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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:                           Senior Country Engagement Manager and Gender Expert

Org. Unit:                          Outbreaks & Epidemics (O&E), African Risk Capacity (ARC)

Duty Station:                    Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Contract Type:                 Regular consultant

Duration:                           3 months with possibility of extension subject to funding availability

Reporting to:                    Lead Advisor Outbreaks & Epidemics (O&E)

BACKGROUND

1.1         General Background

Emerging infectious diseases pose an increasing threat to health and economic development in Africa. In the past few years, the international community has moved towards a robust and well-coordinated response approach towards public health emergencies (PHE). Despite this and other improvements in the increased speed of detection and response and rapid deployment of medical countermeasures and vaccines, the presence of timely access to funding remains unpredictable. Moreover, in circumstances where funding is secured, it is mainly on an ad hoc basis and after an event of a given magnitude. Slow and unpredictable funding amplifies both the risk and impact of outbreaks. Any delays in mounting an effective response led to the escalation of an outbreak with sustained transmission leading to loss of life, socio-economic disruption of the communities and negative impact on the nation’s development agenda.

Such outbreaks and epidemics disproportionately impact gender and particular age groups: Women, the elderly, youth, children and people with disabilities. The rise of these is therefore of great concern for these categories of the population. Mainstreaming gender in pandemic preparedness and response policies and actions are therefore critical in strengthening the resilience of these vulnerable groups.

1.2         The Role of the African Risk Capacity

The African Risk Capacity (ARC) Group is comprised of ARC Agency, a Specialized Agency of the African Union founded in 2012; and the African Risk Capacity Limited (ARC Ltd), a hybrid mutual insurer and the commercial affiliate of the Group founded in 2014.

ARC Agency was established to support African governments in improving their capacities to better plan, prepare, and respond to natural disasters triggered by extreme weather events, outbreaks and epidemics. On the other hand, ARC Ltd offers complementary risk pooling and risk transfer services. Together, the two provide Member States with capacity building and contingency planning services, access to state-of-the-art early warning systems, and risk pooling and transfer facilities towards building resilience against climate and health-related disasters. In the process, the Group strives to apply gender equality principles and achieve inclusivity in the programme to ensure that no one is left behind.

In December 2022, the ARC Group launched its outbreaks and epidemics risk insurance product. This innovative risk financing instrument, requested in 2015 by African Ministers of Finance in the wake of the West African Ebola Crisis in 2013-2016, aims at equipping countries with rapid and predictable funding to contain high-impact infectious diseases outbreaks such as Ebola, Marburg, and Meningitis, and complement the efforts of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to safeguard health security across Africa.

ARC, through its Outbreaks and Epidemics (O&E) Programme, supported by the Gates Foundations, is conducting a capacity-building work to implement disaster risk management and financing practices, and build the capacities for surveillance, disease prevention, response and resilience to epidemics and other health emergencies in ECOWAS member states. This work entails four key components:

1) Epidemic risk profiling and assessments on preparedness and capacity for early response.

2) Epidemic risk modelling of selected pathogens in countries affected.

3) Contingency Planning for efficient and timely response; and

4) Rapid deployment of capital to operationalise the pre-approved contingency plan.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Lead Advisor Outbreaks & Epidemics (O&E) and working in line with the ARC Country Engagement Standard Operating Procedure and country engagement life-cycle strategy, and in close collaboration with other Governance and Country Engagement Managers and staff, the consultant will help support the ARC O&E Programme in the following key areas:

2.1         Scoping Missions and country intelligence

Lead institutional engagement efforts through conducting missions and engaging with targeted O&E countries. In addition, work with critical Ministries, for example, Health, Finance and Disaster Risk Management of AU member states that express interest to participate in ARC O&E and those countries where the Government could benefit from participation. Provide a diagnostic on the epidemic risk management and financing landscape for priority countries and lead the development of country strategy papers including the design of the strategy for best positioning and implementation the ARC O&E Programme.

2.2         Technical Working Group Formation

Facilitate the signing of Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) or revision of an existing MoU to include O&E by the Government, work with the Government Coordinator (GC) to set up a multistakeholder Technical Working Group (TWG) which provides for government and non-government partners’ experts in the fields of Public Health, Disaster Risk Management, Health Emergency Planning and Response, Health Information Systems, Finance, Contingency Planning and Humanitarian Response, Social Protection and Insurance.

2.3 ARC O&E Capacity Development Programme Implementation

Lead O&E country engagement process to final policy signature. This will entail working with technical experts (members of the TWG) and other stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of all required technical workstreams and provide evidence-based recommendations to policymakers to decide on the country’s participation in the O&E insurance pool.

2.4         In-country Development Partners Engagement

Ensure continuous engagement and partnership with Development Partners present in the country and others whose work and activities influence country development policy and actions to ensure there are no external impediments to the country’s participation in the risk pool once they decide to take out insurance and also to get premium support where possible. The incumbent must also work with relevant stakeholders and partners to enhance coordination and integration of O&E with other existing programmes and policy frameworks.

2.5         Support the O&E Insurance Broker in Engagement with Governments

Work closely with ARC’s Insurance Broker(s) and firms to prepare countries to make an informed decision to purchase insurance contracts for O&E. The incumbent will lead the initial discussions on Risk Transfer, including the content and training organised to ensure governments are appropriately prepared for choosing their Risk Transfer Parameters (RTP). When the county takes up insurance, the Insurance agency takes over the relationship with the nominated Member Representative. The incumbent will support the relationship to ensure the sending of the policies, signing of the policies and paying of the premium.

2.6         Lead implementation of O&E Gender Activities

The incumbent will contribute to and represent ARC O&E in continental and global forums on mainstreaming gender perspective in preparedness planning and health emergency response. The Consultant will lead the gender component and strategy of Outbreaks and Epidemics Programme. Ensure mainstreaming of Gender in the team’s planning and implementation for gender transformative outcomes as per the O&E Gender Strategy. Facilitate ownership and implementation of gender transformative activities at the national level (Technical Working Group). Contribute to the successful implementation of the work plan and objectives outlined in the team’s Programme of Work.

2.7         Contribute to the ARC Ecosystem

The incumbent will work closely with ARC Government Services teams and other Departments to promote and support ARC’s work in the global policy area on disaster risk financing, climate change, climate adaptation, and early warning and health emergencies. This could include liaising with ARC’s communications staff, contributing to the ARC website, and assisting on social media.

In addition, the incumbent would be required to perform other related duties in line with the above as requested by senior management in consultation with the Lead Advisor, O&E.

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS

Advanced University degree in International Development, Public/Global Health, Development Studies, Law, International Relations and any other relevant discipline.

EXPERIENCE

A minimum of 8 years progressively responsible professional experience in the public sector, public health, financial risk management, development projects, emergency assistance, or in any related field

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• International working experience in Africa, in particular in West, Eastern and Southern Africa region.
• Experience in dealing with African governments is a strong asset.
• Strong analytical research, writing and communication skills.
• Availability to undertake frequent travel.

LANGUAGE

• Excellent written and verbal communication in English and French including the ability to write clear and concise briefing papers and external communication, strategic operational documents, etc.
• Knowledge of another UN official language (Arabic or Portuguese) is a strong asset.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

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:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.

• If you experience challenges while submitting your online application, please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org for technical support only.

• Please note that applications sent to this email address cannot be considered.

• 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.

• 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

• 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.