Climate Risk Insurance Expert

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the worlds largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict disasters and the impact of climate change.

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WHY JOIN WFP

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive diverse and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training accreditation coaching mentorship and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country regional and global offices around the world and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE: Climate Risk Insurance Expert
TYPE OF CONTRACT: CST REG level II
UNIT/DIVISION: PPGR
DUTY STATION (City Country): HQ Rome Italy
DURATION: 11 months ( November 2025 - October 2025)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
For a decade WFP has been utilizing risk transfer tools to advance the protection and resilience of communities affected by extreme climate events. More recently it has become a priority to integrate these tools into a broader bundle of risk financing instruments that are accessible for governments and smallholders in climate risk hot-spots. Work has developed around two major areas: inclusive insurance as part of an integrated risk management approach embodied by the R4 Rural Resilience Initiative; and macroinsurance in particular through the Africa Risk Capacity (ARC) Replica initiative.
The R4 Rural Resilience Initiative (R4) was launched in 2011 to empower farmers and food insecure rural households with a set of integrated risk management tools including Risk Transfer (e.g. drought insurance) Risk Reduction (e.g. natural physical and social assets for improved resource management) prudent Risk Taking (e.g. access to credit for productive investments) and Risk Retention (e.g. savings schemes). This way R4 aims to develop long-term resilience to the growing challenges of food insecurity and climate change integrating risk management approaches with WFP core programs and national social protection systems. R4 is currently active in more than 25 countries and keeps expanding and scaling 2024 R4 contributed to insuring close tobeneficiaries. Complementary to establishing new R4 initiatives WFP is providing technical assistance to governments and local insurers to develop improve and scale up existing insurance 2024 R4 has transitionned to the Inclusive Risk Financing team (IRF).
On the macroinsurance side WFP is purchasing drought risk insurance through the African Risk Capacity or other insurers in 11 African 2024 this has enabled protection of overpeople from potentially catastrophic climate risks. WFP has expanded its portfolio in other regions (LAC Pacific). In the space of sovereign insurance WFP supports Governments in index customization choice of risk transfer parameters and the design of more rapid and effective mechanisms to deliver public action. Complementary to these efforts WFP supports governments in designing and implementing more robust disaster risk financing systems. This requires action in terms of capacity building of National stakeholders as well as staff in WFP country offices.
As part of its overall risk financing strategy which involves inclusive and macro-level insurance approaches WFP is also developing risk retention capabilities with the objective of helping people and governments to absorb the risks that occur more frequently and with lower severity and that are not covered by insurance mechanisms. Greater integration between risk transfer and risk retention approaches is envisaged to improve the performance of the programmes and set up a more coherent financial protection system.
As WFP is quickly expanding its work in climate risk insurance and more broadly in climate disaster risk financing country offices and regional bureau do not always have the internal capacities and expertise to implement their activities at the expected quality standard. The Consultant will provide flexible support to country offices regional bureaux and HQ based on specific TORs for each mission.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Support country offices and regional bureaux on the implementation of the microinsuranceactivity. Specifically this includes : i. conduct inception assessments ii. support on product design and distribution strategy ii
i. insurance procurement iv. education strategy v. sustainability strategy vi. admin support including procurement vii. interaction with partners.
2. Develop the sustainability strategy which includes i. assessment of ability and willingness to pay ii. mapping of distribution and claim settlement processes iii. integration of insurance and savings. Specifically on the last activity the consultant will supervise the assessment of the VSLAs based on the methodology developed and initiate the technnical support process
3. Support COs in establishing the relevant arrangements with selected insurance companies for the provision of microinsurance;
4. Support technical work involving product enhancements and ensure correct implementation;
the engagement with relevant stakeholders within the CDRFI sector as part of fundraising awareness and partnership development activities;
CO in developing evidence generation activities to promote and strengthen programming activities;
Management : Document processes and results from ongoing insurance activities in specific the country and develop knowledge management materials including training modules and guidelines for the use of different financial products to protect against climate risks at micro and macro levels.
to external facing events

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
1. Feasibility studies and inception assessment
2. ability and willingness to pay assessment
3. mapping of distribution and claims settlement processes
4. integration methodology of insurance and savings
5. sustainability strategy
6. production of factsheets to build evidence
7. support on resource mobilization.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education: A degree in an area related to Economics Insurance and/or Finance is mandatory.

Experience:
at least 6 years experience) in microinsurance or ag &climate insurance
A minimum work experience in the climate risk insurance space inclusive or microinsurance meso or macroinsurance or disaster risk financing sector.
Specific knowledge of agricultural and climate insurance initiatives in developing countries at both micro- and macro-level
Experience of microfinance and savings systems would be an advantage
Demonstrated field experience desirable in distribution operations and management of risk financing solutions or microfinance including awareness raising and training and capacity strengthening
Experience in supporting country level planning and project development processes. Experience with broader food security analysis policy disaster risk reduction or related area will be an asset
Experience in farmers organisations and cooperatives management and development.
Demonstrated in agricultural value chains development and support.

Knowledge & Skills:
Demonstrated ability to present information and ideas and to communicatetechnical content effectively to non-technical audiences
Ability to conduct effective meetings listen to others and engage in dialogue.
Demonstrated experience working in developing countries with a special focus onrisk financing solutions
Strong interpersonal and coordination skills ability to work in a team and tocommunicate clearly and diplomatically with a wide range of stakeholders fromdiverse backgrounds
Demonstrated data collection and analytical writing skills.
Experience in establishing contacts and liaising with partner organisations.
Ability to take initiative and work independantly while in a team;
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations
Proficiency in Windows MS Office (Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook)

Knowledge of WFP or UN procedures is a plus.

Languages:
Fluency in French and good level in English

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

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Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation please contact:

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate complete and includes your employment records academic qualifications language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed please apply and submit your application.

• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport recommendation letters academic certificates etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Please contact us at in case you face any challenges with submitting your application

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs job requirements merit and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse all forms of discrimination any kind of harassment sexual harassment and abuse of authority. Therefore all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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