Background

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the food assistance branch of the United Nations and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger and promoting food security.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities:

The consultant will report to and work in close coordination with the Regional DRF Advisor to provide technical expertise and support to Country Offices (COs) and governments across the region.

Core Responsibilities / Global team Engagement:

• Participate in weekly HQ DRF team meetings to share progress, receive global updates, and align on challenges and solutions.
• Collaborate with HQ and other regional DRF specialists to ensure consistency and harmonization of approaches.

Regional Coordination & Reporting:

• Coordinate with Country Offices (COs) on reporting requirements, including a/ DRF Annual Report (published on WFP & Donor reports), b/ Annual Country Report (ACR), c/ Annual Performance Report (APR), d/ Corporate Reporting Framework (CRF), e/ Payout implementation reports, f/ After Action Reviews on payouts.
• Conduct regular calls with COs to monitor programme progress, identify challenges early, and provide timely support.

Strategic alignment:

• Review and provide input on Country Strategic Plans, budget revisions, and other regional/country strategies.
• Ensure alignment of DRF activities with other WFP units and initiatives, including Inclusive Risk Financing: SAMS, Youth in Work, School Feeding.

Evidence Generation & Knowledge Management:

• Support monitoring and evaluation activities (e.g., Post-Distribution Monitoring, outcome monitoring, After Action Reviews, impact evaluations).
• Contribute to knowledge products such as factsheets, case studies, evaluations, and lessons learned.
• Support the DRF Community of Practice, including through supporting the design and running of webinars.

Resource Mobilization:

In coordination with HQ, to ensure streamlined messaging and avoid duplications, participate in regional resource mobilization efforts:

• Draft proposals and concept notes.
• Develop partnerships for specific initiatives.
• Engage with partnership colleagues and donors.

Partnership Development:

In coordination with HQ, to ensure streamlined messaging and avoid duplications, build and maintain partnerships at regional level.

Technical responsibilities:

• Support COs with a/ Feasibility assessments and project design, b/ Selection of technical service providers and insurers, c/ Product design and distribution strategies, d/ Capacity strengthening for governments and private stakeholders, e/ Education and awareness activities.
• Agree on clear timelines, workplans, and frequency of updates with COs. Particularly, ensure enrollment, premium payment before contract inception.
• Facilitate partnerships for savings and credit activities (e.g., VSLAs, microfinance linkages).

Any other tasks as required

Deliverables at the end of the contract:

• Country Offices in ESARO (and other regions as required) supported advance to their IRF programmes.
• Regular progress updates to Global HQ and regional management.
• At least one knowledge product (factsheet, case study, evaluation) per quarter.
• Contributions to at least one resource mobilization proposal per year for each workstream.
• All reporting requirements are fulfilled.
• Participate to at least 1 public event.

Qualifications and experience required:

Education:

Advanced university degree in one of the following disciplines: economics, social sciences, agriculture, environmental sciences, agricultural insurance, social protection, disaster risk management, journalism, international relations, public relations, communications, development studies, or other related fields.

Experience:

At least 4 years of post-graduate, progressively responsible work experience in disaster risk financing, insurance (micro, macro or traditional), or climate risk management. Experience in partnership is desired.

Knowledge and skills:

• Excellent analytical and writing skills and data collection experience.
• An understanding of food security vulnerability and ability to link analysis to programme design, in the context of WFP programmes.
• Knowledge and understanding of WFP procedures.
• Well organized and details oriented.
• Strong understanding of how climate-related risks affect food security.
• Demonstrated ability to present information and ideas and to communicate effectively.
• Proven experience building partnerships with international organisations, Governments and the private sector in developing countries.
• Ability to work in a team, and to work independently.
• Working knowledge of climate change adaptation, and / or Loss and Damage issues is desired.
• Previous experience working in a UN agency would be valued.

• Participate in weekly HQ DRF team meetings to share progress, receive global updates, and align on challenges and solutions.
• Collaborate with HQ and other regional DRF specialists to ensure consistency and harmonization of approaches.
• Coordinate with Country Offices (COs) on reporting requirements, including a/ DRF Annual Report (published on WFP & Donor reports), b/ Annual Country Report (ACR), c/ Annual Performance Report (APR), d/ Corporate Reporting Framework (CRF), e/ Payout implementation reports, f/ After Action Reviews on payouts.
• Conduct regular calls with COs to monitor programme progress, identify challenges early, and provide timely support.
• Review and provide input on Country Strategic Plans, budget revisions, and other regional/country strategies.
• Ensure alignment of DRF activities with other WFP units and initiatives, including Inclusive Risk Financing: SAMS, Youth in Work, School Feeding.
• Support monitoring and evaluation activities (e.g., Post-Distribution Monitoring, outcome monitoring, After Action Reviews, impact evaluations).
• Contribute to knowledge products such as factsheets, case studies, evaluations, and lessons learned.
• Support the DRF Community of Practice, including through supporting the design and running of webinars.
• In coordination with HQ, to ensure streamlined messaging and avoid duplications, participate in regional resource mobilization efforts: Draft proposals and concept notes, Develop partnerships for specific initiatives, Engage with partnership colleagues and donors.
• In coordination with HQ, to ensure streamlined messaging and avoid duplications, build and maintain partnerships at regional level.
• Support COs with a/Feasibility assessments and project design, b/Selection of technical service providers and insurers, c/Product design and distribution strategies, d/Capacity strengthening for governments and private stakeholders, e/Education and awareness activities.
• Agree on clear timelines, workplans, and frequency of updates with COs. Particularly, ensure enrollment, premium payment before contract inception.
• Facilitate partnerships for savings and credit activities (e.g., VSLAs, microfinance linkages).
• Any other tasks as required

• Excellent analytical and writing skills
• Data collection experience
• Understanding of food security vulnerability
• Ability to link analysis to programme design
• Knowledge and understanding of WFP procedures
• Well organized and details oriented
• Strong understanding of how climate-related risks affect food security
• Demonstrated ability to present information and ideas
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Proven experience building partnerships with international organisations, Governments and the private sector in developing countries
• Ability to work in a team
• Ability to work independently
• Working knowledge of climate change adaptation
• Working knowledge of Loss and Damage issues

• Advanced university degree in economics, social sciences, agriculture, environmental sciences, agricultural insurance, social protection, disaster risk management, journalism, international relations, public relations, communications, development studies, or other related fields.
• At least 4 years of post-graduate, progressively responsible work experience in disaster risk financing, insurance (micro, macro or traditional), or climate risk management.
• Experience in partnership is desired.
• Previous experience working in a UN agency would be valued.