UN World Food Programme Policy Officer - Regional Anticipatory Action Coordinator - Jobs in Kenya

UN World Food Programme Policy Officer - Regional Anticipatory Action Coordinator - Jobs in Kenya

About WFP
The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetime. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

The WFP Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa (RBN) is based in Nairobi and provides strategic direction, technical guidance, resource mobilization, and management support to WFP operations and activities in ten countries: Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda.

The Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes (PRO-C) unit in WFP Headquarters and our Food Systems (Climate Action, Resilient Livelihoods and Gender) unit in Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa (RBN) 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. In the Greater Horn of Africa sub-region, the management of climate risk is a key entry point for reducing vulnerability to the climate shocks that disproportionately affect countries in the region, undermining development gains, and making humanitarian response late and consequently more expensive and inefficient


Purpose of the Assignment
One of the largest climate risk programs WFP is implementing in the Eastern Africa Region is WFP’s Anticipatory Action (AA) proramme that supports governments to strengthen early warning systems and establish linkages with prearranged financing.

WFP’s AA portfolio in the region now includes 8 countries where together with national and local government partners WFP is operationalizing and integrating AA systems into national disaster risk management plans for critical natural hazards such as droughts and floods. Collaboration and partnerships with regional and national government institutions, humanitarian and development organisations, as well as research and science-based institutions, is critical for the strengthening and implementation of AA at scale.

WFP´s vision for the next 5 years is to mainstream AA systems within the humanitarian program cycle including in WFP’s systems, and support the implementation of the Regional Roadmap for Enhancing AA in the IGAD region with partner governments for the scale-up of multihazard AA systems across all countries in the region. In that aim, WFP is seeking an expert with specialized skills in climate risk information and experience in anticipatory actions, early warning systems and provision of guidance and support to projects across multiple countries to coordinate and technically support WFP's AA strategy in Eastern Africa Region.

Based in WFP's RBN office, the expert will coordinate strategic engagements, provide guidance, thought leadership and technical support to WFP RBN and COs implementing the AA approach. The expert will liaise with partner agencies and institutions to strengthen coordination and advocacy efforts to scale up the implementation of the AA approach in the eastern Africa region.


Standard Minimum Qualifications

Education: Advanced university degree in meteorology, geography, disaster risk management and

environmental science or related disciplines.

Experience: At least 8 (eight) years of postgraduate work experience, progressively responsible in anticipatory action, climate risk information in humanitarian or adaptation settings, and provision of support to projects across multiple countries

Languages: Working knowledge (proficiency/level C) of English

Intermediate knowledge (level B) of another UN official language is an advantage.


Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge of anticipatory action

An in-depth understanding of climate regimes in the Greater Horn of Africa

Skills in project management and multi-stakeholder collaborations

Ability to work independently in a timely and organized manner

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Ability to lead a team and establish effective working relationships with multi-disciplinary teams


Accountabilities and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the RBN Head of Food Systems, the expert will:

Guide implementation, tracking and further development of the AA strategy in the eastern Africa Region

Establish and implement strategic engagements on AAs in the region, including with governments, UN agencies, the Red

Cross Red Crescent movement, international organisations, the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC),

Science and Research institutions among others

Coordinate with government focal points as well as relevant national and international organizations to integrate AA into national disaster risk management and humanitarian systems

Provide strategic guidance and support on integrating AA in WFP programmes and operational systems in the region, and Country Strategic Plans

Support the roll out and implementation of the IGAD AA roadmap, towards scale up of AA in the region

Review AA plans (AAPs) developed at country level and support approval of the AAPs at RBN in coordination with WFP HQ

Support the set up and coordination of an eastern Africa regional AA Hub/ Working Group together with other regional agencies

Provide strategic guidance, thought leadership and oversight on Anticipatory Action Programming in RBN

Manage operational research and evidence building to inform advocacy and financing of AA at scale

Enhance WFP’s leadership status in various forums such as the AA Dialogue Platforms and other related forums

Lead, motivate, develop and support a team of AA staff to enable high performance

Ensure the best use of assigned financial resources for achievement of set objectives within budget

Other complimentary duties as required


Deliverables at the End of the Contract:

Roadmaps for integration of AA in WFP programmes and systems

Country AAPs approved for funding and implementation, when activated

Roll out of the IGAD AA roadmap, in coordination with ICPAC

A functional regional AA Hub/ Working Group for eastern Africa

Progress reports on implementation of the AA strategy in the eastern Africa Region



How to apply
For more information and job application details, see; UN World Food Programme Policy Officer - Regional Anticipatory Action Coordinator Jobs in Kenya

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