Consultant Programme Policy

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

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WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE: Programme Officer Climate finance
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Regular CST, level 2
UNIT/DIVISION: Climate and Resilience Service - PPG
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Rome, Italy (HQ)
DURATION: 11 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The climate crisis is multiplying existing threats to food security, hunger and malnutrition, intensifying the frequency and intensity of natural hazards, amplifying the scarcity of land and water, and drastically curbing agricultural productivity gains. Climate change disproportionally impacts the most vulnerable people, the majority of whom live in fragile areas prone to climate hazards, ultimately putting hundreds of millions of people at risk.
The Climate and Resilience Service in WFP global headquarters serves as the institutional focal point for interaction with multilateral climate finance mechanisms, providing technical guidance to Country Offices (COs) on the specific requirements and complex project cycles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's Adaptation Fund (AF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF) and supports design and implementation of projects to be funded by multilateral climate funds.
These projects incorporate a range of climate change adaptation and risk management activities benefitting of WFP's comparative advantage, including climate risk analyses to help governments better understand the impact of climate risk on food security and nutrition; nature-based solutions; climate risk insurance, forecast-based financing schemes to increase anticipatory action ahead of climate hazards, last-mile climate information, energy services, and technical support to governments to establish risk management structures, processes and strengthen implementation capacities.
The Programme Officer will join the Project Design & Management team within the Climate and Resilience Service to provide guidance and support to COs in designing and implementing climate change adaptation projects funded through climate finance with a focus on Adaptation Fund and Green Climate Fund. The Programme Officer will play a key role to contribute to the overall WFP's climate finance portfolio.
The post is based in WFP HQ in Rome. The candidate will report to the Team Lead – Project Design and Management in the Climate and Resilience Service.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Programme Officer Climate Finance will support and provide guidance to Country Offices (CO) in the design and implementation of climate change adaptation projects funded through multilateral climate finance. He/she will ensure technical quality of the projects and compliance of the proposals with the requirements of multilateral climate finance funds. The Programme Officer will also be ensuring compliance with the funds' rules and regulations during project implementation and support the development of guidance for COs.

Specific tasks include:

1. Provide advice and support to Country Offices and partners (especially governments) to design quality programmes that build climate resilience in communities, and to draft funding proposals, especially for the AF and GCF. This entails:

• Guiding COs through the entire proposal preparation and submission processes;

• Liaising with expert teams in Global Headquarters (GHQ) to ensure technical soundness of proposals;

• Ensuring compliance with Funds' rules, regulations, processes and requirements;

• Providing support and advice during stakeholder consultations (with field missions when needed);

• Providing support in writing concept notes and funding proposals, when needed;

• Reviewing proposals and ensuring Funds' investment criteria are met;

• Coordinating answers to Funds' Secretariats' questions and the finalization of proposals;

• Attending Funds' Board meetings, when needed and requested.

2. Provide advice and support to COs during startup and implementation phases of projects funded by multilateral climate funds:

• Support the preparation of grant and other legal agreements, in collaboration with WFP's Legal Office;

• Provide advice for the drafting of Standard Operating Procedures with key partners for project execution;

• Guide COs in the lead-up to inception workshops (support with further stakeholder consultations, assessments, budget and logical framework revisions, recruitment processes, procurement processes);

• Attend projects inception workshops when feasible, advise and support the drafting and finalization of inception reports and related documentation;

• Advise COs on budget programming, monitoring and financial reporting;

• Advise and support COs on project implementation, ensuring all the partnerships and processes are put in place and comply with WFP's and the Funds' regulations;

• Provide advice and support the drafting and finalization of annual reporting, final project reporting and related documentation;

• Provide advice and support the review of mid-term and final evaluations and audits, in collaboration with the relevant units in GHQ.

3. Actively participate to capacity building and knowledge sharing:

• Support the development and updating of guidance materials for COs on AF/GCF project design, review processes and project implementation;

• Support the creation of knowledge and communication tools (newsletter, communities post, website content);

• Support the development, organization and facilitation of webinars and trainings, as required, on specific subjects related to climate finance and AF/GCF projects' design and implementation;

• Facilitate lessons learning and sharing.

4. Support the Climate Finance Team leader, as required. This might include:

• Support with accreditation processes and related reporting;

• Attending Climate Funds' Board meetings (in person or remote) and taking notes;

• Preparing presentations and talking points for workshops, webinars, meetings, events;

• Any other duty as required.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Advanced University degree, or University degree with experience and training/courses in one or more of the following disciplines: climate science, disaster risk management, development studies, environmental sciences, or a field related to climate and disaster risk reduction.

Experience:
At least 6 years post graduate, progressively responsible work on designing and implementing interventions at national or community levels focusing on climate change adaptation, climate and disaster risk management, resilience, food security or related areas.
Experience in humanitarian aid and/or development project design and/or implementation. Field-level experience will be regarded as an asset.

Knowledge & Skills:
Proven track-record of developing funding proposals (GEF, Adaptation Fund, GCF) and mobilizing climate finance resources.
Strong interpersonal and coordination skills, ability to work in a team and to communicate clearly and diplomatically with a wide range of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
Familiarity with donor rules and regulations especially with the AF and GCF.
Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.
Ability to plan and organize his/her work, efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
Proficiency in Windows, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
Familiarity with WFP and the UN system will be regarded as an asset.

Languages:
Excellent written and spoken English (proficiency/level C). Knowledge (intermediate/level B) of another UN official language is highly desirable.

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: 

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Please contact us at in case you face any challenges with submitting your application

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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.