WFP: Programme Policy Officer (Disaster Risk Financing) – Manila

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The World Food Programme (WFP) addresses the impact of climate change on hunger and malnutrition by building the resilience of communities and countries exposed to and vulnerable to increasingly frequent and severe weather and climate events. At the macro level, WFP is a leader globally in promoting and supporting disaster risk financing and sovereign insurance instruments and approaches that enable governments to extend coverage to vulnerable populations and rapidly deliver resources in the event of a major shock through people-centred approaches such as social protection, agriculture and disaster risk management. At the micro level, WFP supports households at risk of climate-related shocks to manage risks and reduce vulnerability through an integrated toolkit that includes access to micro-insurance, risk reduction and financial services.

The Philippines is highly susceptible to climate-induced disasters, such as typhoons, floods, and droughts. Since the introduction of the Republic Act 10121 in 2010, known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act, the government has made good progress on early warning systems, evacuation plans, and capacities to manage large-scale disasters. The government has established a national DRRM fund and other adaptation and mitigation funds, and implemented various disaster risk finance mechanisms, such as Philippine Catastrophe Bond, Climate Risk Insurance, Philippine Catastrophe Insurance Facility (PCIF) and Anticipatory Action / Forecast based Finance. The Philippines hosts the board of the Loss and Damage Fund and is one of the Pathfinder countries in the Global Shield against Climate Risks.

The government continues to strengthen the link of social protection programmes to crisis response. During the 2024 typhoon season, WFP and DSWD used the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to rapidly assist 4Ps households through direct deposits to their bank accounts, showcasing a strong example of how prearranged mechanisms (SOPs, legislation/policy, financing) can support shock-affected households before and immediately after shocks occur.

WFP is increasingly strengthening its position as a strategic and technical enabler of sovereign disaster risk financing solutions in the Philippines, through a range of initiatives, including evidence generation, capacity building, consultations, advocacy and resource mobilization efforts. This entails a risk layered approach incorporating Anticipatory Action (AA), government quick response and contingency funds, macroinsurance (e.g., catastrophe bonds) and microinsurance tools for predictable support to impacted beneficiaries of these programmes.

In this context, WFP is seeking an experienced Programme Policy Officer with policy and technical expertise related to Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance (CDRFI) and people-centered delivery approaches. The role will be under the direct supervision of the Head of Emergency Preparedness and Response, with overall direction from the Deputy Country Director, with technical support and guidance provided by the Head of Programme and WFP’s disaster risk financing team in the region and in HQ. She/he will be responsible for the effective coordination and implementation of a range of activities aimed at strengthening the organization’s work in Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance (CDRFI) and its linkages with Social Protection (SP). This includes facilitating research, stakeholder engagement, knowledge exchange, and program development in this critical area. The consultant will work closely with WFP’s functional teams, especially with the social protection, emergency, climate and resilience teams, to ensure the work is aligned with WFP’s country strategic plan.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the oversight of the Head of Emergency Preparedness and Response and in close collaboration with Social Protection and Climate Change teams, the position is expected to undertake the following activities:

Conduct a comprehensive scoping analysis and mapping of CDRFI actors, policies, and initiatives in and for the Philippines, with a particular focus on how risk financing and insurance mechanisms are linked to social protection systems and their role in supporting vulnerable communities before, during, and after shocks for improved emergency preparedness and response.
Analyse existing risk financing instruments and institutional capacities to support communities in the Philippines with the most suitable risk financing options (including retention, risk sharing, and risk transfer mechanisms) to improve climate resilience.
Based on the scoping analysis, develop a climate risk financing strategy for WFP Philippines Country Office in line with CO’s Climate Risk Management Strategy and the National Disaster Risk Financing and Disaster Insurance Strategy.
Develop strategic recommendations on how WFP can leverage CDRFI to enhance shock- responsive social protection, strengthen its partnerships, and contribute to more predictable, sustainable, and inclusive disaster risk management strategies in the Philippines.
In a roadmap, identify gaps, challenges and opportunities to integrate CDRFI within national social protection programmes, exploring how risk financing can ensure pre- and post-shock financial resilience (money-in) and enable adaptive and shock-responsive social protection interventions (money-out).
Engage with key stakeholders – including government agencies, financial institutions, regional risk pools, private sector as well as humanitarian and development partners and communities/social protection beneficiaries – to analyze and document lessons learned from past disaster responses, identifying pathways to strengthen CDRFI’s role in social protection, as well as develop people-centered programmes and processes.
Identify opportunities to introduce new insurance products linking disaster risk insurance to social protection and aligned with the National Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance Strategy.
Contribute to the design and development of new programs and initiatives in the area of CDRFI and its integration with SP and provide strong support for the implementation and scaling of pilot projects focused on innovative CDRFI and SP solutions.
Develop donor proposals that will allow WFP to position itself in securing funding to implement the risk financing instruments analysed in the scoping exercise.
Facilitate the dissemination of information, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building initiatives related to CDRFI solutions.
Ensure effective communication throughout the process and create clear, concise materials and presentations that convey findings and recommendations to diverse audiences.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

Education: Advanced University degree, or First University degree with additional years of experience and training/courses in one or more of the following disciplines: insurance, economics, climate, environmental studies, food security, development studies, emergency preparedness, or related area.

Experience: At least five years of professional experience in disaster risk financing, insurance, climate risk management, social protection, and/or emergency preparedness with a Master’s degree, or seven years with a Bachelor’s degree. A minimum of three years should specifically focus on Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance (CDRFI).

Knowledge & Skills:

Experience having worked on one or more CDRFI instruments and public finance instruments
Knowledge of/experience in emergency preparedness and response
Knowledge of social protection systems including how to make them shock responsive/adaptive, and working with related government agencies
Excellent report writing and communication skills
Previous experience working with WFP, or broad understanding of WFP’s mandate, considered an asset.
Proven expertise in preparing high-quality analytical proposals and reviews, with ability to analyse quantitative and qualitative information to understand social protection needs and identify solutions.
Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams, produce high-quality written outputs, and present information effectively in English.

Languages: Excellent oral and written skills in English

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements