ABOUT WFP & R4 INITIATIVE

For the 1.3 billion people living on less than a dollar a day globally and depending on agriculture for their livelihoods, vulnerability to climate-related shocks is a constant threat to their food security and well-being. As effects of climate change increase the frequency and intensity of natural hazards rise, with farmers facing a growing risk that these climate-related shocks will destroy their assets. Understanding how to help communities confront and manage this risk, so they can be resilient to climate-related shocks, is critical for addressing global poverty.

Under the general supervision and guidance of Team Leader of Climate Solutions, the DRR/NRM Programme Officer will provide technical support and guidance for natural resource management and disaster risk reduction activities under the climate solutions umbrella. The Climate Solutions work plan currently comprises 2 programmes i. R4 Rural Resilience Initiative and ii. The Satellite Index Insurance for Pastoralists in Ethiopia (SIIPE). A brief programme description follows:

R4 Rural Resilience Initiative:  R4 has broken new ground in the field of climate risk management by enabling poor farmers to pay premiums for crop index insurance with their own labor. Farmers can access insurance by paying with their labor through Insurance-for-Work (IFW) schemes. When a drought hits, compensation for weather-related losses prevents farmers from selling productive assets and stimulates faster recovery. IFW schemes are built into the government’s PSNP programme. Assets built through risk reduction activities promote resilience by steadily decreasing vulnerability to disaster risks over time. Insurance also facilitates access to credit at better rates, serving as collateral. Households can thereby invest in riskier but more remunerative enterprises, as well as in improved seeds, fertilizers and new technologies to increase their agricultural productivity. 

Participants also establish small-scale savings, which are used to build ‘risk reserves.’ Savings help build a stronger financial base for investing – but also act as a buffer against short-term needs and idiosyncratic shocks, such as illness and death. To ensure long-term sustainability, R4 contributes to the creation of rural financial markets, by building local capacity and gradually transitioning farmers to pay for insurance in cash. 

Satellite Index Insurance for Pastoralists in Ethiopia (SIIPE): The SIIPE programme currently provides index-based livestock insurance coverage to 5,001 beneficiary households in the Somali region of Ethiopia. Within the Somali region, the programme started in three districts (Woredas). Similar to R4, SIIPE targets PSNP households who own between 5 – 11 Tropical Livestock Units. Pastoralists can access insurance by paying premiums with their labor through Insurance-for-Work (IFW) schemes. In 2019, the programme will scale up to cover more than 10,000 households in the region and beyond.

In both the above programmes, WFP aims to improve the quality of work done through these DRR activities by collaborating with PSNP, federal and regional government and the implementing partners. In addition, there may be new programmes in the forthcoming months in both high as well as low land areas of the country that build upon WFPs vast experience as well as aim at introducing the latest technology in planning and implementation of DRR and NRM activities on the ground.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Under the general supervision and guidance of Team Leader of Climate Solutions, the DRR/NRM Programme Officer will provide technical support and guidance for natural resource management and disaster risk reduction activities under the climate solutions umbrella.

JOB PURPOSE:

To support DRR activities in the programmes, support development of new solutions, support with capacity strengthening, establish indicators, and support development of technical specifications for the programmes. When needed, the programme officer may be required to support other programmes that may be initiated in the near future requiring DRR interventions.

 ACCOUNTABILITIES:

The focus of this function will be to ensure that that Climate Risk Management s in Ethiopia follow WFP’s corporate policies (Climate Change, DRR, and Environment), create guidelines for natural resource management activities, integrated watershed management, DRR, and liaise with implementation partners and government agencies as needed. The Programme officer will be working on various workstreams within the unit that require a DRR/NRM intervention. These include the R4 Rural Resilience Initiative, the Satellite Index Insurance for Pastoralists in Ethiopia, and other DRR/NRM interventions where needed under the climate solutions workstream. In this regard, the Programme Officer will be responsible for the following:

1. Liaise with the regional and local government bodies (such as the woreda watershed team) to review the land use plans and maps in consultation with local communities, district authorities and develop detailed follow up activities for concerned watersheds.
2. Establish technical guidelines, and specifications in coordination with government extension services
3. Quality management and compliance with standards during construction. This includes adherence to the Environment policy 2017 of WFP as well as those requested by donors.
4. Collaborate with NGO partners for R4 as well as regional governments and PSNP authorities to identify DRR, NRM activities for the respective projects.
5. Where needed conduct training sessions in collaboration with NGO partners for regional, district and village facilitators in participatory NRM principles and methodologies.
6. Provide technical and policy recommendations for the consolidation, monitoring and possible replication of NRM/DRR activities (including institutional arrangement, rules and regulations, links to land tenure, etc.) at watershed level including with the management and improvement of lowland agriculture.
7. Support development of SOPs for Forecast-based Financing. This would include conducting a gap assessment, supporting development of triggers for drought forecast as well as support development of SOPs for developing the early warning, early action approach.
8. Liaise with national counterparts, M&E and VAM teams in Ethiopia CO and global climate team to support effective collaboration, implementation, compliance and monitoring of ongoing project activities.

1. Other as required.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT

 Support DRR activities in the programmes, support development of new solutions, support with capacity strengthening, establish indicators, and support development of technical specifications for the programmes. When needed the programme officer may be required to support other programmes that may be initiated in the near future requiring DRR interventions.

Education: University degree in Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Disaster Risk Reduction, Social Science or other related field; with 2 years relevant professional work experience OR a master’s degree with at least 1 year of professional experience in a related field.

Experience: At least two years working experience focusing on DRR/NRM activities including formulation of guidelines, community engagement, implementation of watershed rehabilitation plans. Experience in WFP specific programmes like MERET, Climate Change Adaptation is an added advantage.

Language: Fluency in oral and written English and Amharic is sufficient. Knowledge of other Ethiopian regional languages would be an advantage.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to work independently in a timely and organized manner;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work;
• Ability to work in a team and multi-task as needed;
• A strong understanding of Climate and DRR context of Ethiopia.

WFP is an equal opportunity employer. Female candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply on-line through WFP recruitment website.

This VA is open ONLY to Ethiopian Nationals.

Public access: http://www1.wfp.org/careers/job-openings 

WFP staff access: http://newgo.wfp.org/services/e-recruitment

Please note that WFP does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.