Senior Emergency Officer P5 at World Food Programme (WFP)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

• Humanitarian needs across eastern Africa are increasing rapidly, driven by several factors including rising conflict, climate-related hazards such as drought and flooding, and socio-economic shocks. As of the end of 2022, some 82 million people across the region were acutely food insecure.  
• The Senior Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer (P5) functions as the Head of the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Unit, situated within the Programme Team of the Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa (RBN). 
• The EPR Unit is responsible for providing and coordinating support to WFP Country Offices to prepare for and respond to emergencies to the highest standards, in line with WFP emergency protocols and guidelines. 
• The EPR unit is also responsible for regional technical leadership, support and oversight of WFP’s work on protection and accountability to affected populations, humanitarian access, capacity strengthening of national disaster management authorities, conflict sensitivity and contributions to peace through the humanitarian, development and peace nexus.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Emergency Coordination

• Support emergency preparedness and response activities across RBN in support of the Regional Director.
• Lead cross-functional analysis and coordination at the appropriate level and reinforce linkages amongst counterparts from various technical/functional areas to ensure that emergency preparedness and response is delivered in a coherent, integrated and efficient manner.
• Direct cross-functional analysis when needed, including context analysis to inform emergency preparedness and response.
• Amplify the successes of partnering teams by identifying opportunities for great cross-team collaboration, including with logistics, budget and programming, nutrition and other divisions at CO and HQ levels.
• Lead preparation of emergency assessment capacities, identifying gaps and making recommendations related to contingency planning, scenario building and Concept of Operations to ensure adequate operational readiness and where feasible, a transition plan for more sustainable emergency responses.
• Provide advice to Country Offices (CO) on the operationalization and integration of a multi-dimensional approach to humanitarian access across Concepts of Operations, Access strategies, workplans and, where possible, Country Strategic Plans.
• Identify and monitor emerging humanitarian and food security trends and potential socio-economic and political instability in order to promote and lead contingency planning processes in close collaboration with relevant entities.
• Establish/maintain efficient information flow to effectively map areas of emergency response and needs including critical action points.
• Ensure that WFP’s activities linked to the emergency response are coordinated with the affected communities, authorities and partners.

Resource Mobilization

• Provide strategic advice and support on mobilizing WFP resources and capabilities for an effective and sustainable emergency response.
• Build networks and partnerships to leverage available funding mechanisms and advocacy platforms to raise visibility of the emergency operation and requirements.
• Oversee technical support requirements, facilitate the acquisition of technological tools and innovative solutions to enhance emergency response effectiveness and efficiency.

Leadership and Management

• Lead, manage and motivate a team of approximately 10 staff in the areas of emergency preparedness and response, protection and accountability to affected populations, humanitarian access, conflict sensitivity and contributions to peace.
• Hold accountability for the application of WFP’s emergency guidance and protocols.
• Lead the development of functional training and documentation of lessons learned to ensure good knowledge management practices and improvement of future emergency responses.
• Take responsibility for an equitable and inclusive workplace which incorporates all dimensions of the WFP diversity and inclusion framework.

QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY REQUIREMENTS
Education: 

• Advanced University degree preferably in social sciences, public administration, international law, public health, international relations/development/affairs, logistics, supply chain management, business administration or other related fields of study, or First University degree with 2 additional years of relevant work experience and/or advanced training/courses.

Experience: 

• At least 11 years (of which a minimum of 3 years in an international context) of relevant experience.

Language: 

Fluency (level C) in the English language.

Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language).

MORE ABOUT YOU

• You have taken a leadership role in a medium to large scale emergency operation and has led or participated in strategy planning within a mid- to large sized and complex country or equivalent environment.
• You have technical leadership experience in one or more of the following areas; protection and accountability to affected populations, capacity strengthening of national disaster management authorities, humanitarian access and negotiations, conflict sensitivity and HDP nexus strategy and programme design.
• You have taken a leading and strategic role in negotiations with donors/ government officials, partners, media outlets, etc. on multiple issues of moderate complexity.
• You have gained expertise in humanitarian operations roles as (but not limited to) a programme, project or operations officer, team leader, supply chain officer, head of field office or equivalent. Experience in developing, leading and implementing CBT activities is highly desired.
• You have demonstrated thought leadership in a variety of contexts, including in emergencies and/or hardship duty stations.
• You have effectively recruited and managed multi-cultural teams.
• You have extensive experience working in collaboration with a diverse array of humanitarian actors, including governments, NGOs, U.N. agencies, civil society, etc.