Anticipatory Action/International Consultant

JOB TITLE: Anticipatory Action Consultant TYPE OF CONTRACT: International Consultant - level 2 (CST II) UNIT/DIVISION: Responsible Unit at the Duty Station DUTY STATION: Nouakchott (Mauritania) DURATION: 11 Months BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Climate change is having a detrimental effect on agricultural and food systems. It affects the world's most food-insecure people, most of whom live in countries prone to extreme weather conditions and who face high levels of environmental degradation. As climate-related risks to food security, nutrition and livelihoods increase, so does our ability to predict them. However, despite progress in early warning, acting early enough to anticipate the effects of climate risks remains a major challenge. In response, organizations such as WFP are implementing or have implemented early warning and Anticipatory Action (AA) systems, innovations that use climate forecasts and other related information to trigger anticipatory action before a shock occurs. Anticipatory actions serve to prevent and mitigate, as far as possible, the impact of extreme climate events on the food security and nutrition of the most vulnerable populations. WFP's AA portfolio now includes 28 countries where, together with national and local government partners, WFP is implementing projects aimed at linking early warning systems with anticipatory actions integrated into the national management of risks linked to natural disasters such as droughts, floods and cyclones. In Western and Central Africa, the management of climate risk is a key entry point for reducing vulnerability to the climate shocks that disproportionately affect countries in the region, undermining development gains. Complementing the larger climate risk programme efforts in the region, WFP is implementing an AA programme since 2019 in Niger and is planning on expanding the AA portfolio to support governments to strengthen early warning and AA systems and establish linkages with prearranged financing. In 2023 and 2024, WFP will continue strengthening the existing AA efforts in the region and scale up AA programmes to five Sahel countries. In these countries, WFP, together with national and local government partners, aims at operationalizing and integrating AA systems into national disaster risk management plans for natural hazards such as droughts and floods. Collaboration and partnerships with regional and national government institutions, humanitarian and development organisations, as well as research and science-based institutions is critical for the strengthening and implementation of AA at scale.

With this aim, WFP is seeking to recruit four AA Experts with specialized skills in climate-risk information and experience in early warning systems, AA and disaster preparedness to support WFP's AA projects in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Mauritania. Based in WFP’s respective country offices, the experts will provide technical and operational support as well as liaise with partner agencies, government entities, and science-based institutions to strengthen coordination and advocacy efforts for the AA approach.The focus of this role will be to ensure that the AA project in each country is implemented according to project timelines and integrates other Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and country office Climate Risk Financing (insurance) facilities as well as social protection and resilience initiatives. The AA Expert will be working on various workstreams within the project, including early warning systems for drought and/or floods, identification of anticipatory actions to mitigate the impacts of drought and/or flood, climate services, integration of vulnerability assessments to help target interventions, report writing, liaison with implementation partners and government agencies, organization of and participation in workshops and multi-stakeholders meetings, and overall responsibility to meet project deliverables on time and on budget.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Facilitate development of an AA roadmap for integration of AA into national institutional frameworks and lead advocacy efforts on the AA system components in national and subnational frameworks and plans; 2. Provide technical and operational guidance for AA integration within WFP’s programmes (e.g., Climate Risk Financing/Insurance, social protection, resilience programmes) as well as within government DRR structures; 3. Formulate crisis timelines overlaying seasonality and impact information to identify timings for early warning and anticipatory actions and provide capacity strengthening support to the National crisis response strategy. 4. Coordinate with other drought/flood risk management and AA stakeholders (e.g., contribute to the strengthening or development of a national or subnational AA Technical Working Group), including, but not limited to FAO, Ministry of Agriculture, AGRHYMET, ACMAD, and Red Cross AA projects in the country; 5. With support from a technical service provider, build the capacity of the National Meteorological Services to issue drought and/or flood early warnings (EW) and seasonal forecasts; 6. Liaise with technical and government partners (agricultural, meteorological) to support the development of drought thresholds and seasonal forecast triggers for anticipatory actions; 7. Support the development of a Forecast Map Room to support early warnings and seasonal forecast information; 8. Support the co-design of last mile climate services and user-friendly Early Warning System with at-risk communities accommodating end-user needs (e.g., gender and inclusion-sensitive EW messaging and integration of indigenous knowledge); 9. Support the development of AA Plans, which would include activity timeline, costs, stakeholders, targeting and the associated early warnings and anticipatory actions; 10. Conduct multi-stakeholder workshops and trainings to identify and validate early warning triggers and anticipatory actions and create buy-in by involved stakeholders for system strengthening; 11. Draft project proposals and reports for mid and end of project timelines, support to communications and advocacy, presentations, knowledge sharing on WFP AA projects. 12. Coordinate with Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Research Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) teams in the WFP CO to support effective collaboration, implementation, compliance and monitoring of ongoing project activities. 13. Ensure compliance with regional (RBD) and headquarters (HQ) guidelines, liaising closely with RBD and HQ counterparts. 14. Support and engage in resource mobilization efforts for project development and government capacity strengthening. 15. Any other duty as required.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

•AA Roadmap for integration in government DRR/DRM system. •Draft AA Plan, which includes anticipatory actions, drafts of potential triggers, thresholds, costs, timelines for readiness and implementation, defined relevant stakeholder’s role and responsibility and M&E plan. •Reinforced capacity of country’s national meteorological service to issue skillful drought and/or floods forecasts in focus areas. •Successful collaboration with strengthened and engaged national and sub-national entities. •Project proposals, reports and communication pieces drafted and disseminated. •Validated work plans and budget for the project duration. • Support to regional and national workshops and Technical Working Group for AA.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Education: University degree (masters) in climate adaptation, agriculture, meteorology, hydrology, environmental science or other science related field. Experience: At least 5 years professional experience in climate finance, forecast-based financing/Anticipatory Actions, early warning early action, project management and implementation and capacity strengthening. Proven experience working with governments, donors and UN agencies. Experience working in western Africa desired

Knowledge & Skills: •Sound knowledge of project implementation, resource management, humanitarian principle and tools and transfer modalities; •Ability to explain projects to counterparts and to communicate technical and scientific complexity to partners, governments and donors clearly and effectively. Excellent oral and written communication skills; •Strong networking skills and capacity to build and maintain professional contact; •Understanding of WFP programmes, objectives and strategic priorities; •Ability to work independently in a timely and organized manner; •Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relationships with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds and multi-task as needed. Languages: Fluent in French and working knowledge of English including strong writing skills