Programme Policy Consultant (Risk Financing and Insurance Operations)

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance

JOB TITLE:	Programme Policy Consultant (Risk Financing and Insurance Operations)
TYPE OF CONTRACT:	CST I
UNIT/DIVISION:	PRO-C
DUTY STATION (City, Country):	Rome, Italy
DURATION:	11 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Climate change multiplies existing threats to food security, hunger and malnutrition. It will make natural disasters more frequent and intense, land and water scarce and difficult to access and increases in agricultural productivity even harder to achieve. It will disproportionally impact the most vulnerable people, the majority of whom live in fragile areas prone to climate hazards, ultimately putting hundreds of millions of people at risk. It is estimated that by 2050, the risk of hunger could increase by 20 percent, and child malnutrition is anticipated to be 20 percent higher than it would have been without a climate change scenario.

WFP approaches the challenge of climate change from the point of view of its impact on hunger and undernutrition. WFP’s work on climate change and climate risk management focuses on enhancing the resilience of food insecure communities and countries, helping them adapt to more frequent and intense climatic events. About 40 percent of WFP’s operations already include activities to reduce disaster risk, build resilience and help people adapt to the effects resulting from climate change. WFP is developing and testing innovative tools and approaches to help Governments and communities to manage disaster risks in a more effective manner. WFP is further developing, refining and testing these tools by incorporating approaches such as the African Risk Capacity (ARC) sovereign drought insurance to accelerate the coverage of climate risk insurance to millions of Africans, while building the capacity of national governments to respond to large-scale climate shocks.

Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction Programme (PRO-C) is a service in WFP HQ (located under WFP’s Programme – Humanitarian and Development Division) that provides guidance and support to a range of activities from household-level micro insurance programmes to carrying out climate analyses to better understand the impact of climate risks on food security and nutrition, helping governments implement adaptation projects on the ground, as well as developing innovative climate risk management tools – programmatic and financing mechanisms.

Under the supervision of the Climate and Disaster Risk Financing Advisor, the consultant will be responsible for engaging with Country Offices and Regional Bureaus in the operational aspects of WFP's macro insurance portfolio, with a particular focus on the Africa region. The role will involve contingency planning design, capacity strengthening for Country Offices and government partners on response implementation, following in-country work plans to ensure programme success, facilitating cross-country learning, supporting contractual negotiations, leading knowledge and information management and drafting donor reports. This post will require travel to country offices for workshops and capacity-strengthening missions.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide support to Country Office (CO) ARC Replica focal points and the Government-led technical working groups (TWG) on contingency planning (Operational Plan before a policy is purchased and Final Implementation Plan (FIP) when a policy triggers a payout).
2. Support the development of revised Operational Plans for the Contingency Fund layer of the ARC Replica Programme in Southern Africa.
3. Support the design and facilitation of FIP simulation exercises with WFP COs and Government partners primarily in Africa, but also in other regions as needed.
4. Liaise with RB Insurance Advisors on in-country operations to ensure workplans are followed and programme objectives are achieved
5. Faciliate cross-country learning through organizing a macro insurance community of practice, support the organization of and reporting on the Annual Learning and Planning meeting for ARC Replica (and potentially the whole macro insurance portfolio), facilitate evaluation processes for payouts, etc.
6. Support contractual negotiations related to macro insurance programmes, liasing with WFP's Legal Division (partnership MoUs, data sharing agreements, insurance policy signature, etc.)
7. Lead knowledge and information management for the macro insurance portfolio (ensuring all key documents are saved and organized on TEAMs, including programme documents, case studies, comms materials, and programme output figures, etc).
8. Support the drafting of donor reports.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

1. Improved contingency plans in ARC Replica countries

2. Risk Financing community of practice set up (2023 Q1-Q2 schedule of meeting topics and dates established, speakers identified and invitees invited) and at least one meeting held.

3. Operational Plans for Southern Africa Risk layer developed.

4. ARC Replica 2023 Annual Learning and Planning meeting agenda co-developed with Start Network and ARC.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:	Advanced University degree, or University degree with experience and training/courses in one or more of the following disciplines: economics, environmental studies, agriculture and food security, development studies or related area
Experience:	At least 4 years of post-graduate, progressively responsible job-related experience in risk financing, food security analysis, emergency preparedness, social protection, cash-based transfer proramming, or other related area of development or humanitarian work.
Knowledge & Skills:	Proficiency in Windows, MS Office. Competencies: Cognitive Capacity, Teamwork, Action Management, Innovation, Partnering, Client Orientation.
Languages:	Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) and intermediate knowledge (intermediate/B) of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish). Working proficiency in French would be considered an asset.

Deadline for applications: 05.01.2023

Ref: VA No. 178729

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.

Qualified female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply. WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.

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