ARC Country Engagement Officer P-3
The African Risk Capacity (ARC) is a Specialized Agency of the African Union. ARC is seeking to fill two
positions of Country Engagement Officers P-3, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. One position is
bilingual requiring English and French, and a second one with English including intermediate
knowledge of any other second UN language.
Background:
The African Risk Capacity was established as a Specialized Agency of the African Union (AU) in
November 2012 to help Member States improve their capacities to better plan, prepare and respond
to extreme weather events and disasters; and to assist food insecure populations. Operating under
the privileges and immunities of the AU, the ARC Agency, through its Secretariat, provides Member
States with capacity building services for early warning, contingency planning and risk finance.
In late 2013 the Agency established a financial affiliate called ARC Insurance Company Limited (ARC
Ltd). ARC Ltd is a specialist hybrid mutual insurance company that issues policies to governments, and
which aggregates and transfers risk to the international market. ARC, through ARC Ltd. and after its
capacity building activities, provides financing in the form of insurance to African governments to
execute pre-approved contingency plans in the event of severe disasters. In order for a country to
purchase an insurance policy through ARC Ltd. and thus become a member of the Company, the
country must demonstrate through a peer review process its ability to effectively use potential
payouts.
In May 2014, with initial capital provided by the governments of Germany and the United Kingdom,
ARC Ltd issued drought insurance policies to a first group of African governments – Kenya, Mauritania,
Mozambique, Niger and Senegal – marking the launch of the inaugural ARC pool. Due to a poor
rainfall season in the Sahel during the 2014/ 2015 season, three of these four first countries received a
payout from ARC Ltd to be used for the implementation of pre-approved contingency plans designed
to reach those in need. In its second year of implementation ARC Ltd offered insurance coverage to
seven countries for the 2015/ 2016 rainfall season. ARC Ltd uses the satellite weather surveillance
software Africa RiskView, developed together with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP),
to estimate needs and trigger insurance payouts to those countries affected by poor weather. By
allowing Member States to capitalise on the natural diversification of weather risk across the
continent, premiums are significantly more affordable than they would be for countries approaching
the market alone. Additional countries are working with ARC to join future pools with the target to
insurance 30 countries by 2020 through drought, flood and tropical cyclone products. The ARC design
and establishment phase was managed by WFP; and WFP continues to provide administrative services
support to the ARC Agency through an administrative services agreement.
Responsibilities:
Based in ARC Headquarters in Johannesburg, the Country Engagement Officer will be reporting to the
Head of Government Services, but working closely with the Programme Director. The Country
Engagement Officer will be responsible for promoting, establishing and managing the ARC in-country
capacity building programme in selected countries. To do this, the Candidate will:
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Political/Organizational Duties
Under the supervision and direction of the Head of Government Services, negotiate and finalize
Memoranda of Understanding between ARC and Member State governments for new potential
drought, flood or tropical cyclone insurance coverage in the next ARC pool;
Under the supervision and direction of the Head of Government Services, assist the Programme
Supervisor in selecting an ARC Government Coordinator and assembling the ARC in-country
technical working group;
Act as ARC’s a liaison with the government and advise ARC senior management of relevant
political developments.
Staff senior management visits to the country, including preparation of briefing documents and
working with ARC administrative staff to facilitate travel, accommodation, transport and
appropriate protocol and security as necessary.
Liaise with UN or AU agencies and institutions, NGOs, donor partners, and lead institutions in early
warning, climate change and disaster risk management in-country and assist in the development
of joint work-programmes and partnerships;
Programmatic Duties
Under the supervision and direction of the Head of Government Services, guide and manage the
ARC Government Coordinator and his/her implementation of the work-streams of the ARC
Capacity Building Programme for existing client countries and new client countries: 1) Africa
RiskView customization, 2) ARC operations planning, and 3) risk transfer – building consensus
within government and among local partners on all aspects of the project’s scope;
–
Develop, manage and report on the in-country working group work-plans and programme budget.
– Manage knowledge and information exchange and the delivery of ARC services to the ARC
countries for which he/she is responsible;
– Specifically for Africa RiskView software customization, be familiar with the underlying
methodology and how to navigate the software, and assist the ARC Technical Team in refinement
of the model by soliciting and synthesising in-country working group feedback, working with
national technical experts and securing improved data as required;
–
In the area of Contingency Planning, assist the Chief of Operations and Planning in researching and
selecting contextually appropriate response mechanisms and ensuring linkages with the broader
food security and weather risk management policies and frameworks within the countries;
–
In the area of Risk Transfer, understand the country’s options for risk transfer vis-à-vis their needs,
budget and risk appetite as well as the legal processes they will need to complete in order to
participate. Additionally, ensuring inscription of the premium payment in the national budget and
assisting the government in mobilizing resources to pay the premium.
Detect, organize and deliver the relevant expert support from the Secretariat to the country as
needed to complete the Capacity Building Programme within the aggressive and tight deadlines,
always ensuring that the country retains ownership.
Regularly document the country programme, major decisions taken pertaining to the country’s
participation, track log-frame indicators and assist the ME officer in analysis and reporting;
Organise and conduct ARC trainings and workshops for in-country stakeholders, including
government and their partners, and regional body representatives;
Aim to take a strategic view across programme components and make linkages between them and
the greater risk management and food security context in which ARC is operating;
Travel frequently to countries under management (2-3 weeks/month required);
Perform other related duties as requested by the senior ARC staff.
Qualifications Experience Required
Education:
Advanced university degree or university degree and equivalent experience in one or more of the
following disciplines: social sciences, finance, business administration, international relations,
international development, development economics or another relevant field.
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Experience:
Three to five years (of which two are international) of postgraduate progressively responsible
professional experience in public sector management, development projects, emergency assistance,
finance or other related, relevant field.
Language:
Fluency in English and French. Limited knowledge (intermediate/level B) of another UN official
language – Arabic or Portuguese – highly desirable.
Desirable Skills Knowledge:
Excellent skills in stakeholder management and negotiation.
Excellent facility with Excel, MIS and delivering quality products on time.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-centered, “start-up” environment.
Ability to be resourceful and effectively navigate new environments.
Ability to complete tasks on time and uphold ARC standards for high quality output without
constant supervision.
Knowledge of risk transfer, including (parametric) insurance, climate change issues and
climate-related development programmes in Africa.
Knowledge and experience of food security planning and emergency response in Africa
(especially for drought and other natural hazards), including beneficiary impact, political
economy and the management and operational frameworks for major national and regional
responses.
Demonstrated ability to take a strategic view across a large complex programme.
Strong computer skills, including excellent skills in MS Office based word processing,
presentation, spreadsheet, database and other standard software packages and systems.
General knowledge of or experience working with African Union, NEPAD, Regional Economic
Communities, Regional Technical Institutions.
Terms and Conditions
The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of one
year to solely support the ARC Agency. He/she will not be entitled to any reassignment, transfer,
promotion or conversion to any other type of appointment with WFP; and may not be considered as
internal candidate for vacancies in WFP, or the United Nations.
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
Application Procedures:
Go to: http://i-recruitment.wfp.org/vacancies/16-0021848
Step 1: Register and create your online CV.
Step 2: Click on “Description” to read the position requirements and “Apply” to submit your
application.
NOTE: You must complete Step 1 and 2 in order for your application to be considered for this vacancy.
Deadline for applications: 21 August 2016
Qualified 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
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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.
REF: 16-0021848
Fighting Hunger Worldwide
www.wfp.org
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