Organizational Setting

Acting early, before a disaster has happened or reached its peak, is critical: it can save lives and protect livelihoods from the immediate shocks while increasing the resilience of communities over time. FAO’s Anticipatory Action (AA) approach translates early warning triggers into shortterm AA aimed at reducing the impact of forecast hazards and crises on vulnerable and food insecure communities. FAO’s AA work is focused on supporting countries with setting up AA systems to anticipate and prevent/mitigate shocks to agriculture and food security. It focuses on capacity development, technical and operational support for risk factor monitoring; setting of triggers for the activation of AA funds; AA programming; AA implementation; and the mainstreaming of an anticipatory approach into national disaster risk management frameworks.

In this framework, FAO Rwanda is working with Rwanda Government through the Ministry of Emergencies (MINEMA) and other partners in preparing for and effectively responding to food and agricultural threats and crises. It is responsible to support the government to access and use the available corporate tools and standards to enable the country to be prepared for and respond to emergencies. FAO Rwanda is ready to supports Food and nutrition security assessment and early warning activities related to emergency and humanitarian analysis and responses. The main objective is to increase the resilience of livelihoods to food and agriculture threats and crises.

Reporting Lines

The Anticipatory Action Specialist reports to the FAO Rwanda Representative.

Technical Focus

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, the Anticipatory Action Specialist will support the further development of FAO Rwanda Anticipatory Action programmes, including technical support to the Ministry of Emergencies on Anticipatory Actions programming, institutionalization, advocacy, evidence learning and Resource mobilization.

Tasks and responsibilities

Support the Anticipatory Action (AA) programming at country level.

•    Support the implementation of a corporate approach for the scale up of anticipatory action, working with relevant partners (National and International to link capacities for risk analysis, flexible financing, and implementation.
•    Support the identification of triggers for anticipatory action based on a thorough understanding of risk dynamics (e.g. identification of most impacted areas, vulnerability analysis and prioritization, interrelation with food security analysis etc.).
•    Support the FAO Country Office and Government with the development and implementation of AA systems, formulation of anticipatory action proposals for resource mobilisation – particularly, with applying to the SFERA AA Fund and other funding mechanisms for AA, such as the CERF
•    Activation of funds and timely implementation by liaising with all relevant internal and external actors and ensure coordination with FAO-OER’s Country Support Team and other relevant counterparts.
•    Support impact analyses studies on anticipatory action in collaboration with the Government and other partners and use the results to advocate for a scale up of an anticipatory approach to food crises.
•    Support AA learning and capacity building for FAO staff and partners

•    Support capacity building efforts on anticipatory action, including through the design and implementation of training materials and activities at country level,
•    Support country office with AA-relevant feasibility studies and impact analyses (incl. return on investment), e.g. linkage to social protection, finance opportunities.

Lead the work on AA institutionalization at Country level

•    Support the development of national community engagement strategies as well as community consultations on early warning and anticipatory action needs and recommendations.
•    Identify entry points for integrating AA into national disaster risk management and climate change strategies, policies and processes, both sectoral and inter-sectoral.
•    Provide support to governments for linking social protection and AA systems.
•    Lead the drafting of guidelines and other key documents on AA institutionalization, assessing current state and providing recommendations.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    University degree in Agriculture, Food Security, Economics, Natural Resources Management, Rural Development, International Relations, Social/political Sciences, or related fields.
•    At least 5 years of relevant experience in food security and resilience analysis and / or emergency programming for the humanitarian/agricultural/food security sectors, including work experience with national and international NGO’s, UN agencies, governments, donors.
•    National of Rwanda
•    Working knowledge in written and speaking English is required (Level C) and working knowledge of French (Level B), and knowledge of Kinyarwanda Language.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Demonstrate integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
•    Ability to establish and maintain good working relations with different colleagues.
•    Fulfils obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in emergency contexts.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in food security and resilience analysis and/or emergency programming for the humanitarian/agricultural/food security sectors.
•    Excellent research, report writing, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills.
•    Demonstrated ability to analyse problems, make appropriate recommendations, effective decisions, including in emergency settings.
•    Ability to plan and organize own work, deliver results, and meet deadlines.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION