Early Warning System Specialist
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: Early Warning System Specialist
TYPE OF CONTRACT: CST II
UNIT/DIVISION: HQ (PRO-C)
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Rome, Italy
DURATION: 11 months
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes (PRO-C) Service in WFP HQ, in coordination with the Emergency Operations Division (EME) and the Research Assessment and Monitoring Division (RAM-C), provide guidance and support to WFP Country Offices (COs) and governments on activities related to climate risk management, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. These services can range from climate analyses to better understand climate change impacts on food security and nutrition, to supporting governments and WFP COs with technical advisory services as well as policy advice on risk reduction, financing and transfer.
One of WFP's flagship programmes for climate risk management is Anticipatory Action (AA) and Forecast-based Financing (FbF), an innovative approach that enables the implementation of actions to prevent and mitigate, to the extent possible, the impact of extreme weather events on the food security and nutrition of the most vulnerable populations. Piloted in 2015 together with the German Red Cross, WFP’s AA portfolio now includes 28 countries in the regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean, where, together with national and local government partners, WFP is implementing projects to link early warning systems with anticipatory actions embedded in national disaster risk management for critical natural hazards such as droughts, floods and cyclones. In addition to strengthening national capacities for developing and implementing AA initiatives, WFP is also working with partners to mainstream anticipatory action approaches in humanitarian systems, including its Corporate Alert System (CAS), Immediate Response Account (IRA) as well as the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
In the 28 country portfolio, significant growth is occuring, with technical support needed across all regions to support the strengthening of national early warning systems through the development of flood, cyclone, seasonal and sub-seasonal forecasts. In addition to the project based needs, WFP is also an Implementing Entity in WMO’s Systematic Observation Financing Facility (SOFF), and a partner of the Early Warning for All Initiative.The SOFF partnership requires a technical expert to oversee the development of both funding requests, and support to COs and their government partners to implement project plans according to pre-agreed technical specifcations that are GBON compliant. Significant travel is expected from this post as projects are in their initial phases requiring baseline assessments and the development of multi-year work plans and activity budgets.
This consultancy requires someone who can easily address the technical needs of flood, cyclone, and seasonal forecast development as well as provide project management, leadership, and organizational skills to bring diverse partners in differing contexts together. The consultancy aims to provide consistency in EWS planning, implementation and a menu of services to country offices working with national disaster and meteorological agencies to provide AA and FbF to at-risk communities.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
S/he will work under the overall guidance of PRO-C’s Anticipatory Action Team lead, with technical supervision from PRO-C/EME hydromet team lead, and RAM-C team lead in coordination with RBx and CO focal points:
1. Support the strengthening of EWS in focus countries under the overall supervision of the hydromet team lead with technical support from RAM-C:
a) Support to the Norwegian funded AA project, by developing technical partnerships, and multi-year work plans/budgets for EWS strengthening in southern, eastern and western Africa.
b) Support the development of the Austrian AA project with a focus on western africa for both floods and droughts.
c) Support the technichal roll out of the Swiss funded AA project in the Regional Bureau Cairo region with a focus on Iraq and Yemen.
d) Support as needed to the German funded AA projects in Asia and Latin America, with a focus on improving/developing fast-onset probabilistic triggers and thresholds.
e) Support the development of technical trainings, working groups, and oversight of project deliverables from technical partners.
f) Develop new technical partnerships for flood and cyclone forecasts, and the development of project proposals under the direction and approval of technical and programme leads.
g) Coordinate EWS team deliverables, AA plan development, alignment with the AA team, climate information services team, and regional AA coordinators, and report progress to the technical team lead
h) Support as needed to the Google funded AI early warning system project.
2. Support the SOFF Readiness and Implementation Phases under the guidance and feedback of the Hydromet and RAM-C team leads
a) Provide technical review of the SOFF readiness phase ensuring plans are GBON compliant and address programmatic needs within WFP COs.
b) Provide technical support to COs for submission of the Implementation Phase proposal
c) Provide technical support to COs during the procurement and implementation activities with input and advice from technical leads.
d) Develop new SOFF country proposals in partnership with Peer Advisors and COs, with review and approval from the technical leads.
e) Advocacy, reporting, and workshop attendance may also be required
3. Early Warning for All support
a) Provide COs with support as needed to align existing relevant climate programmes within the EW4ALL initiative to support additional financing for scale-up of these activities
b) Help to position WFP as a partner of choice within the EW4ALL initiative by developing a menu of applicable services across the four priority pillars of the initiative.
c) Provide essential backstopping support to the AA Team lead, regional and CO coordinators during national, regional, and global workshops and fund-raising events.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
1. Support in developing 2023 and 2024 EWS work plan for the Norway, German, Swiss, and Austria AA funded projects.
2. Assist in the development of the Implementation Phase funding requests in Chad, Mozambique, Zambia and up to 4 more TBC countries to be submitted to SOFF.
3. Successful collaboration with external technical partners
4. Development of a dynamic menu of EWS services for Cos.
5. Support to advocacy, technical working group formation
6. Successful support to country offices & regional bureaux
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education: University degree with one or more courses in one of the following: climate change adaptation; meteorology; numerical weather prediction, environmental studies or related
Experience: At least 5 years of post-graduate experience in anticipatory action, disaster risk management, early warning systems, impact-based forecasts, project management and implementation.
Demonstrated writing skills and communication experience desired.
Demonstrated field experience desired.
Knowledge & Skills: Experience with WFP, WMO, development of early warning systems and/or AA programs is an asset; Ability to work with minimal supervision and set priorities; Ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing; Strong analytical and report writing skills. Ability to work independently in a timely and organised manner observing deadlines and achieving results. Proficiency in Windows, and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
Languages: Fluent in English and French, including strong writing skills.
RE: VA 828759 , deadline for applications 22 August 2023
