Chief, Policy and Technical Services, P5 (African Risk Capacity - ARC) at World Food Programme

The Policy & Technical Advisory Services (PTS) Department is responsible for ensuring the ARC Group has sufficient resources to deliver on its mandate and enable the implementation of its programme, overseeing the development and subsequent implementation of the Group comprehensive fundraising strategy, consolidating partnerships with regional and international bodies in line with ARC Group vision and goals, and transferring or disseminating knowledge within and outside the organisation.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Chief is responsible for effectively leading, managing and coordinating the day-to-day operations and activities of the Policy & Technical Services Department within the ARC Agency Secretariat. This will require to some extent, engagement with ARC Member States, regional organisations, donors and partners.

The Chief, Policy & Technical Services shall be required to lead a team of professionals to provide expert, innovative advice to build, manage, monitor and optimize the impact of partnerships with other organisations, member governments and donor partners aimed at addressing issues of critical mutual interest between parties whilst also successfully advocating for the work of the ARC in various fora and knowledge communities.    

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Lead the design and implementation of strategies and work plan for the Policy & Technical Services Department and ensure that the partnerships are identified, developed and maintained. 

Policies and Procedures

• Spearhead ARC efforts in creating an enabling environment for Disaster Risk Management and Financing at country, sub-regional and continental level.
• Through partnership, lead initiatives aiming to influence policies, strategies and regulations related to Disaster Risk Management and Financing in Member States.
• Strategically identifying, recommending and highlighting opportunities to senior management on policy issues with partner organisations.
• Identifying improvements in process and capitalising on synergies across ARC in-country work streams to streamline and improve the delivery of services to ARC Member States and in line with established partnerships.
• Leading the refinement of ARC Standard Operating procedures and codifying the experiences of the ARC to date.
• Contribute to preparedness actions, providing technical recommendations and guidance and periodically monitoring the management of risks towards limiting institutional enterprise risk.

Resource Mobilisation

• Oversee the review and reshaping of a comprehensive ARC Group fundraising strategy in order to increase the organisation’s capacity to secure multi-year, sustainable sources of funding from alternative and diverse sources to enable the implementation of the ARC Group strategy

Partnerships

• Oversee a portfolio of partnerships, including with the African Development Bank, IFAD, the World Bank, WFP, etc., donor partners and other relevant institutions to ensure ARC’s work programme aligns with and strengthens in-country initiatives and regional and global dialogue. This shall include development, execution and monitoring the implementation of work plans in support of established partnerships, as needed. Partnerships will be demand-driven to complement ARC’s in-house resources, capabilities and product offering, and will be considered for relevance to the ARC programme in order to best serve Member States
• Representing ARC and monitoring international meetings at appropriate levels in such a way that advances the ARC’s partnership and policy strategies and objectives and builds support for ARC activities.
• Overseeing the compilation of briefing documents for senior level management meetings with stakeholders, and potential and existing partners, and providing strategic input and advice. 

Knowledge Management

• Lead the provision of strategic guidance, advice and technical support to the ARC Group in ensuring the continued contribution of ARC towards global knowledge and best practice and vice versa, to ensure the optimal positioning of the ARC Group as a thought leader in Disaster Risk Management and Financing on the African continent.
• Work with the Heads of Unit/Department to identify interests and information needs of ARC’s target stakeholder groups for the purposes of promoting Disaster Risk Management and Financing.
• Oversee the production of information, technical and scientific evidence in Disaster Risk Management and Financing.
• Work with technical experts in the organization to lead the development and dissemination of regular publications on topics of interest in the area of Disaster Risk Management and Financing.
• Promote knowledge sharing in the organization by engaging ARC departments, organizing training, and facilitating seamless exchange of information with both internal and external parties.
• Implementing lessons learned from ARC’s in-country M&E program, external evaluations and reviews to ensure ARC continues to evolve and improve with experience to become the standard setting agency for disaster risk management, contingency planning and risk transfer in Africa.
• Supervise the design and manage the deployment of ARC’s internal and external training program including the creation of the planned online training portal.

Other as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in a technical relevant area such as development economics, political science, international development, policy or another relevant field.

Experience: 11 years of progressively responsible professional experience in technically related area in a multi-cultural organisation or national organisation providing support on a global scope.

Managerial Experience: 

Demonstrated managerial and professional competence with progressively responsible professional experience in public affairs strategy and advisory roles at high levels of government, economic development at scale and Africa-related agricultural or insurance development. This should include:

• Firm knowledge of the Agency’s mandate, structure and program of work.
• Proven intellectual, managerial and technical leadership in one or more areas of the Agency’s mandate.
• Experience in weather risk management and insurance in developing countries.
• Sound knowledge of continental and international climate, agriculture, insurance and finance policy networks.
• Has contributed to the design and implementation of strategies and work plans to identify, build and maintain partnerships between organisations and with governments.
• Has led complex negotiations for partnership agreements.
• Has gained significant experience leading large and/or multicultural teams and improving performance.