Technical Advisor Early Warning Systems

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. Established in 1961, WFP operates in over 80 countries, employing thousands of staff members who are committed to the mission of eradicating hunger and improving nutrition. WFP's vision is to create a diverse, skilled, and high-performing workforce that operates in an inclusive environment, living by its core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion. WFP has been recognized for its efforts, notably receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, and continues to invest in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training and mobility opportunities. For more information, visit their website at https://www.wfp.org.

Job Overview:
The Technical Advisor for Early Warning Systems will play a crucial role in the Climate and Resilience Service at WFP Global HQ. This position focuses on providing guidance and support to WFP Country Offices and governments regarding climate risk management, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction. The advisor will be responsible for implementing WFP's flagship Anticipatory Action (AA) program, which aims to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events on security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and nutrition for vulnerable populations. The role involves linking Early Warning Systems (EWS) with AA initiatives embedded in national disaster risk management policies across various regions, including Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The advisor will lead technical EWS projects, ensuring compliance with regional initiatives and providing advocacy and funding proposals to support the development of WFP's AA program. This position requires a strong technical background in climate science, numerical prediction models, and operational weather forecasting, along with excellent communication and organizational skills.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide advanced technical guidance to strengthen national Early Warning Systems (EWS) that facilitate lifesaving prearranged financing from national and international funding mechanisms.
• Lead technical assessments of EWS in collaboration with WFP Country Office staff, ensuring access to prearranged finance for extreme events.
• Develop work plans, logical frameworks, and funding proposals while overseeing technical partners to enhance government capacities.
• Collaborate with national meteorological services to design downscaling, calibration, and visualization techniques for global model forecasts.
• Develop and review probabilistic forecast triggers and hazard thresholds to inform risk profiles for Anticipatory Action.
• Provide technical oversight for national technical working groups designing and operationalizing national AA frameworks.
• Lead the technical implementation of the Systematic Observation Financing Facility (SOFF) project, ensuring compliance with GBON standards.
• Represent WFP in regional initiatives, enhancing integration of AA triggers in climate outlook processes.
• Lead the joint ECHO Programme on Strengthened Early Warning and Anticipatory Action in Southern Africa. 1
• Build partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to harmonize AA trigger models and conduct peer reviews. 1
• Support the implementation of WFP’s financial architecture for emergency response. 1
• Lead the implementation of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Africa Action Plan in southern Africa. 1
• Responsible for project reporting and advocacy materials on EWS impacts. 1
• Represent WFP at technical workshops and meetings, enhancing WFP’s status. 1
• Significant travel within the East and Southern Africa region is expected.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in hydrology, meteorology, climate, or related fields, along with at least five years of relevant work experience or training. A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in early warning systems, seasonal monitoring, flood analysis, numerical weather prediction, or weather forecasting is required, preferably within the southern Africa region. Experience across multiple technical areas is highly desirable, along with demonstrated experience in managing technical projects, budgets, and work plans. Proficiency in analytical programming languages such as R or Python is essential, as well as strong oral and written communication skills in English. Experience working with national meteorological services and familiarity with WFP and/or Anticipatory Action programs is advantageous.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in hydrology, meteorology, climate, or related fields is required. Additional training or courses related to these fields will be considered beneficial.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in relevant fields, particularly in early warning systems and climate risk management. Experience in southern Africa is preferred, and candidates should have a proven track record of working with diverse stakeholders and managing complex projects.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, with strong writing skills. A working knowledge of French or Portuguese is considered an advantage, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in a multicultural environment.

Additional Notes:
The position is a home-based contract for a duration of 11 months, with an expected start date as soon as possible. The role involves significant travel within the East and Southern Africa region. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment and encourages applications from individuals with disabilities. The organization does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and emphasizes the importance of submitting applications through their online recruiting system.