JOB TITLE: Programme Policy Officer - Climate Risk Management
TYPE OF CONTRACT: International Consultancy, level II
UNIT/DIVISION: Food Systems and Resilience Unit/WFP South Sudan
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Juba, South Sudan
DURATION: 11 Months (Renewable subject to performance and funding)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
South Sudan faces recurrent and intensifying climate-related shocks including floods, droughts, and growing seasonal variability that undermine food systems, livelihoods, and stabilization efforts. Climate risks intersect with conflict, economic fragility, market disruptions, and limited infrastructure, creating chronic vulnerability and high humanitarian need. Climate financing has therefore become essential to help the country adapt, strengthen early warning and disaster risk management systems, and scale community resilience. Leveraging instruments such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund (AF), bilateral climate windows, and disaster-risk financing mechanisms including African Risk Capacity (ARC) sovereign insurance and micro-insurance solutions can reduce climate vulnerability, protect livelihoods, and enable pre-arranged, timely responses. Building on WFP’s anticipatory action (AA) and climate services (CS) work in collaboration with government and partners, this role integrates AA, climate services, climate finance, and disaster risk financing into one coherent portfolio to protect food-insecure and climate-vulnerable populations across South Sudan.
Job Purpose
To lead and operationalize a country office portfolio that brings together climate finance, climate services, anticipatory action, and disaster risk financing (sovereign and micro-level), strengthening government systems and WFP programmes to anticipate, absorb, mitigate, and adapt to climate shocks while safeguarding value for money, risk mitigation, and donor compliance.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Officer is based within the Food Systems & Resilience (FSR) Unit, reporting to the Head of FSR and working closely with the Programme Policy Officer – Special Programme Initiatives, the Global Headquarters (GHQ) climate/AA teams, and cross-functional units (CBT, Supply Chain, Research Assessment Mapping (RAM)/ Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL), Engineering, Finance, Partnerships, Gender Protection & Inclusion). The role requires extensive engagement with government entities (meteorological and hydrological services, Disaster Risk Management - DRM authorities, line ministries), UN agencies, regional climate institutions (e.g., ICPAC), NGOs, private sector, and financial/insurance actors.
4. Key Accountabilities (not all-inclusive)
A. Anticipatory Action (AA) & Climate Services
Lead development of flood anticipatory action system and lead periodic update of Anticipatory Action Plans (AAPs) for floods and drought, including triggers, thresholds, actions, targeting, budgets, and activation protocols, ensuring integration with programme operations and safeguards.
Strengthen national and subnational early warning, preparedness, and climate services systems through technical support, capacity strengthening of hydromet and DRM authorities, and improved climate information dissemination tailored to user needs.
Map institutional mandates and coordination structures, develop and update periodically a repository of feasible AAs for floods, droughts, heat waves, and convene validation workshops as needed with government and partners.
In coordination with government and research institutions, lead the roll-out of participatory integrated climate services for agriculture (PICSA), climate services methodology/approach.
B. Climate Finance (Design, Access & Management)
Serve as CO focal point for climate finance opportunities (GCF, AF, bilateral windows), maintaining an active pipeline and coordinating partner engagement.
Lead/co-lead design of climate adaptation concepts and full proposals—including log frames, budgets, risk/mitigation plans, other MEAL frameworks, and safeguards—in collaboration with government and partners.
Coordinate fiduciary, safeguards (ESMF, gender action plans), and readiness processes, and support grant management, performance reporting, and compliance with donor and CSP requirements.
C. Disaster Risk Financing & Insurance
Lead engagement on sovereign risk pools (e.g., ARC), including trigger calibration, contingency planning, premium/support options, and payout utilization frameworks aligned with social protection and food security systems.
Design and pilot micro-/microinsurance solutions for livelihood and resilience programmes (e.g., weather index or asset protection products) with insurers, aggregators, and cooperatives.
Develop layered disaster risk financing strategies combining contingency funds, insurance, and AA/early action financing, coordinating with CBT/Finance to ensure rapid and accountable disbursement mechanisms.
D. Partnerships, Coordination & Policy Engagement
Facilitate partnerships with government, research institutions, UN agencies, regional climate institutions (e.g., ICPAC), NGOs, and private sector to harmonize AA, climate finance, and DRF (Disaster Risk Financing) efforts.
