Anticipatory Action Coordinator

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members - 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide and has started working in Sri Lanka since 1979 with its Representation (Country Office) opened in Colombo.

The FAO contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, and through four Betters (Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment and a Better life) and leaving no one behind.

Anticipatory action in the context of the FAO refers to a proactive approach taken to prevent or mitigate the impacts of disasters and crises on agriculture, food security, and livelihoods. Instead of waiting for a disaster to strike and responding reactively, anticipatory action involves taking measures in advance based on early warning systems, forecasts, and risk analysis to reduce the negative consequences of an impending hazard. The aim is to protect vulnerable populations, especially smallholder farmers, from the adverse effects of disasters, such as droughts, floods, and other climate-related events. FAO is actively involved in promoting anticipatory action in agriculture and food security. The organization collaborates with various partners, governments, and communities to develop and implement Anticipatory Action strategies.

FAO's anticipatory action initiative aims to enhance the resilience of communities, prevent food and livelihood losses, and reduce the overall humanitarian and economic impacts of disasters. By proactively addressing vulnerabilities and risks, the FAO contributes to building more sustainable and secure food systems, particularly in regions prone to climate-related challenges.

The Anticipatory Action Coordinator is recruited to lead and coordinate the approach in Sri Lanka within the framework of a project “Scaling up Anticipatory Action for Agriculture and Food Security funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO)- OSRO/GLO/1196/GER. The programme will run from January 2024 to December 2025 with a core focus to scale up anticipatory action efforts, coordination and mainstreaming efforts in the country.

Reporting Lines

Anticipatory Action Coordinator will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programmes).He/she will be required to work in close coordination with Agrometeriologist and other staff at FAO Sri Lanka

Technical Focus

The Anticipatory Action Coordinator will design, lead and coordinate the work on early warning and anticipatory action with government’s line ministries and authorities (Disaster Management, Water Resources and Meteorology, Agriculture, Social Affairs and Social Protection etc.), as well as key anticipatory action actors in Sri Lanka. The focal point will further explore avenues to include anticipatory action into ongoing social protection programming in the country and explore areas for potential overlap.

Tasks and responsibilities

Support the design, planning and operationalization of anticipatory action initiatives: - Support the design, planning, operationalization and scale up of anticipatory action in Sri Lanka with government and partners, specifically the development of protocols, monitoring of triggers and flexible financing opportunities. - Work closely with the agro-meteorologist on the development of Anticipatory Action triggers and/or impact-based forecasting models for testing with the Meteorological Department of Sri Lanka and Disaster Management Center. - Survey government systems and current preparedness/response activities, and how they are funded, and explore entry points for anticipatory action. - Facilitate simulations and preparedness activities to ensure the FAO Sri Lanka is able to act in a timely manner based on the triggers or impact-based forecasting models. - Provide operational support during activations from Special Fund for Emergencies and Rehabilitation Assistance Fund. Manage partnerships with vendors or suppliers. - Conduct field missions and advise on operational arrangements for any pre-selected Anticipatory Action and conduct beneficiaries targeting. - Facilitate the evaluation on the effectiveness of Anticipatory Action to help build the evidence including but, not limited to: process learning, return on investment and socio-economic benefits. At the start of the programme collect key government assumptions on the approach and explore how these change over time. - Collect baseline data in high priority areas to ensure the robustness of evidence and learning processes. - Facilitate resource mobilization efforts on Anticipatory Action at the country level and in coordination with RAP Experts. - Develop workplan for GFFO Phase 2 programme from Q1 of 2024 to Q4 in 2025, based on the agreed activities with the donor and government counterparts. - Where needed, support with communication activities and outputs to help promote the programme at national, regional and global levels. With communication experts, document key outcomes through mixed media (video, photography) to advocate and lobby for the approach in Sri Lanka. - Assist FAO to coordinate with relevant government’s line ministries and authorities and other partners to co-organize the establishment and logistical arrangement of a Working Group (WG) on AA and develop a TOR for the group. Explore potential co-leadership of government for the WG with key partners. - With key partners, support the sensitization of the Anticipatory Action approach at national and provincial level. Support agencies to build a collective voice on the approach to support its adoption in government systems. - Participate to the meetings of any related initiatives where Anticipatory Action could be included and provide support for their development as warranted (Early Warning for All, Green Climate Fund, Global Environmental Facility, Dialogue Platforms etc.). Furthermore, represent FAO Sri Lanka in regional and national dialogues on Anticipatory Action. - With the RAP Social Protection Experts, explore areas to design and potentially pilot Anticipatory Action through national level systems. - Perform other duties as requested by AFAOR(programmes)

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

- University degree or higher in development studies, humanitarian assistance, disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, agriculture, food security analysis, or other relevant fields - Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in disaster risk management, climate change, agricultural/rural development sectors with proven capacity to conduct community-based disaster risk assessment, facilitate training workshops, and develop assessment tools and training materials. - Working knowledge of English - National of Sri Lanka

FAO Core Competencies

- Results Focus - Teamwork - Communication - Building Effective Relationships - Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

- Demonstrated experience and good knowledge of national disaster risk management, climate change-related agenda, and mitigation/adaptation activities; - Ability to interact diplomatically and effectively with multiple institutional actors in diverse sectors and at diverse levels; - Proven capacity to conduct fieldwork and ability to work in teams and establish working relationships with central and local government institutions and civil society organizations; - Good interpersonal skills with experience in networking with partners in Sri Lanka at all levels (Ministries, donors, private sector, NGOs, and local community-based organizations) - Good command of computer skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet); - Understanding of FAO policies and programme is considered a strong asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.