The African Risk Capacity (ARC) is a Specialized Agency of the African Union. ARC is seeking to fill the position of Risk Analyst Officer P-3, based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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 in the queue 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 Risk Analyst Officer will be a member of the ARC Secretariat Technical Team supporting all aspects of the ARC Technical Team’s work, with a particular focus on the in-country interactions with ARC Member States. Reporting to the Technical Team Manager, the Risk Analyst Officer’s responsibilities will include the following:
- Understanding ARC and the Africa RiskView software and its underlying methodology;
- Assist the Technical Team on all matters relating to the customization of Africa RiskView and preparation for participation in the insurance pool, including providing support to:
- Background research to understand the risk factors and risk profile of each country;
- Historical data gathering and preparation;
- Data analysis and customisation work;
- Closely monitor Africa RiskView to provide inputs for monthly and ad hoc bulletins
- Working with in-country technical working groups;
- Reviewing final customization reports;
- Ground-truthing and verification of Africa RiskView results and model review;
- Documenting Technical Team in-country activities.
- Support to the Technical Team in the development, upgrade and update of the Africa RiskView software and its related manuals, documentation and country briefs;
- Support to the Technical Team in designing and conducting Africa RiskView country and regional trainings, preparing training material and support documentation;
- Contribute to the design and development of new methodologies for the expansion of Africa RiskView to new risks including flood and cyclone and support the in-country work required to ground-truth and calibrate new models;
- Support senior Technical Team and ARC staff in other tasks, including reporting to donors and in collaborations with ARC partners, as necessary;
- Frequent field missions to provide technical support to the ARC participating countries will be required;
· Represent the ARC Secretariat at conferences and meetings, as required.
· Work closely with the ARC Technical Team in Johannesburg
Qualifications & Experience Required
Education:
· Advanced university degree in Economics, Food Security, Agriculture, Development Studies or similar relevant discipline;
Experience:
· At least three years of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in food security analysis or a closely related area, such as agricultural risk management or early warning;
· Some experience in remote sensing and drought index interpretation and analysis would be an asset;
Technical Skills & Knowledge:
· Expert user of Microsoft Excel;
· Working knowledge of statistics;
Competencies:
· Ability to work under the minimum supervision and under tight deadlines;
Language(s):
· Fluent in English and fluency in French or Portuguese is highly desirable.
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
