Programme Policy Officer (ECHO Coordinator), CST II

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT: 

A consortium comprising three of the largest agencies active in the Anticipatory Action (AA) landscape globally -   World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) - are launching a 24-month ECHO-funded project entitled “Driving innovation towards conflict-sensitive, protection-centred disaster risk management through systems for inter-agency anticipatory action in the Great Lakes region.” The project’s activities have a strong focus on Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a regional component encompassing the wider Great Lakes region, and the implementation period spans mid-2024 to mid-2026. 

Building on current gaps in AA priorities across the southern and eastern African regions, the consortium members' experiences, and the growing need for conflict-sensitive and protection-centred (CSPC) AA, the consortium will establish a regional south-south learning and innovation hub for the Great Lakes region hosted by the WFP Rwanda office. By integrating an approach that considers the complex dynamics of fragility, conflict and violence, the project aims at mitigating the impact of predictable hazards and shocks and their compounding effects, including climate and human made hazards. It thereby not only seeks to address the pressing humanitarian needs created by climate shocks and exacerbated by multiple other risks, including human-made hazards, but to foster resilient and empowered systems and communities that can effectively navigate the intricate intersection of multi-risks and fragility and conflict dynamics in the region. 

This project aims to initiate and accelerate AA systems building in these two countries, bridging institutional gaps across the core pillars of AA through capacity strengthening adapted to the needs of each country, while advancing regional efforts to develop CSPC AA approaches and best practices. The latter will be done through the establishment of the CSPC AA Hub for the Great Lakes region. This position enables the overall coordination of the project and provides specific leadership to the Hub. 

The Great Lakes Hub on CSPC AA will focus on methodological and technical support and innovation, evidence generation, advocacy, regional dialogue and south-south exchange in CSPC AA. The activities aim to benefit the whole Great Lakes region – governments and AA partners alike - as well as the global AA community. The Hub will undertake activities that include development of normative guidance and tools, inter-agency evaluations and research, policy and learning events, south-south learning visits and technical exchanges between Governments, among others. The Hub will seek to build synergies with other relevant initiatives, including HDP Nexus initiatives, Conflict Sensitive Resource Facilities in adjoining regions, and a planned Conflict- and Protection-sensitive Helpdesk in the Greater Horn of Africa. 

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme of WFP Rwanda Country Office, the incumbent will provide coordination for the ECHO-funded project in the two project countries, as well as lead the CSPC AA Hub’s work.  

• Coordinate multi-country project management of the project, supporting country-specific programme teams across the consortium agencies. Lead project planning, coordination and oversight of the strategic direction of the project, ensuring the relevance, performance and quality of project outputs, providing technical backstopping and support to country teams and consortium agencies.  

• Coordinate the delivery of and lead technical training, advocacy and learning events related to CSPC AA, in collaboration with other thematic experts.  

• Design and coordinate the delivery of evidence generation, including research, best practice and evaluation deliverables related to CSPC AA and the project, drawing together data and best practice across the Great Lakes Region. Oversee the procurement and management of consultants and service providers for evidence generation.  

• Coordinate the design and organization of south-south learning visits on CSPC AA, in liaison with the respective government ministries and agencies from hosting and receiving countries. 

• Lead the coordination of budgetary planning and oversee project expenditure realization, supporting the programme and budget teams of the respective country teams and consortium agencies.  

• Coordinate the organization of regular meetings with the donor and the drafting of project reports and communication deliverables in coordination with the respective partnership teams and consortium agencies, ensuring high quality and timely reports and updates are provided to the donor. 

• Establish and ensure regular meetings are held by the project’s steering and technical committees, and document and track meeting outcomes.  

• Provide technical backstopping to and support the WFP AA and project focal points in Rwanda and DRC to ensure that CSPC is integrated in ongoing AA work in the country.  

• Provide strategic and technical advice on other related workstreams as required, such as early warning systems strengthening, disaster risk financing and assistance delivery efforts by WFP and technical working group partners, as required.  

DELIVERABLES 

• A clear strategic direction for the project well communicated and understood by stakeholders.  

• A strong institutional and governance framework for the project, with approved ToRs and regular meetings of the project steering and technical committee held and documented. 

• Development of capacity strengthening and training materials on CSPC AA for governments and AA partners. 

• Annual workplans and budgets that are regularly updated and aligned with donor expectations and technical standards. 

• High quality evidence, best practice, lessons learnt and evaluation products produced, meeting agency and donor standards. 

• A functional knowledge management approach for the project put in place, with a repository of research, best practice and evaluation products for the project produced. 

• Project reports and communication materials to donor developed to a high standard and submitted to the donor in a timely manner.  

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: