ABOUT WFP & R4 INITIATIVE
For the 1.3 billion people living on less than a dollar a day globally and depending on agriculture for their livelihoods, vulnerability to climate-related shocks is a constant threat to their food security and well-being. As effects of climate change increase the frequency and intensity of natural hazards rise, with farmers facing a growing risk that these climate-related shocks will destroy their assets. Understanding how to help communities confront and manage this risk, so they can be resilient to climate-related shocks, is critical for addressing global poverty.
Under the general supervision and guidance of Team Leader of Climate Solutions, the DRR/NRM Programme Officer will provide technical support and guidance for natural resource management and disaster risk reduction activities under the climate solutions umbrella. The Climate Solutions work plan currently comprises 2 programmes i. R4 Rural Resilience Initiative and ii. The Satellite Index Insurance for Pastoralists in Ethiopia (SIIPE). A brief programme description follows:
R4 Rural Resilience Initiative: R4 has broken new ground in the field of climate risk management by enabling poor farmers to pay premiums for crop index insurance with their own labor. Farmers can access insurance by paying with their labor through Insurance-for-Work (IFW) schemes. When a drought hits, compensation for weather-related losses prevents farmers from selling productive assets and stimulates faster recovery. IFW schemes are built into the government’s PSNP programme. Assets built through risk reduction activities promote resilience by steadily decreasing vulnerability to disaster risks over time. Insurance also facilitates access to credit at better rates, serving as collateral. Households can thereby invest in riskier but more remunerative enterprises, as well as in improved seeds, fertilizers and new technologies to increase their agricultural productivity.
Participants also establish small-scale savings, which are used to build ‘risk reserves.’ Savings help build a stronger financial base for investing – but also act as a buffer against short-term needs and idiosyncratic shocks, such as illness and death. To ensure long-term sustainability, R4 contributes to the creation of rural financial markets, by building local capacity and gradually transitioning farmers to pay for insurance in cash.
Satellite Index Insurance for Pastoralists in Ethiopia (SIIPE): The SIIPE programme currently provides index-based livestock insurance coverage to 5,001 beneficiary households in the Somali region of Ethiopia. Within the Somali region, the programme started in three districts (Woredas). Similar to R4, SIIPE targets PSNP households who own between 5 – 11 Tropical Livestock Units. Pastoralists can access insurance by paying premiums with their labor through Insurance-for-Work (IFW) schemes. In 2019, the programme will scale up to cover more than 10,000 households in the region and beyond.
In both the above programmes, WFP aims to improve the quality of work done through these DRR activities by collaborating with PSNP, federal and regional government and the implementing partners. In addition, there may be new programmes in the forthcoming months in both high as well as low land areas of the country that build upon WFPs vast experience as well as aim at introducing the latest technology in planning and implementation of DRR and NRM activities on the ground.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Under the general supervision and guidance of Team Leader of Climate Solutions, the DRR/NRM Programme Officer will provide technical support and guidance for natural resource management and disaster risk reduction activities under the climate solutions umbrella.
JOB PURPOSE:
To support DRR activities in the programmes, support development of new solutions, support with capacity strengthening, establish indicators, and support development of technical specifications for the programmes. When needed, the programme officer may be required to support other programmes that may be initiated in the near future requiring DRR interventions.
ACCOUNTABILITIES:
The focus of this function will be to ensure that that Climate Risk Management s in Ethiopia follow WFP’s corporate policies (Climate Change, DRR, and Environment), create guidelines for natural resource management activities, integrated watershed management, DRR, and liaise with implementation partners and government agencies as needed. The Programme officer will be working on various workstreams within the unit that require a DRR/NRM intervention. These include the R4 Rural Resilience Initiative, the Satellite Index Insurance for Pastoralists in Ethiopia, and other DRR/NRM interventions where needed under the climate solutions workstream. In this regard, the Programme Officer will be responsible for the following:
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT
Support DRR activities in the programmes, support development of new solutions, support with capacity strengthening, establish indicators, and support development of technical specifications for the programmes. When needed the programme officer may be required to support other programmes that may be initiated in the near future requiring DRR interventions.
Education: University degree in Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Disaster Risk Reduction, Social Science or other related field; with 2 years relevant professional work experience OR a master’s degree with at least 1 year of professional experience in a related field.
Experience: At least two years working experience focusing on DRR/NRM activities including formulation of guidelines, community engagement, implementation of watershed rehabilitation plans. Experience in WFP specific programmes like MERET, Climate Change Adaptation is an added advantage.
Language: Fluency in oral and written English and Amharic is sufficient. Knowledge of other Ethiopian regional languages would be an advantage.
Knowledge and Skills: