humanitarian, development, and climate change-related programming in Ecuador. Under the overall supervision of the Country Director, and the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director and Head of Programmes, and in close coordination with relevant departments across the mission at WFP Headquarter and Regional Bureau Panama, the senior consultant will be responsible for leading and overseeing pillars WFP’s work in Ecuador, including climate change adaptation and other programming.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Consultant will be based out of WFP's Ecuador Country Office, leading the programme units in a cross-cutting function that intersects with different programmatically technical teams. The Consultant will take a leadership role in advising on WFP Ecuador programming broadly but taking a specific focus on climate change adaptation and/or climate risk management activities, including:

• Leading and developing the strategic approach of WFP Ecuador’s work and ensuring the programmes’ responsiveness to destabilizing factors and trends, developing, and ensuring the integration of new approaches and procedures as required.
• Overseeing and leading the development of technical direction for WFP Ecuador projects, with a focus on environmental and climate change projects, ensuring high-impact activities are delivered in accordance with project workplans.
• Providing climate-related advice and inputs into the design/implementation of Ecuador Country Strategic Plan (CSP) and government policy/programme activities as and when appropriate.
• Determining and overseeing any initial analysis needs that will feed into climate policy and programme design, including undertaking climate analyses, needs assessments for populations impacted by climate shocks/stressors, as well as institutional mapping and capacity assessments for organisations involved in climate risk management and adaptation. Activities may include undertaking desk-based reviews and analysis, designing and implementing assessment tools with VAM/M&E colleagues, performing stakeholder consultations, participatory community plans, and/or hiring of experts or analysis organisations to support in this work.
• Leading the design of climate change adaptation and/or climate risk management interventions with a clear rationale that addresses food security, nutrition and vulnerable population concerns, incorporating any analyses undertaken and identifying tangible synergies with existing programme activities that the Office and/or partners are implementing. This includes an ongoing binational Adaptation Fund project and programming in development related to climate change adaptation and mitigation.
• Exploring and leading the design and implementation of innovative climate activities, such as climate services, community/ecosystem-based adaptation, climate smart agriculture, adaptive social protection, energy services, risk finance (including sovereign/micro-insurance, forecast-based financing) and rural financial services (such as financial inclusion through savings and credit initiatives). The Consultant may not be an expert on these subjects but is proactive in researching and seeking advice within WFP and externally. This may involve hiring/procuring expert consultants and/or technical partnerships and overseeing work carried out in the country.
• Strengthening capacities of public/private institutions and systems to ensure longer-term sustainability and scalability of climate activities. This includes enabling the strengthening of technical, system and policy capacities through coordinating appropriate partnerships, networks, expertise and resources (among others).
• Establishing guidance, tools and approaches that support WFP programme and other country staff, partners (including government, NGOs etc.) and/or communities in the implementation of activities. This includes ensuring inclusivity and sustainability in the design and implementation of any climate-related interventions, using participatory processes with communities, stakeholder consultations and capacity strengthening activities. As part of this work, the Consultant should examine existing tools that the Office/partners use in programme design and implementation (e.g., 3PA, monitoring tools etc) to find synergies and points of integration.
• Identifying climate financing opportunities and overseeing the process of developing concept notes and proposals for these funds, including the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund as well as other multi/bilateral funding opportunities that may be identified at national, regional and/or global levels. The Consultant would consult with regional and headquarter climate staff to seek advice on these activities but would take responsibility for overall development of the proposal, including writing and/or possible hiring of additional proposal-writing staff (if resources allow), project management and ensuring reporting obligations are met in a timely manner.
• Ensuring a strong evidence-based approach is embedded into any climate-related programme design and implementation. This includes having a clear theory of change for the activities being undertaken, indicators for measurement, and putting in place an appropriate monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan and data collection tools. This also includes taking into account WFP corporate results framework indicators, as well any mandatory indicators under climate finance projects if those are in place in the country. The Consultant would work with CO M&E and analysis staff to ensure integration into existing CO M&E systems and tools where possible, while also forging opportunities with research institutions and possibly external experts to further augment the generation of robust evidence when deemed suitable.
• Documenting and sharing best practices to support the advocacy of climate action and the replication and scale of successful climate interventions. This includes developing clear information products that speak to the rationale of climate risk management and/or adaptation, showcasing WFP and partner work, and adopting various communication formats to target different audiences with these products.
• Proactively developing partnerships with government, UN, NGO, civil society and research institutes to seek strategic, technical and implementation opportunities.
• Representing WFP Ecuador in relevant meetings and coordination fora, and engender and maintain strong relationships with government authorities, UN agencies, INGOs and NNGOs, and other stakeholders.
• Directly managing and supervising the work of WFP Ecuador staff and consultants and engage actively in strengthening knowledge of WFP policies and practices relevant food security and climate change projects within the team. Build the capacity of and mentor staff, resolve HR issues including structure and staffing levels, and ensure efficiency, accountability, staff development and the resolution of other issues.
• Ensuring strong coordination within the mission and coherence between the different pillars of WFP Ecuador programming, maximizing the collective impact of different activities, and work proactively to promote cooperation and synergies with other WFP divisions.
• Ensuring compliance with WFP and donor requirements, including those related to procurement, finance, and human resources, maintaining contact with relevant WFP support units as required.
• Establishing and maintaining liaison with donors in order to mobilize resources, advise on progress of activities, gaps, lessons learned and good practices, and advocate for new project opportunities and proposals. Ensure the start-up of new projects across the Country Office.
• Ensuring all reporting requirements are met, as well as the development and provision of advocacy and communication materials and other documents as required by WFP and/or project donors.
• Ensuring conflict sensitivity and protection, gender and disability mainstreaming within all programming and project activities.
• Undertaking duty travel to develop activities, resolve issues, carry out representation functions and project site reviews, and other duties of concern to the projects.
• Lead and supervise team members related to Climate Change activitis, and provide guidance and mentor staff, acting as a point of referral and assisting them in their function.
• Other relevant activities as required.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Climate intervention/s have been well-designed taking into account national policy and contextual parameters, analyses and assessments, WFP programme activities and CSP priorities.
• Specific climate activities have been designed and implemented, with well-established processes, tools and approaches, partnerships and capacity strengthening efforts.
• Climate finance proposal/s have been developed and successfully accepted.
• Partnerships have been put in place and a clear plan for handover to public/private sector stakeholders has been defined to ensure long-term sustainability and scalability.
• Evidence of programme success and lessons have been generated through a well-established M&E system and reporting.
• Best practices have been well-documented and disseminated to a diverse set of stakeholders to assist in advocacy, replication and scale-up of initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education

