Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the 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.

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WHY JOIN WFP? 

• 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 of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE:  Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator 
TYPE OF CONTRACT:  International Regular Consultant (Level II) 
UNIT:  Management/EPR
DUTY STATION:    Suva, Fiji 
DURATION:   11 months (extendable)
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, working in over 120 countries and territories globally to deliver efficient and effective food and cash assistance in emergencies, enhance nutrition and human capital development, and help communities and government systems to be more resilient.
In the Pacific WFP supports national governments and regional stakeholders in their efforts to better prepare for and respond to emergencies including strengthening national preparedness plans, systems and institutions, enhancing regional humanitarian architecture and increased focus on those most at risk of being left behind.
In this context, the Pacific Multi-country Office (MCO) is seeking an experienced Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator (EPRC) to lead WFP’s improve operational readiness while continuing to strengthen government systems in the context of emergency preparedness, response and recovery. The position is based in Suva, Fiji in the WFP MCO and will manage a cross-functional team of technical experts to support 14 Pacific Island States and Territories.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Emergency Preparedness, Response Coordinator (EPRC) will work under the supervision of the PMCO Head of Office, managing operational teams with a focus on supply chain, emergency telecommunications and food security/cash. The incumbent will lead emergency preparedness, response and recovery activities, with the goal to strengthen the EPR capacity of the Country Office and to reinforce WFP as a strategic partner for EPR with Pacific Governments and regional organisations. The EPRC will also serve as Deputy to the Head of Office and will perform the following:
Response preparedness and capacity building
-    Lead a team in providing strategic and technical guidance and systems strengthening to enhance government-led emergency response frameworks and policies, including through assessments in the areas of supply chain, emergency telecommunications, cash and food security readiness. In collaboration with regional and global level technical counterparts, identify tools to enhance multi-hazard risk and contingency planning, enhance where necessary the protocols and capacities of humanitarian response and disaster management actors, strengthen early warning systems and promote / enhance sustainable disaster management systems through linkages with related systems and actions (such as anticipatory action, social protection, food systems and supply chains).
-    Provide strategic support to regional multi-stakeholder preparedness and disaster management projects with a focus on humanitarian supply chains and early action, including oversight of WFP’s contribution to the Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Programme (PHWP), joint engagement on Anticipatory Action and other similar workstreams.
-    Provide strategic cross-functional engagement with national governments and other stakeholders to support EPR systems and institutional - strengthening involving multiple WFP workstreams and Ministry partners. Within this, support the integration of gender, equity and inclusion, localisation, environment and accountability to affected populations through all parts of the programme cycle.
-    Oversee internal MCO readiness plans and actions, drawing on corporate tools, checklists and practical desk-top exercises and simulations. 
Response management
-    Act as the Emergency Coordinator at the request of the Head of Office, in consultation with and to augment Government-led efforts and other key stakeholders. This includes leading and supporting the Head of Office with the strategic visioning, development and deployment of WFP’s emergency response strategy.
-    Lead programme coherence and quality in the context of humanitarian response, working across technical teams to ensure WFP’s contribution to supporting nationally led response is appropriate, timely and impactful - across all key areas of response: humanitarian supply chains, ETC and food security/cash.
-    Anchored in WFP’s belief that we deliver better together, strengthen the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) in ensuring close coordination with relevant government counterparts and creating an enabling environment for working with national governments and regional arrangements such as the Pacific Humanitarian Response Coordination Mechanism (PResCoM).
-    Provide strategic support to learning initiatives such as After-Action Reviews (AAR), ensuring lessons learned from WFP’s emergency response are captured, shared and acted upon across WFP functional units, together with strategic partners. 
Strategy and Partnerships
-    Contribute to the strategic alignment of WFP’s Pacific Multi-Country Strategic Plan (MCSP), ensuring that priorities of food security and nutrition, also linked to climate change and disaster management, are core, and are further articulated in the development of UNSDCF Country Implementation Plans and PHT work plan.
-    Strengthen WFP’s leadership on response preparedness and DRR in inter-agency platforms, including those of the UNCT, PHT and related working groups, and strengthen strategic engagement with the government and partners.
-    Ensure the flow of information and communication between WFP’s global HQ/APARO and the PMCO to support alignment with corporate guidance and tools and ensuring these are informed by field/operational realities. 
-    Strengthen WFP’s strategic engagement and partnerships in the humanitarian sphere: with governments, development partners, regional organisations, UN and other stakeholders. 
-    Identify and build meaningful strategic and operational partnerships including with academia/think tanks, humanitarian-military, non-governmental and inter-governmental bodies, and donors. Represent as appropriate WFP in external emergency and preparedness fora, ensuring that WFP’s interests and strategies are effectively communicated. Proactively engage with stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, share knowledge, and promote coordinated emergency preparedness and response efforts. 
-    Provide analysis on emerging country, regional or global issues relevant for WFP and for the humanitarian, food security and nutrition landscape in the region. Develop informed recommendations for WFP senior management based on emerging trends.

Other duties as required. This position is expected to include regular travel within the Pacific region, as/when the context requires.

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QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:    Advanced University degree in Economics, International Relations, Development or Social Sciences or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience:  
•    At least 7 (seven) years of professional experience in relevant areas including at least 5 (five) years progressively responsible professional experience in at least 3 (three) diverse international humanitarian and/or development contexts.
•    Experience in multiple facets of EPR programming relevant for WFP work in the region, including demonstrated ability to design, lead and coordinate delivery of food distributions and cash-based assistance in response to sudden shocks. 
•    Experience working to assess, deliver through, or strengthen government-led emergency response including technical assistance to disaster management and/or shock-responsive social protection systems. 
•    Proven ability to build partnerships with diverse stakeholders including government authorities, humanitarian partners, military actors, and to engage with affected populations.
•    Experience coordinating diverse, multicultural and cross-functional teams to maximize capabilities for effective, timely support. 
•    Strong analytical skills and the ability to write and deliver high level briefs providing clear insight and recommendations for decision making. 

Preferable: 
•    Familiarity with the Pacific region and/or the multi-country office model of operation.
•    Experience in managing designing and implementing food security, social protection and anticipatory action programmes in complex humanitarian environments (including familiarity with rapid response mechanisms). 
•    Experience working with WFP and knowledge of WFP’s internal EPR procedures, policies, and systems.

Knowledge & Skills:    

•    Strong management skills and ability to lead cross-functional teams with a focus on breaking down silos and enhancing team cohesion.
•    Strong analytical and writing skills.
•    Excellent interpersonal skills, including strong professional communication skills.
•    Ability to work under pressure and within tight deadlines.
•    Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, plan and manage programs, leadership and teamwork skills, good analytical, communication, negotiation and advocacy skills.
•    Ability to both lead and work in a team and establish effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
•    Significant knowledge of global policies pertinent to disaster preparedness, response and recovery and of how disaster preparedness and response is approached in the Pacific region.

Languages:    •    Excellent command of English (written and spoken) is essential. 
 

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.

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• 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

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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