Chargé de Programme – Financement basé sur les Prévisions Climatiques (FbF), Antananarivo, Madagascar

POSITION TITLE:

Program Officer - Financing Based on Climate Forecasts (FbF)

TYPE OF CONTRACT:

SC8

UNIT:

Program

WORKPLACE:

Antananarivo, Madagascar

DURATION:

11 Months (renewable)

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE OF THE MISSION:

Climate change has adverse effects on agricultural and food systems, which are particularly vulnerable to climatic disasters that affect crops, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture production. Between 2005 and 2015, US $ 96 billion was lost due to declining agricultural and animal production in developing countries as a result of climate disasters. Climate change is also affecting those most food insecure around the world, most of whom live in countries prone to extreme weather conditions and face high levels of environmental degradation. It is estimated that by 2050,

Past evaluations in Madagascar have shown that resilience building activities should focus on the following key interrelated areas: (i) Extending shock responsive social protection coverage to vulnerable populations through the development of social protection strategies, (ii) Promotion of sustainable livelihoods; (iii) Promotion of sustainable natural resource management; (iv) Strengthening of the effective coverage and adaptive capacity of basic social services at scale; (v) Strengthening of risk-informed local and national development planning and budgeting, by focusing on activities such as the adoption of adequate early warning systems and linking them to early action at all levels.

Climate-related risks to food security, nutrition and livelihoods are increasing, as is our ability to predict them. However, despite the progress made in early warning, acting early enough to anticipate the effects of climate risks remains a significant challenge. In response, organizations such as WFP have started testing climate prediction-based (FbF) financing and early action mechanisms, innovations that use climate predictions and other related information to trigger anticipatory actions before that a shock does not occur.

The FbF is an innovative approach that allows the implementation of anticipatory actions to prevent and mitigate, as far as possible, the impact of extreme weather events on the food security and nutrition of the most vulnerable populations. Piloted in 2015 with the German Red Cross, WFP's FbF portfolio now includes 12 countries in the regions of Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, where, together with national and local government partners, WFP is implementing projects aiming to link early warning systems to anticipatory actions integrated in the national risk management of natural disasters such as droughts, floods and cyclones. In the African region, WFP's FbF approach focuses on droughts,

WFP is seeking an expert with specialized skills in climate risk information and experience in early warning systems, anticipation actions and disaster preparedness to support the WFP project entitled “Intensification of actions anticipation against drought for food security in Africa ”. Based at the WFP office in Madagascar, the expert will provide technical support and liaise with partner agencies (MPPSPF, UNICEF, WB, DGM, BNGRC etc.) in order to strengthen coordination and advocacy efforts in favor of 'FbF approach.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the Madagascar Resilience Team Leader, this role will essentially consist of ensuring that the FbF for drought risk project is implemented according to the project schedule, that it fits into other DRR and climate solutions initiatives of the national office and liaise with implementing partners and government agencies. The program manager will work on several axes of the project, including early warning systems for drought, identification of anticipatory actions to mitigate the impacts of drought, climate services, integration of vulnerability assessments for help target interventions, report writing, organization and participation in workshops,

• • With the support of a technical service provider, strengthen the capacity of Madagascar's meteorological services to issue early drought warnings and seasonal forecasts in the regions of Anosy and Androy;
  • Liaise with technical and government partners (agricultural, meteorological) to support the development of drought thresholds and seasonal forecast triggers for drought anticipation actions;
  • Support the development of the Climate Prediction Maproom to support early warning and seasonal forecast information;
  • Support the development of climate services for the target communities of the project;
  • Coordinate with other drought risk management and FbF projects including, but not limited to, FAO, IFAD, GIZ, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Population, social protection and promotion of women, the BNGRC, WHH and the FbF Red Cross in the region or country;
  • Provide a roadmap for the integration of drought FbF into national institutional frameworks (SNPS, SNGRC);
  • With partners, refine the appropriate anticipatory actions to mitigate the potential impacts of drought in the regions of Anosy and Androy;
  • Organize workshops and trainings bringing together several stakeholders in order to identify and validate early warning triggers and anticipatory actions;
  • Support the development of standard operating procedures for forecast-based funding, which would include schedule of activities, costs, stakeholders, targeting and early warnings and associated anticipatory actions;
  • Drafting of reports for mid-term and end-of-project reports, supporting communication and awareness-raising, presentations, sharing of knowledge between other FbF projects in the country;
• Coordinate with the M&E and VAM teams of the WFP Madagascar country office to support effective collaboration, implementation and monitoring of activities;

DELIVERABLES FOR THE FIRST YEAR

• Write the Standard Operating Procedure including anticipation measures, draft potential triggers, thresholds, costs, deadlines and the stakeholders concerned;
• The national meteorological service is empowered to publish credible drought forecasts in targeted regions;
• The weather forecast Maproom is over;
• Project reports and communications;
• Work plans and budget validated for the duration of the project
• Support for regional and national workshops on FbF;

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Education:

University degree in  meteorology, hydrology, environmental sciences or related disciplines.

Experience:

At least three years of professional experience on disaster risk reduction activities, early warning systems, seasonal and crop forecasting models, including specific experience with Madagascar's climate and regional systems for early warning. Experience with WFP climate programs is an added advantage.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge and experience on FbF is an important asset;
• 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 establish effective working relationships with people from different national and cultural backgrounds and multitask as needed;

Languages:

• Fluency in French, with strong writing skills, good English would be a strong advantage.

Interested applicants are requested to submit their applications  ONLINE ONLY  at the links below: For internal WFP applicants via: http://newgo.wfp.org/services/e-recruitment

For external candidates via: http://www1.wfp.org/careers/job-openings

Deadline  :  August 01, 2021

QUALIFIED FEMALE APPLICATIONS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED