United Kingdom: Programme Policy Officer (Climate and Disaster Risk Financing)

Apr 5, 2022 | World Food Programme
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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) , a highly prestigious, reputable & world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. 

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.  

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org/ and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

WHY JOIN US?

  • WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 
  • WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment 
  • WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities 
  • A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe
  • We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section) 

ABOUT CLIMATE AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION PROGRAMMES UNIT (PRO-C) AT WFP

WFP approaches the challenge of climate change from the point of view of its impact on hunger and malnutrition. 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 manage disaster risks in a more effective manner. WFP is further developing, refining and scaling these tools by incorporating sovereign drought insurance products in its programming, such as through its flagship African Risk Capacity (ARC) Replica initiative. Implementation of the ARC Replica programme enables WFP to substantively increase the coverage of millions of Africans with climate risk insurance protection, while at the same time building the capacity of national governments to respond to large-scale climate shocks.

THE ROLE

This position is reporting to the Senior Programme Advisor for Climate Risk Insurance in WFP's Unit for Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes (PRO-C). The Unit provides technical guidance and support to a range of activities, from household-level micro insurance programmes to sovereign insurance and forecast-based financing mechanisms. With a specialized risk transfer team, PROC keeps integrating innovative climate risk management tools into WFP Country Strategies and Programmes, as well as climate change adaptation projects that are being developed in partnership with partner governments and submitted for financing to multilateral climate funding mechanisms (such as the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The position will be hosted in the WFP London office to enable strategic and policy partnerships with ARC Replica partners and stakeholders in the insurance and disaster risk financing industry. The aim of this co-location is to make WFP’s work more visible with the UK government, IFIs and the wider insurance community and build opportunities for future collaboration. The position will also play a key role in the further development, scaling, and implementation of the ARC Replica Plus programme (phase II of ARC Replica), as well as its alignment with complementary climate risk financing initiatives and strategies:

  • Develop and maintain effective technical and resource partnerships with key insurance stakeholders based in London – such as the World Bank’s Crisis and Disaster Risk Financing London hub, The Centre for Disaster Protection, the Insurance Development Forum, Start Network (consortium of NGOs), and other partners
  • Ensure WFP engagement on strategic discussions in the climate risk financing sector and advise on developments in this realm which can effectively advance resource mobilisation for WFP's risk financing portfolio.
  • Identify opportunities to develop new partnerships with development, humanitarian and private sector entities to support more effective and efficient approaches to climate risk finance programming.
  • Represent WFP in UN and other multilateral bodies, including NGO and private sector fora (InsuResilience integrated approaches working group, IDF SHS working group, Centre for Disaster Protection, World Bank London hub, Start Network) and provide these stakeholders with information on WFP’s climate risk financing portfolio
  • Support the development and delivery of functional training in climate and disaster risk financing and insurance (CDRFI) to enhance the capacity of WFP staff at HQ, RB and CO levels to design and deliver effective risk financing programmes.
  • Lead on the research and implementation of strategies for risk layering and improved early response in the context of the ARC Replica Plus programme, as well as the wider generation of evidence for ex ante approaches to disaster response
  • Oversee the implementation and continued scaling of WFP's ARC Replica Plus programme in the exisitng 5 countries and prepare to expand to new countries or hazards over the course of WFP's next Strategic Plan (2022-2026)
  • Guide COs on the ARC Replica model and any related operational planning processes to design robust early response plans in the event of a macro/meso level insurance payout
  • Support COs to engage and coordinate with government counterparts to review insurance products and early response plans. This includes investigating which early response activities will have the greatest impact for the most vulnerable during the implementation period of ARC Replica payouts
  •  Improve coordination among WFP units by liaising with EME on the design of operational plans and coordinating with WFP RAM and M&E colleagues as well as external partners on evidence. Linkage with Shock Responsive Social Protection activities will also be explored.
  • Any other tasks as required

A more detailed job description will be shared at a later stage in the recruitment process. 

QUALIFICATIONS & KEY REQUIREMENTS

Education:

You have:

  • Advanced University degree, or First University degree with additional years of experience and training/courses in one or more of the following disciplines: economics, environmental studies, agriculture and food security, development studies, emergency preparedness, or related area.

Experience:

You have:

  • At least five years post-graduate, progressively responsible work experience in disaster risk financing, insurance (micro, macro, or traditional), or climate risk management.

Language:

You have:

  • Fluency (level C) in English language. 
  • Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (A WFP’s working language)

MORE ABOUT YOU

  • You have proven experience working with sovereign risk financing instruments, in particular on the African continent
  • You have existing networks with key institutions in climate and disaster risk financing and insurance (CDRFI). Participation in working groups in this field.
  • You have strong interpersonal and coordination skills, the ability to work in a team, and to communicate clearly and diplomatically with a wide range of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds
  • You have the ability to plan and organize work, be efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results.
  • You have the ability to work both individually and in a team as appropriate
  • You have excellent problem-solving skills

ADDITIONAL / NICE HAVE REQUIREMENTS

  • Field-level experience will be regarded as an asset
  • Familiarity with WFP and the UN system will be regarded as an asset

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This is an International Professional position and is open to all nationalities. 

Limited Fixed-Term Appointment (LFT) position is a non-mobile staff appointment in the international professional category for a limited period of up to 4 years. The position is based in London, United Kingdom, and the selected candidate will be expected to relocate. Incumbents of LFT positions are not eligible to apply for other mobile positions advertised internally through the Reassignment.​ 

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel, visa and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance. For more information, visit https://icsc.un.org/.

The short-list of qualified candidates for this vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar functions on another contract modality such as Consultancy.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Sunday, 17 April 2022.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION​

  • We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
  • Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
  • Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
  • Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
  • Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
  • Please contact us at wfprecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
  • Only shortlisted candidates will be notified