The African Risk Capacity (ARC) is a Specialized Agency of the African Union. ARC is seeking to fill two positions of Country Engagement Officers P-3, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. One position is bilingual requiring English and French, and a second one with English including intermediate knowledge of any other second UN language.
Background:
The African Risk Capacity was established as a Specialized Agency of the African Union (AU) in November 2012 to help Member States improve their capacities to better plan, prepare and respond to extreme weather events and disasters; and to assist food insecure populations. Operating under the privileges and immunities of the AU, the ARC Agency, through its Secretariat, provides Member States with capacity building services for early warning, contingency planning and risk finance.
In late 2013 the Agency established a financial affiliate called ARC Insurance Company Limited (ARC Ltd). ARC Ltd is a specialist hybrid mutual insurance company that issues policies to governments, and which aggregates and transfers risk to the international market. ARC, through ARC Ltd. and after its capacity building activities, provides financing in the form of insurance to African governments to execute pre-approved contingency plans in the event of severe disasters. In order for a country to purchase an insurance policy through ARC Ltd. and thus become a member of the Company, the country must demonstrate through a peer review process its ability to effectively use potential payouts.
In May 2014, with initial capital provided by the governments of Germany and the United Kingdom, ARC Ltd issued drought insurance policies to a first group of African governments – Kenya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger and Senegal – marking the launch of the inaugural ARC pool. Due to a poor rainfall season in the Sahel during the 2014/ 2015 season, three of these four first countries received a payout from ARC Ltd to be used for the implementation of pre-approved contingency plans designed to reach those in need. In its second year of implementation ARC Ltd offered insurance coverage to seven countries for the 2015/ 2016 rainfall season. ARC Ltd uses the satellite weather surveillance software Africa RiskView, developed together with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), to estimate needs and trigger insurance payouts to those countries affected by poor weather. By allowing Member States to capitalise on the natural diversification of weather risk across the continent, premiums are significantly more affordable than they would be for countries approaching the market alone. Additional countries are working with ARC to join future pools with the target to insurance 30 countries by 2020 through drought, flood and tropical cyclone products. The ARC design and establishment phase was managed by WFP; and WFP continues to provide administrative services support to the ARC Agency through an administrative services agreement.
Responsibilities:
Based in ARC Headquarters in Johannesburg, the Country Engagement Officer will be reporting to the Head of Government Services, but working closely with the Programme Director. The Country Engagement Officer will be responsible for promoting, establishing and managing the ARC in-country capacity building programme in selected countries. To do this, the Candidate will:
Political/Organizational Duties
· Under the supervision and direction of the Head of Government Services, negotiate and finalize Memoranda of Understanding between ARC and Member State governments for new potential drought, flood or tropical cyclone insurance coverage in the next ARC pool;
· Under the supervision and direction of the Head of Government Services, assist the Programme Supervisor in selecting an ARC Government Coordinator and assembling the ARC in-country technical working group;
· Act as ARC’s a liaison with the government and advise ARC senior management of relevant political developments.
· Staff senior management visits to the country, including preparation of briefing documents and working with ARC administrative staff to facilitate travel, accommodation, transport and appropriate protocol and security as necessary.
· Liaise with UN or AU agencies and institutions, NGOs, donor partners, and lead institutions in early warning, climate change and disaster risk management in-country and assist in the development of joint work-programmes and partnerships;
Programmatic Duties
· Under the supervision and direction of the Head of Government Services, guide and manage the ARC Government Coordinator and his/her implementation of the work-streams of the ARC Capacity Building Programme for existing client countries and new client countries: 1) Africa RiskView customization, 2) ARC operations planning, and 3) risk transfer – building consensus within government and among local partners on all aspects of the project’s scope;
– Develop, manage and report on the in-country working group work-plans and programme budget.
– Manage knowledge and information exchange and the delivery of ARC services to the ARC countries for which he/she is responsible;
– Specifically for Africa RiskView software customization, be familiar with the underlying methodology and how to navigate the software, and assist the ARC Technical Team in refinement of the model by soliciting and synthesising in-country working group feedback, working with national technical experts and securing improved data as required;
– In the area of Contingency Planning, assist the Chief of Operations and Planning in researching and selecting contextually appropriate response mechanisms and ensuring linkages with the broader food security and weather risk management policies and frameworks within the countries;
– In the area of Risk Transfer, understand the country’s options for risk transfer vis-à-vis their needs, budget and risk appetite as well as the legal processes they will need to complete in order to participate. Additionally, ensuring inscription of the premium payment in the national budget and assisting the government in mobilizing resources to pay the premium.
· Detect, organize and deliver the relevant expert support from the Secretariat to the country as needed to complete the Capacity Building Programme within the aggressive and tight deadlines, always ensuring that the country retains ownership.
· Regularly document the country programme, major decisions taken pertaining to the country’s participation, track log-frame indicators and assist the M&E officer in analysis and reporting;
· Organise and conduct ARC trainings and workshops for in-country stakeholders, including government and their partners, and regional body representatives;
· Aim to take a strategic view across programme components and make linkages between them and the greater risk management and food security context in which ARC is operating;
· Travel frequently to countries under management (2-3 weeks/month required);
· Perform other related duties as requested by the senior ARC staff.
Qualifications & Experience Required
Education:
Advanced university degree or university degree and equivalent experience in one or more of the following disciplines: social sciences, finance, business administration, international relations, international development, development economics or another relevant field.
Experience:
Three to five years (of which two are international) of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in public sector management, development projects, emergency assistance, finance or other related, relevant field.
Language:
Fluency in English and French. Limited knowledge (intermediate/level B) of another UN official language – Arabic or Portuguese – highly desirable.
Desirable Skills & Knowledge:
- Excellent skills in stakeholder management and negotiation.
- Excellent facility with Excel, MIS and delivering quality products on time.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-centered, “start-up” environment.
- Ability to be resourceful and effectively navigate new environments.
- Ability to complete tasks on time and uphold ARC standards for high quality output without constant supervision.
- Knowledge of risk transfer, including (parametric) insurance, climate change issues and climate-related development programmes in Africa.
- Knowledge and experience of food security planning and emergency response in Africa (especially for drought and other natural hazards), including beneficiary impact, political economy and the management and operational frameworks for major national and regional responses.
- Demonstrated ability to take a strategic view across a large complex programme.
- Strong computer skills, including excellent skills in MS Office based word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, database and other standard software packages and systems.
- General knowledge of or experience working with African Union, NEPAD, Regional Economic Communities, Regional Technical Institutions.
Terms and Conditions
The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of one year to solely support the ARC Agency. He/she will not be entitled to any reassignment, transfer, promotion or conversion to any other type of appointment with WFP; and may not be considered as internal candidate for vacancies in WFP, or the United Nations.
WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. For more details please visit icsc.un.org
HOW TO APPLY:
Application Procedures:
Step 1: Register and create your online CV.
Step 2: Click on “Description” to read the position requirements and “Apply” to submit your application.
NOTE: You must complete Step 1 and 2 in order for your application to be considered for this vacancy.
Deadline for applications: 21 August 2016
Qualified 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.
REF: 16-0021848**
