Strategy Papers for African countries Consultant, Worldwide

United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance

Job title: Strategy Papers for African countries Consultant

Type of Contract: When Actually Employed Consultant

Division: ARC – African Risk Capacity

Duty Station (City, Country): Remote, including travels to the countries

Duration: 5 months (20 days p/month)

Reporting to: Acting Director for Policy and Technical Services Department

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

African Risk Capacity (ARC) is a Specialised Agency of the African Union. The ARC Agency leads the ARC Group, a development finance institution that provides financial tools and infrastructure to help countries manage natural disaster risks and adapt to climate change. It counts 35 AU countries as members and is supervised by a ministerial level governing board elected by its Conference of the Parties. The ARC design and establishment phase was managed by WFP, under a MoU with the African Union, and WFP continues to provide administrative services support to the ARC Agency through an administrative services agreement.

In line with the Article 3 of ARC Establishment Agreement, the objective of the ARC Agency is to assist the Member states to reduce the risk of loss and damage caused by Extreme Weather Events and Natural Disasters affecting Africa’s populations by providing targeted responses to disasters in a more timely, cost-effective, objective and transparent manner. Art 4 (b) of the same agreement emphasises that ARC Agency shall begin by assisting Parties to plan and prepare for emergencies caused by drought, and will later expand to address other types of Extreme Weather Events and Natural Disasters; and art 4 (d) reads that ARC shall assist Parties in assessing the financial impact of Extreme Weather Events and Natural Disasters.

In February 2020, ARC released its second Strategic Framework for the period 2020-2024 for delivering on its mandate, with the overarching ambitious mission “to promote harmonized resilience solutions for protecting African lives and livelihoods vulnerable to natural disasters caused by climate change and other perils of importance to the continent”. The three strategic objectives, set to be achieved to realize ARC’s vision and goal, focus on innovating through research and development, enhancing the disaster risk management landscape in Africa, and scaling up operations In order to deliver on this strategic framework in a more coherent manner and to respond effectively to the unique needs of its member states, ARC is developing standardized Country Strategy Papers (CSP) for its members states. The CSPs are intended to guide engagement in countries where ARC operates, responding to country needs in alignment with the ARC Strategic Framework, identifying how and where ARC can best add value to existing national efforts in disaster risk management in each member state.

Accordingly, ARC is looking to recruit four (4) consultants to support the development of the Country Strategy Papers for select beneficiary countries. As the first phase of this work, ten countries have been targeted for 2021: six (6) in West and Central and four (4) in Eastern and Southern Africa. The CSP will facilitate a better management of the risks and enhance the effectiveness of the response to the risks in countries.

Section 1: Scope of Study

Emphasising that hired consultants will have extensive skills and experience, regional aspects must be given much attention throughout the process of analysing below components at country levels. Thus, consultants shall:

Support the review of the analysis done by the Country Engagement Managers (CEM) teams on socio-economic and political situation in selected countries

Analyse the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) System in identified countries by assessing, hazard exposure, the status of multi-sectoral systems for response, tools, and mechanisms in place that allow countries to ensure disaster preparedness and timely response. This section will also scan through legal and institutional frameworks of the country vis a vis the DRM

Assess key Disaster Risk Financing (DRF) initiatives existing in the country and active stakeholders that deal with DRM and Financing in countries, linking Legal and Institutional arrangements present, stakeholders involved, their mandates and linkages with ARC interventions.

Section 2: Indicative Methodology and Timelines

It is expected that this study should be completed Within 5 months.

Inception Report which will inform the consultants initial view of the scope of work – Due one week after signing the contract,

Development of two CSPs per consultant, and submission of draft final report and Communication materials (soft copies) – Due 4 months after signing the contract,

Presentation of report to ARC for validation and incorporation of relevant feedback (continuous throughout the period of the consultancy),

Final report and communication materials (both soft and printed copies) – Due three weeks after submission of the draft report, and will include ARC & TWG inputs and comments

DELIVERABLES:

The consultants will develop a methodological/analytical approach that includes a complex and wide range of factors with findings presented in the form of a detailed report of findings following an outline that will be provided by ARC through soft and hard copies, and a PowerPoint presentation.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants must have at least a master’s degree in one or more of the following disciplines: Economics, Agricultural Economics, Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Disaster Risk Management, Policy Analysis, Climate Change Economics, or other closely related fields.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:

At least eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of Disaster Risk Management with International and Inter-Governmental Organizations, International NGOs, Foundations or Government Services

Experience working with African governments is an asset. Experience working at the reginal level will be an added advantage

A strong track record on policy development and policy analysis

Solid capabilities in each of the following areas:

Excellent writing skills in English

Project design and mapping of relevant stakeholders

Monitoring and evaluation of climate finance planning and disaster risk management and response

Value-for-money and cost benefit analysis

Significant experience with climate change adaption programmes, with an expert knowledge of the UNFCCC, climate adaptation programmes and the international dialogues and debates on climate change adaptation.

Experience in working with Private Public Partnerships is an added advantage

Terms and Conditions

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP.

http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

Deadline for applications: 2 August 2021

Ref.: VA No. 144513

APPLY HERE

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