Consultant, Senior Disaster Risk Management Expert – Tropical Cyclone and Flood Products

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance

Job Title: Senior Disaster Risk Management Expert – Tropical Cyclone and Flood Product Consultant

Type of Contract: Regular Consultant

Division: ARC African Risk Capacity

Duty Station (City, Country): Johannesburg (with a possibility to relocate to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire within the contract period)

Duration: 11 months with the possibility of extension

Reporting to: Director, Research and Developments Department (RND), ARC

African Risk Capacity (ARC) is a Specialised Agency of the African Union[1]. The ARC Agency leads the ARC Group, a development finance institution that provides financial tools and infrastructure to help countries manage natural disaster risk and adapt to climate change. It counts 39 AU countries as members and is supervised by a ministerial level governing board elected by its Conference of the Parties. The ARC design and establishment phase was managed by WFP, under a MoU with the African Union, and WFP continues to provide administrative services support to the ARC Agency through an administrative services agreement.

In 2014, ARC launched its initial risk insurance product for member states through its financial affiliate the ARC Insurance Company Limited (ARC Ltd). ARC Ltd is a specialist hybrid mutual insurance company and Africa’s first-ever disaster insurance pool, aggregating risk by issuing insurance policies to participating governments and transferring it to the international market. ARC uses a disaster risk modelling software Africa RiskView to estimate the impact of drought on vulnerable populations – and the response costs required to assist them – after a season ends, and as it progresses, so that index-based insurance payouts, based on Africa RiskView, are triggered at or before harvest time if the rains are poor. In 2020, ARC expanded its portfolio by introducing an insurance product designed for drought risk in pastoral areas and launching the first tropical cyclone (TC) insurance product in Africa. Following that, a flood risk model was introduced in 2023. The TC model is capable of accurately estimating the risk and economic losses due to tropical cyclone events in SWIO countries such as Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Tanzania. The model covers hazards of winds, storm surges, and waves. It is the first insurance policy of its kind in Africa, offering rapid financing and early response to countries impacted by tropical cyclones. The ARC flood risk and loss estimate model supports a sovereign flood insurance product. Demand for this flood product has particularly risen among ARC member states following the 2020 flood events in Western and Southern Africa. Together the tropical cyclone and flood products will prove vital tools in safeguarding lives and livelihoods and making African countries more resilient to extreme climate events.

Responsibilities

A Technical Review Forum composed of high-level experts from globally renowned institutions has concluded that the ARC flood and TC risk models are ready for use in underwriting insurance policies. The TC product has been rolled out, leading to payouts for TC seasons in Madagascar, and preparations are underway to roll out the flood product in six African countries. Based on the recommendations from the TRFs, additional improvements to the products have been planned. In addition to continuous improvement of the two products, the ARC Group plans to expand its risk pool by reaching more countries and partners. To support this endeavor, ARC is seeking a Senior Expert in Disaster Risk Management with experience in tropical cyclones and flood perils who can coordinate the development and implementation of flood and tropical cyclone products. The expert will have the following responsibilities:

• Advise ARC on the improvements of the TC and flood products, ensuring that ARC models are based on cutting-edge science and technology, while also meeting insurance industry standards.
• Coordinate the flood and TC product improvement works, ensuring that work is produced on time with the highest quality standards and meeting the specific needs of ARC and Member States.
• Supervise the improvement and maintenance of the TC explorer and the flood explorer software, ensuring that the software components are delivered on time and with the highest quality.
• Provide support to the R&D Director around the preparation, evaluation, supervision, monitoring, and reporting of service contracts related to TC and flood products.
• Advise ARC team on the development of contingency planning standards and guidelines that define Member State eligibility criteria to take TC and Flood insurance proposed by ARC.
• Provide training and capacity building to ARC Technical Working Groups to promote the use of the TC and Flood products as climate risk management tools for ARC Member States and their partners.
• Contribute to the engagement with academic institutions, government institutions, AU and RECs services, UN Agencies, bi-lateral and multi-lateral financial partners, and private sector to advance ARC’s position as the disaster risk management institution of choice on the African continent.
• Lead the development of research funding proposals in collaboration with other ARC departments, ensuring that proposal schedule deadlines are adhered to and that all teams and staff fulfill their responsibilities timely.
• Develop the communication strategy around the TC and Flood products to ensure a positive reception of the products and that ARC is involved in the ongoing climate change mitigation dialogue and makes a positive and effective impact in the climate risk financing space.
• Advise on political developments that could negatively affect the project objectives and develop strategies to minimize their impact. Contribute actively to the dissemination of ARC work on TC and Flood risk management to ARC Member States, international conferences, and meetings, as required.
• Supporting the ARC R&D Director and ARC senior staff as required.

Qualifications and experience required

Education:

Advanced University degree (preferably a PhD) in Natural Sciences, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Management, Early Warning Systems or similar relevant discipline with a strong component on environmental processes modelling.

Experience:

Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible professional experience in planning and managing technical projects in the fields of hydrological modelling, disaster risk management and early warning systems in the context of developing countries; Proven experience in conducting applied research and development activities in one or more of the above thematic fields; Demonstrated experience in managing donor-funded programmes and working with a large range of stakeholders including technical agencies, government services, financial partners, private sector and international organisations; Expertise and experience in capacity building and designing training programmes for developing countries in particular in Africa;

Knowledge & Skills:

Strong analytical and strategic-thinking skills and be able to demonstrate breadth and depth of expertise in natural disaster risk management and early warning systems; Solid research and scientific skills and the ability to quickly grasp complex technical concepts; Good understanding of the (re)insurance, derivative and insurance-linked securities markets, particularly with respective to climate and weather-related risks; Self-starter, with strong experience of managing new and developing projects and bringing them to successful fruition; Strong project management skills covering the whole cycle of planning, execution, monitoring and reporting on project results; Ability to take a strategic view across a large complex programmes, to understand client needs and provide effective solutions; Strong leadership and teamwork skills and demonstrated ability in managing technical teams; Excellent communication and writing skills, including scientific publications; Ability to adapt to new tasks and to align smoothly with the organisation strategic objectives

Languages:

International Professional: Fluency (level C) in English and French. Limited knowledge (intermediate/level B) of another AU official language – Arabic or Portuguese – will be an advantage.

Deadline for applications: 10 March 2024

Ref.: VA No. 831698

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 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.