Regional Emergencies Programme Officer, Asia Pacific, CST Level II

JOB TITLE: Regional Emergencies Programme Officer, Asia Pacific
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Regular Consultant
UNIT/DIVISION: Regional Bureau for Asia-Pacific (RBB) / Programme Unit (Emergency Preparedness & Response [EPR] team)
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Bangkok, Thailand
DURATION: 11 months, extendable

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is a leading organization delivering food assistance and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We also support governments of developing countries in their efforts to eliminate hunger and malnutrition by addressing the underlying causes and disparities in access to food and good nutrition to ensure that no one is left behind in line with the Agenda 2030, Sustaining Peace and Agenda for Humanity. WFP is particularly focused on Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Goal 17 (Partnerships).

The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to WFP is recognition that ending hunger is a critical first step towards global peace. WFP recognizes that one of the greatest contributions it can make to humanity is to provide a voice to the 690 million hungry people in the world. The Nobel Peace Prize gives us a platform to make their needs heard and to mobilize support for the assistance they need.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Reporting to the Regional Programme Adviser (Emergencies) and the Head of Programme, the Regional Emergencies Programme Officer will be responsible for the following activities:

1. Contribute and support development, and implementation of, emergency preparedness and response initiatives in the region.
   • Support EPR Programme implementation at regional/country-levels, EPR Working Group coordination, including liaison, planning, project development, implementation and financial oversight.
   • Coordination with WFP HQ-led global emergency preparedness initiatives implemented in the region.
   • Assist in identifying and assessing opportunities to address practical issues in operational emergency preparedness within Regional Bureau Bangkok and Asia-Pacific Country Offices.

2. Provide advice, technical support and mission travel to WFP Asia-Pacific Country Offices, as needed, and to ensure regional emergency preparedness programmes are consistent with WFP policies and regional strategic approaches.
   • Provide support to Country Offices on integration of emergency preparedness in country portfolios and strategies, including strategic development of EPR-related areas in Country Strategy Plans.
   • Provide technical support and coordination on connectivity of country-level EPR activities to other relevant technical areas including; Resilience, Data preparedness, Country Capacity Strengthening, Climate Change and emergency nutrition, among others.
   • Support country offices in government and inter-agency liaison, and coordination of national emergency preparedness capacity enhancement initiatives, eg. Supporting National Disaster Management Agencies.
   • Follow up and support on the implementation of internal WFP emergency preparedness actions at the Country Office and Regional Bureau level.

3. Prepare, develop, and review high quality documentation for regional and country level EPR initiatives, including contributing to joint resource mobilisation efforts.
   • Develop, share and/or review timely and high-quality analytical reports, publications, information products, protocols, concept notes and proposals for internal and external use.
   • Contribute to resource mobilization efforts for WFP EPR projects, including the development and drafting of documentation clearly articulating strategic and project-level requirements, goals and outcomes, project design and implementation.

4. Support the strengthening of EPR Coordination, Communications and Information Management within the region.
   • Support implementation of hazard monitoring and alerting services to ensure situational awareness and ‘no regrets’ mobilization following sudden-onset events of humanitarian and/or operational impact to WFP based on risk.
   • Provide secretariat support for internal and regional coordination fora including Regional Bureau Bangkok’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Working Group.
   • Liaise and communicate with HQ counterparts, relevant regional organizations and bodies, to establish/maintain operational partnerships and to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve emergency preparedness.
   • Representation of WFP at inter-agency fora, simulations and exercises as necessary.
   • Facilitate dissemination of EPR lessons learned and best practices within the region, ensuring the maintenance of a Regional Bureau Bangkok EPR community of practice with regular information/knowledge sharing.
   • Plan, coordinate and facilitate EPR regional workshops, events or trainings, as needed.

5. Emergency surge deployment and mission travel (as needed).
   • Provide surge capacity to sudden and slow-onset humanitarian emergencies on short notice in support of WFP country offices or establishment of WFP presence in oversight countries, as required.
   • Any other travel or activities as required by the Regional Programme Adviser (Emergencies) and Head of Programme.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EXPERIENCE:

• Has experience working across multiple areas of the food assistance programming portfolio including Vulnerability Assessment Mapping/Nutrition/Resilience/Climate Change, in humanitarian emergency settings.
• Experience in drafting and developing humanitarian project proposals, donor proposals and drafting of donor/end of project reports.
• Experience supporting emergency food assistance (in-kind and/or cash-based transfers) programming and distribution is an advantage.

DESIRABLE

• Experience in country-level humanitarian operations in large-scale emergencies is an advantage.
• Experience working in collaboration with a diverse array of humanitarian actors, including governments, NGOs, U.N. agencies, civil society, etc.
• Experience of coordination and facilitation of meetings, conducting trainings and facilitating workshops.
• Demonstrated skills in collaborative problem-solving, lateral thinking and systems development are an advantage.
• Experience working in the Asia-Pacific Region is desirable, but not required

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• Has led a Sub Office or a small country/area office programme team or a component of a country office programme portfolio.
• Has engaged in policy discussions and provided input into policy decisions.
• Professional familiarity with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and the Cluster Approach and the international humanitarian response architecture, including coordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform, and funding mechanisms.
• Familiarity with standard Microsoft Office and project management applications including advanced competencies with Microsoft Excel and Publisher and similar type of software are an advantage.

EDUCATION:

• Master’s degree in a field relevant to international development assistance
• Bachelor’s degree with 6 years or more of professional experience in humanitarian response, including relevant experience in humanitarian operations, of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

LANGUAGE:

• Excellent English communications skills, especially written/drafting, with strong attention to detail.