Junior Consultant – Roll out of the Crisis Preparedness Gap Analysis (CPGA)

BACKGROUND

Crises threaten to roll back development gains and undermine efforts to end extreme poverty by 2030. The COVID-19 crisis has erased the equivalent of 255 million jobs in 2020 and is expected to push up to 150 million additional people in extreme poverty by the end of 2021. The global economic outlook continues to face significant downside risks, including the possibility of additional COVID-19 waves and financial stress amid high debt levels in many developing countries.

**During the IDA19 Replenishment, World Bank management committed to developing an approach to monitor countries’ progress toward crisis preparedness and tasked the Secretariat of the Global Crisis Risk Platform (GCRP) with leading this effort.**Over the past several months, the GCRP Secretariat has worked with technical teams across Practice Groups to design and test the Crisis Preparedness Gap Analysis (CPGA). The CPGA can play an important role in strengthening the World Bank’s understanding of key preparedness gaps across sectors in IDA countries, and eventually inform country and regional engagements.

The overall objective of the CPGA is to inform client dialogue by identifying gaps and opportunities to strengthen the capacity of IDA countries to prepare for and manage crises in an effective and timely manner. The framework therefore aims to: i) provide a high-level assessment of crisis preparedness across different types of shocks; ii) identify gaps and opportunities to improve crisis preparedness; and iii) inform policy dialogue and technical and financial support on crisis preparedness as part of country and regional programming. Starting FY23, the CPGA tool is being rolled out across IDA countries at the request of CMUs. Delivery of assessments will primarily be led by Country Management Units (CMUs) with the CPGA Secretariat serving a technical support function.

With crisis preparedness highlighted as a new cross-cutting issue in IDA20, the CPGA plays an important role in the crisis preparedness policy package. A standalone policy commitment sets the ambitious target of providing technical and financial support for crisis preparedness in all IDA countries. This support should be informed by the CPGA or other appropriate preparedness diagnostics. Beyond supporting achievement of the IDA20 policy commitment, the CPGA Secretariat plays a convening role in promoting the crisis preparedness agenda within and outside the World Bank, though a dedicated knowledge program.

In this context, the CGPA Secretariat is seeking a motivated consultant to play an integral role in the CPGA Secretariat as it as it advances the crisis preparedness agenda and coordinates the roll out of the CPGA across IDA countries. The Consultant will have experience in one or more sector-specific aspects of crisis preparedness (such as Social Protection, Disaster Risk Finance, Risk Monitoring, Public Heath or other) as well as cross-sectoral understanding of key country systems for preparedness.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the TTL, the Consultant will support the work of the CPGA Secretariat. Specific tasks will include:

Program management support

• Preparation of briefing materials (including briefing note, presentations, talking points) on the CPGA and the broader crisis preparedness agenda
• Inputs into donor and corporate reporting on the CPGA

Support in-country deliveries of CPGA

• Support the CPGA Secretariat in coordinating the pipeline of CPGA in-country deliveries, including:
  • Keeping up to date on which Country Management Units (CMUs) are preparing new Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs) or other relevant country engagement products
  • Preparing customized briefing materials for CMUs
  • Maintaining a database of ongoing and planned CPGA deliveries
• Support preparation and delivery of trainings on the CPGA methodology
• Provide support to CPGA country teams as a core member of the CPGA Secretariat, including:
  • Contributing to briefings to CMUs and Country Teams on the methodology and approach
  • Contribute to the development of resource materials to support CPGA country teams
  • Supporting identification of key informants
  • Acting as resource person to country specific TTL and CPGA country team on issues related to the methodology and its application
  • Supporting the delivery of CPGA prioritization workshops as needed.

Knowledge management

• Drafting knowledge products, including blogs or knowledge notes on select topics
• Contribute to the delivery of events (virtual and in-person) related to the CPGA or the broader crisis preparedness agenda

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience working in international development or related field (or equivalent combination of work experience and education).
• Advanced degree in Economics, Risk Management, International Development or related field.
• Familiarity with one or more of the following fields: disaster preparedness, food crisis preparedness, pandemic preparedness, financial preparedness, risk information and early warning systems. Experience working with the WB in one of the abovementioned fields is preferred.
• Regional or country-level experience in delivering crisis preparedness engagements in IDA contexts. Experience in FCV settings preferred.
• Understanding of World Bank operations and instruments desired.
• Candidates who bring direct personal and professional experience and background from diverse FCV or forced displacement affected backgrounds preferred
• Superior writing and communications skills in English
• Ability to effectively summarize complex concepts in clear and concise briefing materials
• Data visualization and graphic design aptitude is a plus
• Superior organizational skills
• Ability to multi-task, stay on top of rapidly evolving work program

How to apply

Please send your CV and a short motivation statement to Bianca Adam [email protected] by COB October 14, 2022.