Anticipatory Action Specialist

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.

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.

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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).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) are among the most hazard-prone globally, with eight of the 20 countries experiencing the highest average disaster losses located in the region. Progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 remains constrained by persistent inequalities, gender disparities, and limited public service delivery capacity, further exacerbated by climate change, food insecurity, and evolving geopolitical pressures.
Anticipatory Action (AA) is a proactive approach that enables governments and partners in the Pacific to act ahead of predictable hazards by using early warning information, risk analysis and pre-arranged financing to mitigate the impacts of shocks. Across the Pacific, increasing climate variability, recurrent cyclones, floods and droughts, together with rising economic pressures, underscore the need for systems that can translate forecasts and risk information into timely action.
By linking climate and hazard risk analysis, early warning information, financing mechanisms and scalable delivery platforms, such as social protection and cash assistance systems, anticipatory action enables governments and partners to act ahead of predictable shocks. It helps protect vulnerable populations, reduce disaster-related losses, safeguard livelihoods and minimize the costs and impacts of emergency response through timely and targeted interventions.
In this context, the Anticipatory Action and Climate Risk Management Specialist will provide technical and coordination support to strengthen anticipatory action and climate risk management systems across the Pacific. The position will support the application of climate and hazard risk analysis, forecasting and financing shock-responsive delivery mechanisms to enhance risk-informed and timely action ahead of climate-related and other predictable shocks.
Given the regional nature of WFP’s anticipatory action portfolio across PICTs, this is a roving position requiring frequent travel within the Pacific region.

THE ROLE

JOB TITLE: Anticipatory Action and Climate Risk Management Specialist
TYPE OF CONTRACT AND LEVEL: Consultancy II
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Suva, Fiji
DURATION: 8 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) are among the most hazard-prone globally, with eight of the 20 countries experiencing the highest average disaster losses located in the region. Progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 remains constrained by persistent inequalities, gender disparities, and limited public service delivery capacity, further exacerbated by climate change, food insecurity, and evolving geopolitical pressures.
Anticipatory Action (AA) is a proactive approach that enables governments and partners in the Pacific to act ahead of predictable hazards by using early warning information, risk analysis and pre-arranged financing to mitigate the impacts of shocks. Across the Pacific, increasing climate variability, recurrent cyclones, floods and droughts, together with rising economic pressures, underscore the need for systems that can translate forecasts and risk information into timely action.
By linking climate and hazard risk analysis, early warning information, financing mechanisms and scalable delivery platforms, such as social protection and cash assistance systems, anticipatory action enables governments and partners to act ahead of predictable shocks. It helps protect vulnerable populations, reduce disaster-related losses, safeguard livelihoods and minimize the costs and impacts of emergency response through timely and targeted interventions.
In this context, the Anticipatory Action and Climate Risk Management Specialist will provide technical and coordination support to strengthen anticipatory action and climate risk management systems across the Pacific. The position will support the application of climate and hazard risk analysis, forecasting and financing shock-responsive delivery mechanisms to enhance risk-informed and timely action ahead of climate-related and other predictable shocks.
Given the regional nature of WFP’s anticipatory action portfolio across PICTs, this is a roving position requiring frequent travel within the Pacific region.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme, the Anticipatory Action and Climate Risk Management Specialist undertakes the following duties and responsibilities:

• Support governments to design, operationalize and scale integrated climate risk management through anticipatory action, climate and hazard risk analysis and shock-responsive social protection systems that leverage early warning information and national delivery mechanisms. This would enable timely cash and emergency assistance through national delivery mechanisms.
• Ensure coherence and integration across pre- and post-shock interventions, including harmonized targeting approaches informed by climate risk, vulnerability and food security analyses, as well as the integration of nutrition-sensitive programming and social and behaviour change communication (SBCC).
• Lead the development and application of climate and hazard risk analysis, forecasting, climate information services, trigger methodologies and risk models to inform anticipatory action, disaster risk financing and risk-informed decision-making.
• Contribute to regional anticipatory action frameworks by strengthening linkages between climate risk management, early warning systems, disaster risk financing mechanisms, anticipatory action protocols and scalable delivery systems.
• Coordinate with meteorological services, disaster management agencies, other government counterparts and regional partners to strengthen risk analysis, forecasting capabilities, preparedness planning and the implementation of anticipatory action approaches.
• Strengthen the integration of climate risk management and anticipatory action within national policies, programmes and institutional frameworks enabling strengthened shock-responsive social protection systems.
• Support the operationalization of inclusive, accessible, and accountable feedback mechanisms to ensure community perspectives inform programme design, implementation and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate simulation exercises, operational readiness assessments, post-distribution monitoring and after-action reviews to assess system performance and inform continuous improvement.
• Provide technical assistance, training, and knowledge transfer to government institutions, regional partners and WFP teams on climate risk management, anticipatory action, disaster risk financing and shock-responsive social protection.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
 

Education:
Advanced university degree in climate risk management, environmental sciences, economics, public policy, social protection, disaster risk management, development studies, finance or a related field; or a first university degree with additional years of relevant professional experience.

Experience:

• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in climate and disaster risk management, anticipatory action, disaster risk financing, resilience programming, social protection or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and/or operationalizing programmes related to anticipatory action, climate risk management, shock-responsive social protection, cash-based interventions or DRF.
• Proven experience working with government systems and partners climate and hazard risk analysis, vulnerability assessments, forecasting, policy development, system strengthening or programme implementation.
• Experience in multi-country or regional contexts is desirable, particularly in humanitarian or development settings.
• Exposure to food security analysis, vulnerability assessments, climate information services and early warning systems is an advantage.
• Knowledge & Skills:
• Strong understanding of anticipatory action, climate risk management and adaptive social protection systems.
• Ability to apply climate and hazard risk analysis, support the design and operationalization of end-to-end systems linking early warning, triggers, financing and delivery.
• Familiarity with climate risk information services, impact-based forecasting, risk modelling, trigger methodologies and early warning systems.
• Understanding of cash-based programming and its integration with national social protection and government-led delivery systems.
• Strong coordination and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with government counterparts and regional partners.
• Familiarity with Pacific contexts or Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is an asset.

Language:

Fluency in oral and written English.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.

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• At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

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.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.