Programme Policy Officer (Climate Risk Financing) P3, Rome, Italy

.

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

Are you a Programme Policy Officer interested in further developing your professional experience while contributing to ending global hunger? Are you passionate about helping those in need? Would you like to join a global organisation investing in its people?

If so, an exciting & fulfilling career awaits you!!! Join our diverse and passionate team that works on varied and international projects directly contributing to saving & changing millions of lives around the globe.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted by Sunday, 2 April, 2023 (11:59 PM CET).

WHO WE ARE

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), a highly prestigious, reputable & world’s largest humanitarian organization, operates in more than 120 countries and territories, bringing life-saving assistance in emergencies, building pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change and supporting sustainable and resilient livelihoods for a world with zero hunger. 

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.
 

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 trainings, 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 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 attractive compensation package (please refer to Terms and Conditions section) 

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Climate change multiplies existing threats to food security, hunger and malnutrition. It will make natural disasters more frequent and intense, land and water scarce and difficult to access, and increases in agricultural productivity even harder to achieve. It will disproportionally impact the most vulnerable people, the majority of whom live in fragile areas prone to climate hazards, ultimately putting hundreds of millions of people at risk. It is estimated that by 2050, the risk of hunger could increase by 20 percent, and child malnutrition is anticipated to be 20 percent higher than it would have been without a climate change scenario. 

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. In 2022, WFP implemented climate risk insurance programmes in more than 20 countries, recording a fast geographical expansion, but also growth of its portfolio. 
WFP is developing climate risk insurance through 2 main avenues :

i. at community level (or micro), under the R4 initiative, where insurance is integrated into a broader climate risk management approach. Participants access insurance by engaging in risk reduction activities.

ii. At national level (or macro), where WFP either directly subscribes insurance policies (such as with the African Risk Capacity) to be able to respond early, after a climate extreme, or supports governments (usually through their shock responsive social protection systems) to strengthen their disaster risk financing mechanisms. 

All these activities fit under a broader umbrella of climate & disaster risk financing instruments, which the team is integrating more and more with other tools (such as anticipatory action).  

ABOUT THE ROLE

This position is reporting to the Senior Programme Advisor for Climate Risk Insurance in WFP's Service for Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes (PRO-C). The Service provides technical guidance and support to a range of activities, from household-level micro insurance programmes to sovereign insurance, forecast-based financing mechanisms, or energy programmes. With a specialized climate risk insurance team, PROC keeps integrating innovative climate & disaster risk financing 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). 

The Limited Fixed-Term (LFT) P3 position will be based in HQ, in Rome, Italy. The positions will also play a key role in further development, integration with other programmes, partners and units, and build stronger visibility on the work, internally and externally.  

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Be the focal point for 1 regional bureau, to back up the regional insurance advisor, provide programmatic support to the regional bureau and all country offices in the region on climate risk insurance and financial inclusion. This support includes i. drafting concept notes and supporting fundraising activities, ii. supporting programme implementation on strategic and technical aspects, but also on programmatic and administrative ones (HR, procurement, legal, budget…) depending on needs and requests, iii. support both micro and macroinsurance programmes, depending on the needs and plans
• Support and develop integration of insurance and financial inclusion activities with other workstreams. In particular, be the focal point for at least 1 topic (gender, social protection, SAMS, CBT, emergencies…). This requires engaging with other units, developing a joint workplan, joint publications or guidance
• Support and develop external partnership on insurance with other UN agencies and other potential partners (including private sector). These partnerships have several objectives : joint fundraising, leveraging other agencies' strengths (and WFP's as well), avoiding unnecessary duplication, testing new approaches. WFP needs to build new partnerships both on micro and macroinsurance, and more broadly on climate & disaster risk financing instruments
• Lead the work on communication on climate risk insurance and disaster risk financing. Building global knowledge, reporting, communication and guidance on climate risk insurance, and making sure this is disseminated through WFP  internal and external channels. 
• contribute to streamlining climate risk insurance and financial inclusion solutions through WFP programmes and strategic plan. 
• Engaging with COs in the region of interest or beyond to support country strategic plan development, but also ensure COs are reporting through corporate systems on insurance and financial inclusion activities.
• Represent WFP in conferences, webinars, when needed, to present WFP's work in insurance, financial inclusion, climate adaptation and CDRFI 
• Several mission in countries will be required, potential long term mission (3 months) can be expected
• Any other tasks as required

QUALIFICATIONS & KEY REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Advanced university degree or first university degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses, in one of the following disciplines: economics, social sciences, agriculture, environmental sciences, agricultural insurance, social protection, disaster risk management, journalism, international relations, public relations, communications, development studies, or other related fields. 

Experience:

• At least 5 years of post-graduate, progressively responsible work experience in disaster risk financing, insurance (micro, macro or traditional), or climate risk management. 
• Experience in communication & knowledge management (possibly partly overlapping with programmatic work on climate and Disaster Risk Financing)

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of English (proficiency/level C).
• Working proficiency in French would be considered an asset.
   

MORE ABOUT YOU

• Excellent analytical and writing skills and data collection experience.
• An understanding of food security vulnerability, climate change and ability to link analysis to programme design, in the context of WFP programmes.
• Knowledge and understanding of WFP procedures.
• Well-organized and detail-oriented
• Strong understanding of how climate-related risks affect food security.
• Demonstrated ability to present information and ideas and to communicate effectively.
• Proven experience building partnerships with international organisations, Governments and the private sector in developing countries.
• Ability to work in a team, and to work independently.
• Working knowledge of climate change adaptation, and / or Loss and Damage issues is desired
• Previous experience working in a UN agency would be valued.
   

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

These are the common standards of behaviour that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Leads by Example with Integrity - Lives the WFP values and shows humanity and integrity by role modelling care for others

Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments - Delivers on commitments and adapts readily to change

Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative Teamwork - Is inclusive and collaborative, and contributes to a culture of learning and personal growth

Applies Strategic Thinking - Demonstrates commitment to gather perspectives, analyse options and risks, and propose new ways of doing things

Builds and Maintains Sustainable Partnerships - Builds and nurtures  external partnerships and collaborates with partners to deliver common objectives

Different expectations of behaviour are defined depending on your grade and role/responsibilities within WFP.

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 for up to 2 years. 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 in line with ICSC standards (http://icsc.un.org) including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, visa, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance.

The selected candidate will be required to relocate to Rome, Italy to take up this assignment.

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

.

WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.