Represent WFP in national Technical Working Groups (TWGs), interagency fora, and regional dialogues, and provide technical support to government policy processes on climate change, DRM, and climate services.
Promote knowledge-sharing, advocacy, and dissemination of evidence on anticipatory, risk informed, and prearranged disaster risk financing approaches.
E. Programme Integration, Quality & Compliance
Ensure integration of value for money, risk mitigation, protection, and compliance standards across AA, climate finance, and DRF interventions.
Apply environmental and social safeguards and ensure gender equality, disability inclusion, protection, and accountability-to-affected-populations are embedded in programme design and delivery.
Develop SOPs, guidance notes, and implementation tools/checklists to standardize quality and strengthen operational readiness.
F. Evidence, MEAL & Learning
Work with MEAL team to design and maintain MEAL frameworks for AA, climate finance, and DRF, including learning agendas and cost effectiveness/impact evaluations.
Coordinate after action reviews and produce learning products; maintain repositories of AA actions, climate information services, and DRF case studies.
Contribute to CSP reporting, donor reporting, and corporate learning platforms to document progress, lessons, and evidence.
Any other duties as relevant. Occasional mission travel to field offices may be required
Expected Outputs & Deliverables
a. Anticipatory Action Plan (AAP) Finalized and Validated: Includes triggers, thresholds, actions, targeting, budgets, SOPs, and activation protocols, validated with government and partners.
b. Climate Finance Pipeline and Concept/Proposal Submission: A structured financing pipeline with at least one high‑quality climate adaptation or resilience proposal (GCF/AF/bilateral) submitted during the contract period.
c. Disaster Risk Financing Strategy Note: Work on finalization of a comprehensive DRF strategy covering sovereign (ARC), micro-/meso‑insurance options, layered financing architecture, and recommended implementation roadmap.
d. Strengthened Early Warning & Climate Services Framework: Consolidated analysis and capacity‑strengthening plan for hydromet, DRM, and other line ministries, including roles, data flows, preferred communication channels, and user‑needs findings.
e. Partnership & Policy Engagement Package: Documented agreements or MoUs (where relevant), records of engagement with government and technical institutions (e.g., ICPAC), and contributions to national policy processes on DRM/climate.
f. MEL Framework & Results Dashboard: A monitoring, evaluation, and learning framework covering AA, climate finance, and DRF components, including indicators, learning agenda, and a functional results‑tracking dashboard.
g. Capacity Strengthening & Learning Products: At least two workshops or trainings delivered for government/partners, plus learning products such as after‑action reviews, case studies, or technical briefs summarizing lessons and best practices.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
University degree in Disaster Risk Reduction/ Management, Climate Change Adaptation, Environmental Science, physical science, or related field.
Experience:
For master’s degree, at least five years of work experience in developing systems for humanitarian preparedness, climate finance, disaster risk management, anticipatory action, operationalization of early warning systems, institutional and capacity development is required. Direct experience working on climate finance, anticipatory action programmes is an added advantage. Previous experience working with international organizations and Disaster Management Agencies/ humanitarian actors is required. Experience working with emergency operations and/or hardship duty station is essential.
For bachelor’s degree holder, at least seven years of above experience is required.
Knowledge & Skills:
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Strong understanding of humanitarian preparedness and response systems, with experience from WFP or similar humanitarian organisations.
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Good knowledge of climate action, climate risk management, and anticipatory action, including early warning systems, triggers, thresholds, and climate services.
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Familiarity with climate finance instruments (e.g., GCF, AF, bilateral funds) and related fiduciary, safeguards, and compliance requirements.
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Practical experience or familiarity with disaster risk financing, including sovereign risk pools (ARC) and weather‑index micro/meso‑insurance solutions.
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Strong coordination and partnership‑building skills with government, UN agencies, regional climate centres, NGOs, and private‑sector finance/insurance actors.
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Excellent analytical, oral and written communication skills, with the ability to develop proposals, SOPs, technical briefs, and MEL tools.
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Ability to work independently and collaboratively, maintaining organised workflows and effective relationships across cross‑functional teams; strong proficiency in MS Office applications.
Languages:
- Fluency in English (writing and speaking) is required. Intermediate knowledge of Arabic is an added advantage.
Interested individuals can apply for the vacancy announcement by clicking below vacancy link. Apply before the elapse of the deadline of 27 March 2026.
External Link: Click Here
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Programme Policy Officer (Climate Risk Management), CST II
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