Advanced University degree in climate change, environment, earth sciences, geography, climatology, disaster risk reduction/management, natural resource management, food security, agriculture, social sciences, international relations, project management, or related fields.

Experience:

At least six to ten years of post-graduate experience, including:

• Demonstrated, progressively responsible work experience on designing and implementing climate risk management and/or climate change adaptation interventions at national or community levels;
• Experience in project management and project cycle (including assessments, design, implementation, M&E, budget, staffing and partnerships);
• Experience with programmes in the food security, agricultural and/or rural sector is desirable.
• Experience in climate risk and vulnerability assessments, participatory appraisals, stakeholder consultations and/or institutional capacity assessments is desirable;
• Experience with different climate adaptation approaches such as climate services, community/ecosystem-based adaptation, climate smart agriculture, adaptive social protection, energy services, risk finance (including sovereign/micro-insurance, forecast-based financing) and rural financial services (such as financial inclusion through savings and credit) is considered an asset.
• Experience with design and/or implementation of climate finance proposals/projects, such as with the Green Climate Fund or Adaptation Fund is desirable;
• Experience in providing support to national government policy/planning processes that address climate change impacts on food security and nutrition is considered an asset.

Languages:

Advanced knowledge of English and Spanish (proficiency/level C)

Intermediate knowledge (intermediate/level B) of another UN official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is preferable.

Knowledge and skills:

• Strong knowledge of how climate change impacts people’s food security and nutrition, and a good understanding of the possible climate change adaptation interventions to address these challenges;
• Knowledge of global and national climate change policy frameworks and climate finance mechanisms;
• Curiosity and willingness to learn, including proactively researching different climate innovation areas to deepen one’s knowledge in their design and implementation;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities, with ability to synthesize and produce a range of well-communicated information products from reports to proposals, best practices, advocacy documents etc;
• Strong interpersonal and coordination skills, ability to work in a team and to communicate clearly and diplomatically with a wide range of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds;
• Proactive, independent, with ability to plan and organize their work, efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Proficiency in Windows, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

All WFP Staff is expected to demonstrate the following competencies and standards of behaviour, aligned with our core values and principles:

• Leads by example with integrity: Lives the WFP values and shows humanity and integrity by role modelling care for others
• Drives results and delivers on commitments: Delivers on commitments and adapts readily to change
• Fosters inclusive and collaborative teamwork: Is inclusive and collaborative, and contributes to a culture of learning and personal growth
• Applies strategic thinking: Demonstrates commitment to gather perspectives, analyse options and risks, and propose new ways of doing things
• Builds and maintains sustainable partnerships: Bulids and nurtures external partnerships and collaborates with partners to deliver common objectives

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