Senior Emergency Preparedness and Response Advisor - P5

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

The World Food Programme West and Central Africa Regional Office is recruiting for the position of Senior Emergency Preparedness and Response Advisor (P5).

Based in Dakar Regional Office, the Senior Emergency Preparedness and Response Advisor is expected to help the organization (WFP) enhance its capacity to prepare and respond to sudden disasters and slow-onset crises, in a context of increasing insecurity and needs. She/he will also advise on the long-term preparedness needs.

The Senior Emergency Preparedness and Response Advisor will report to the Deputy Regional Director (Programme/Operations) and closely work with Country Directors.

Emergency preparedness

• In line with WFP Emergency Preparedness and Response policies and guidelines, assist Country Offices (COs) in the implementation of relevant, timely and adequate emergency preparedness measures, including but not limited to Minimum Preparedness Action and WFP Contingency Plans;
• Support Country Directors in managing their emergency and response plans and coordinate WFP’s activities with counterparts involved in the operations, such as Government counterparts, UN agencies, the donor community, Red Cross/Crescent Movement, NGOs and regional organizations, including representing WFP in Humanitarian Country Team;
• Support the preparation of the COs workplans and staffing plans for emergency operations, including through revision of Country Response Plans and provision of advices;
• Provide operational and technical guidance to COs during the implementation of emergency preparedness;
• Ensure, monitor and report on the level of implementation of emergency preparedness measures against organisational standards;
• Facilitate RB preparedness mission to COs if requested by CD or in country-based coordinators;
• Liaise with the other functional areas in RBD (Programme, Resilience, VAM, Nutrition, Donor Relations, etc.) in view of support missions to COs;
• Work with HQ to conduct simulations for emergency preparedness, including through (but not limited to) desk reviews and remote exercises;
• Coordinate the preparation of the response plans together with other UN agencies at regional level;
• Support WFP staff and partners to develop programmes that effectively link humanitarian response to resilience and longer-term programmes.

Emergency response support

• Provide direction and operational guidance to RBD and COs, and oversight for WFP’s emergency response in West and Central Africa;
• Provide timely updates and advice to regional management to facilitate rapid response and timely decision-making;
• With support of HQ’s early warning team, provide the Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director with critical analysis of the emergency situation(s) throughout the region and emerging trends, patterns and recommendations on meeting humanitarian needs and mitigate risks;
• Regularly re-assess implementation approaches and strategies and make recommendations for appropriate shifts;
• Contribute to resource mobilization initiatives in collaboration with Country offices and the Partnership unit.
• Facilitate the organization of Operational Taskforce (OTF) meetings and ensure that all relevant parties involved (including Donor Relations, Security and cluster leads) are updated on operational matters.

Emergency response coordination

• Coordinate with WFP Regional and Country Programme, Logistics and Security Officers/Focal Points to identify (potential or actual) security-related challenges to access;
• Advise COs on how to design and implement proactive measures to enable, maintain and/or expand access to those in need; through an harmonized principled approach
• Assess EPR training needs in the region and coordinate with HQ on training opportunities.

Operational support and oversight

• Monitor and evaluate the level of compliance with WFP rules, regulations and policies when implementing emergency operation(s);
• Ensure the effective design, development and/or revision of WFP’s Concept of Operations;
• Provide first-level clearance of project documents/revisions directly related to the emergency.

Oversee Information management and reporting

• Ensure smooth, and timely information sharing with COs and RBD colleagues, as needs be.

Education:

• Second-level university degree in one of the following subjects, or related field: humanitarian affairs, international development, emergency assistance or disaster management.

Language:

• Fluency (level C) in English language.
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of French. 
• Knowledge of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese desireable

Experience:

• At least eleven (11) years of relevant work experience, of which eight (8) in managing emergency response in complex humanitarian environments;
• Extensive field experience in the humanitarian sector, including with IDPs refugee programmes and transition settings;
• Experience in implementing emergency preparedness measures and coordination of large scale emergency operation;
• Proven experience working on Accountability to Affected Population, Protection, Humanitarian Access negotiation and/or conflict-analysis and conflict sensitive programming;
• Solid experience working with a variety of humanitarian actors, UN agencies and NGOs, or peacekeeping missions, and similar organizations

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of key humanitarian policies, strategies, and coordination mechanisms for complex conflict situations;
• Awareness of the Triple Nexus;
• Understanding and appreciation in the following areas: Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), gender-sensitive programming and gender mainstreaming, etc.

Competencies:

• Solid management skills;
• Analytical skills and a critical thinking attitude combined with ability to think out of the box;
• Experience working in cross-cultural teams, building effective working relationships;
• Demonstrated ability with strategic planning and performance monitoring;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines;
• Ability to simultaneously and effectively deal with multiple dossiers;
• Excellence interpersonal skills;
• Computer literacy.

• Knowledge of the UN system, its working mechanisms, value base and processes;
• Familiarity of WFP and the UN system and the mandates
• Previous professional working experience in West Africa desirable

The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term as well as a rotational contract with a probationary period of one year. 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. 

6 October 2019

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.