Consultant: Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC/ICT) Coordinator, WFP Pacific (Fiji)

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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.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Organization Name: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

Duty Station: WFP Fiji Country Office, Suva.

Position Title: Emergency Telecommunications Cluster / Information & Communication Technology (ETC/ICT) Coordinator

Type of Contract: Regular International Consultancy (Level-II)

Duration of Assignment: 11 months, to commence as soon as possible

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is a leading organization delivering food assistance and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We also support governments of developing countries in their efforts to eliminate hunger and malnutrition by addressing the underlying causes and disparities in access to food and good nutrition to ensure that no one is left behind in line with the Agenda 2030, Sustaining Peace and Agenda for Humanity. WFP is particularly focused on Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Goal 17 (Partnerships).

BACKGROUND

As the global lead of the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) the World Food Programme, is actively working on ETC preparedness activities in the Pacific Island region. In September 2015, WFP opened an office in Suva, Fiji, to support emergency preparedness in three sectors - Food Security, Logistics, and Emergency Telecommunications - across the Pacific Islands. On 30 November 2016, the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster for the Pacific was officially activated under the structure of the Pacific Humanitarian Team.

In 2016, WFP prioritised the following Pacific Island Countries for national engagement for ETC preparedness: Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. In 2017, the ETC began expanding its engagement into North Pacific Island countries in the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Kiribati, and Tuvalu. Additional information about the ETC in the Pacific can be found here: https://www.etcluster.org/preparedness/preparedness-pacific-islands

The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster / Information & Communication Technology (ETC/ICT) Coordinator will lead and coordinate the work of the ETC in Pacific region and lead the IT operation of the WFP in Fiji.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The ICT / ETC Coordinator for the WFP Pacific Office will responsible for the following duties:

• Lead and Coordinate the implementation of ICT and Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) activities and serve as the main contact point for the ICT and ETC functional area in the Pacific;
• Represent the ETC at the Inter-Cluster coordination groups and other related inter-agency coordination meetings with key stakeholders;
• Engage directly with national and international agencies and partners with a focus on National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs), Ministries of IT and Communications, Telecommunication Regulators and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in emergency telecommunications planning and preparedness activities, including support to NDMOs and line ministries at the country-level to establish and/or strengthen their national emergency telecommunications cluster/working group/committees;
• Conduct assessments of ICT infrastructure in PICs and evaluate gaps and support requirements in the context of Emergency Preparedness and Response in coordination with local agencies and the Global ETC (will require travel), provide recommendations where appropriate;
• Work with Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and territories to develop their strategies and plans relating to emergency telecommunication systems and related processes in their countries;
• Develop the WFP Pacific IT and Regional ETC strategy and work-plan in coordination with the RITO and regional stakeholders;
• Liaise with the Global ETC and ensure that relevant content for the Pacific is shared on the ETC website etcluster.org;
• Identify funding requirements for Pacific ETC projects and work closely with WFP Regional Bureau Asia & Pacific (RBB) IT Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR), and Finance, to prepare the ETC budget for the Pacific, track ETC expenditure against forecast;
• Develop Pacific region capacity building plan in coordination with the Global ETC and WFP’s regional IT team on training and simulation, including:
  • Deliver IT Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) training based on WFP standards with a view to implementing a blended training model (as appropriate);
• Work with and support local agencies in the spirit of integration and partnership;
• Work with WFP’s regional IT team to identify personnel requirements for the Pacific ETC, prepare relevant job descriptions and assist with recruitment and supervision of staff as needed. Liaise with the Standby Partner team in WFP HQ on the management of partners working with the Pacific ETC;
• Establish links with private sector entities with objective of strengthening emergency telecommunications preparedness and response capacity in the region;
• Lead the WFP Office IT operations including the preparation and tracking of Budget, IT related Contracts and Projects Planning and implementation;
• Supervise WFP IT personnel and ensure daily IT operations and duties are undertaken;
• Lead ETC Emergency Operations in the Pacific region when required; and
• Perform other duties as required.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT

• ETC and WFP ICT coordination and project management carried out successfully within the timeframe and resources assigned.
• Assessments and reviews carried out and reported on, on time and on target.
• Develop IT/ETC EPR roadmap for Pacific and the region for next 5 years.
• Capacity building projects executed and reported within the timeframe and resources assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Information Technology, International Relations, Disaster Management or related field. ALTERNATIVELY a first level university degree (Bachelor's degree) with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and an additional 2 years experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in IT and/or telecommunications with exposure to humanitarian action and emergency preparedness and response;
• Recent involvement in emergency operations with escalating level of responsibilities;
• Familiarity with the Pacific Island context is desirable;
• Experience in Emergency ICT assessments and analysis, Emergency preparedness and contingency planning;
• Demonstrated Project Management experience; and
• Demonstrated networking skills and stakeholder management experience.

Technical Skills & Knowledge:

• Good analytical skills, resourcefulness, initiative;
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills ability to conceptualize issues, think in abstract terms, and analyze numerical data;
• Experience in managing meetings;
• Ability to work under pressure and on multiple tasks;
• Ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing, transforming technical terminology into easily understood language;
• Tact and ability to work harmoniously with people of different cultural backgrounds;
• Ability to plan and organize own work programme and meet deadlines, this under minimum supervision and under own initiative;
• Knowledge of the Cluster Approach as well as broader UN humanitarian principles pertaining to emergency response is highly desirable; and
• Knowledge of technological developments and trends in emergency preparedness and response.

Languages:

• Fluency in English language is required. Intermediate knowledge of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish and or WFP's additional working language, Portuguese and/or any Oceanic language is desirable.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Tuesday, 17 November 2020 (Midnight Bangkok, Thailand time)

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted

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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.