Programme Policy Officer - Consultant at World Food Programme (WFP)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The Kenya Country Office is currently seeking an expert with specialised skills in climate-risk information including forecasting, and experience in early warning systems, anticipatory actions and disaster preparedness and response to support WFP's 'Scaling up Drought Anticipatory Actions for Food Security in Africa” and “Strengthening shock-responsive systems in Kenya” projects.

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 productive land and water, and reductions 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. It is estimated that by 2050 the risks of hunger and child malnutrition could increase by 20 percent and climate disasters such as droughts and floods will act as key driving forces behind these increases.

Kenya and the wider East and Central Africa region is frequently and severely affected by climate change related shocks and stressors, such as increasingly erratic rainfall patterns, frequent and prolonged droughts and floods, landslides, heat waves and pest and livestock disease outbreaks.

As the climate-related risks on food security, nutrition and livelihoods are rising, so too is our ability to forecast them. However, despite gains in early warnings, acting early enough in anticipation of impacts of climate hazards remains a significant challenge. In response, organisations such as WFP have begun to test forecast-based financing (FbF) and early action mechanisms, innovations that use climate forecasting and other related information to trigger anticipatory actions before a shock occurs.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge & Skills:

• Minimum of 7 relevant years of post-graduate, progressively responsible experience in disaster risk reduction, food security analysis, project proposal development (related to climate change), and at least one of the technical areas listed above;
• Experience in project management as well as writing project documents, country reports and publications;
• Proven experience working with a wide variety of development actors including governments, international development organizations (including United Nations agencies), donors and other funding agencies, private sector entities, and/or civil society organizations including community groups, academia and the media;
• Knowledge of global climate change policy frameworks and climate finance mechanisms such as GCF and Adaptation Fund are an asset;

Languages:

Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) is required.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS CONTINUED

• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
• 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;
• Ability to plan and organize his/her work, efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Proficiency in Windows, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); experience with GIS platforms is an asset.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Within the programme support team, and under the direct supervision of the Programme Policy Officer (Programme Technical Support), the focus of this role will be to ensure that the emerging FbF portfolio is implemented according to project timelines and technical requirements, and is integrated across other DRR and DRM and country office Climate Solutions and resilience initiatives and, in coordination with implementation partners and government agencies as needed. The emerging FbF portfolio is composed of the 'Scaling up Drought Anticipatory Actions for Food Security in Africa”, the “Strengthening shock-responsive systems in Kenya” project. The expected areas of work are as follows:

1. Guide and produce the country capacity-gap analyses:

• Document institutional aspects, governance mechanisms and capacity for drought-risk management, existing national coordination mechanisms (e.g. National Disaster Management Authorities) as well as capacities for weather forecasting and analysis, early action and preparedness.
• Mapping of the key local actors at national and county level (e.g. national hydro-meteorological agencies, line Ministries such as Agriculture, disaster risk management authorities, humanitarian and development actors) who can be involved or support implementation of FbF,
• Explore opportunities for how FbF can be integrated into the institutional frameworks for drought or disaster risk management and identify potential synergies with current or future planned projects in the country

DELIVERABLES

1. Forecast-based financing

• Support the KCO VAM and Capacity Strengthening Units in delivering on the FBF project outputs, including;
• A capacity needs assessment of national and local actors with regard to forecast based financing.
• Delivering on the FbF workplan and Documentation of progress, best practice and lessons learned in line with project outputs and as required by national level partnerships.
• Technical development of the FbF system including establishment of triggers, development and implementation of SOPs and integration of SOPs in early warning mechanisms.
• Advise and link with potential national and international financing mechanisms, including risk finance layering within the national Disaster Risk Financing framework.
• Support to regional and national workshops for FbF

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• This is an 11 months contract (extendable, subject to availability of funding)
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• The World Food Programme DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
• WFP embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that celebrates diversity and inclusivity in all ways. 
• All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications and merit.