Head of Governmental Services for East and Southern Africa, P4 - Johannesburg, South Africa at World Food Programme

THE ROLE AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

• The African Risk Capacity (ARC) is a Specialized Agency of the African Union (AU), designed to improve current responses to drought food security emergencies.
• The aim of ARC is to improve the timeliness of responses and build capacity within AU member states to manage drought risks by directly linking funds to defined contingency plans.
• ARC is an African, continental index-based weather risk insurance pool and early response mechanism, which offers an African solution to one of the continent's most pressing challenges.
• By bringing together the concepts of insurance and contingency planning, ARC aims to create a new way of managing weather risk by transferring the burden away from African governments, and their vulnerable populations who depend on government assistance, to international markets that can handle the risk much better, as well as incentivizing governments to plan for and implement best-practice response mechanisms for food security emergencies in a timely manner.
• Drought events do not usually happen in the same year all across the continent and because of this pan-African solidarity in the creation of an insurance pool like ARC is financially efficient.
• ARC’s mission is to serve African governments and their communities in reducing the financial impact of natural catastrophes by providing immediate liquidity through the provision of insurance through the ARC Ltd.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• As ARC prepares to scale up its activities and institutionalising the work of the Agency, it has created the position of Head of Governmental Services for East and Southern Africa (ESA).
• This person oversees the development and implementation of the strategy for the overall Country Engagement Programme in the East and Southern AfricaRegion.
• Specifically, the Head of Government Services for East and Southern Africa makes sure that the Country Engagement Managers who report to him/her have ensured successful customisation of Africa RiskView weather risk quantification software in countries, and development of ARC contingency plans for countries in support of their applications for Certificates of Good Standing.
• The Head of Governmental Services for East and Southern Africa will take the primarily responsibility in helping countries understand risk transfer. 
• It is expected that the ARC Headquarters will relocate from Johannesburg South Africa to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
• Therefore, in addition to the aforementioned work of supervising Country Engagement Managers in seamlessly bringing together these three ARC workstreams, the Head of Government Services for East and Southern Africa will also ensure the effective management of the ESA office and remaining staff in Johannesburg, providing leadership, direction and management.
• Working under the direction of the ARC Chief Operating Officer, the specific duties and responsibilities of the Head of Governmental Services for East and Southern Africa will include:

In-Country Capacity Building

• Supervise and guide the Country Engagement Managers (CEMs) in implementation of the ARC in-country capacity building programme, ensuring all milestones and deliverables with respect to risk pool participation requirements for countries are achieved by the ARC Secretariat.
•  Work closely with ARC Ltd on the contract finalisation and premium payment issues. 

External Relations and political advocacy

• Lead the advocacy and the political ownership component of the capacity building programme for the region, ensuring there is an adequate buy-in for countries to join the pool.
• Support and guide ARC current and prospective countries in accessing premium financing from relevant financial partners.
• Interface with partner agencies, governments, NGOs, donor partners, and lead institutions in climate change and disaster risk management at the country and regional level, and guide the Policy and Technical services unit in fostering partnerships with relevant institutions.
• Aim to take a strategic view across programme components and make linkages between them and the greater risk management and food security context in which ARC is operating
• Advise ARC’s senior management on strategic advocacy in relevant forums
• Travel regularly all over East and Southern Africa to support CEMs in their ARC activities

Administration

• Develop country-level budgets and monitor fund consumption. Ensure that any anticipated financial challenges are reported in a timely manner.  Liaise with the Chief Operating Officer on implementation of any programming changes that might be necessary.
• Ensure the development of relevant Country Strategy Notes for all countries in East and Southern AfricaMonitor Country Engagement Managers travels and ensure coordination and continued information flow between management and government services team.
• Manage and assist Country Engagement Managers in managing relationships for the Secretariat 
• Ensure that the strategic objectives of the Agency are clearly communicated to all staff members under supervision, and 
• Guide Country Engagement Managers under supervision in regular work planning 
• Ensure that staff, resources, and all program support functions in the Johannesburg office are effectively managed. 

Deliverables

• Effective preparation of countries that wish to participate in the insurance pool in 2015, including finalised and validated ARV Customisation Reports, Risk Transfer Parameters and ARC Operations Plans;
• Ongoing reporting on the in-country capacity building programme for participating and prospective ARC Ltd member countries;
• Availability for ongoing support to the Chief Operating Officer and senior ARC staff.

QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY REQUIREMENTS

Education:

You have:

• Advanced University degree (or Master’s equivalent) from an accredited academic institution in International Development, Development, Economics, Rural Development, Business Administration, or any other related field to international development assistance.

Experience:

You have:

• At least eight (8) years’ progressively responsible professional experience, preferably both in the field and Headquarters, in public sector management, financial risk management, development projects, emergency assistance, or in any other related field. 

Language:

You have:

Fluency (level C) in the English and French languages is required. Including the ability to write clear and concise briefing papers and external communication, strategic operational documents, etc. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in another official language (Arabic or Portuguese) is highly appreciated.

MORE ABOUT YOU

• Progressively responsible supervisory / team leader experience is required. 
• Extensive international experience in Africa, in particular in the East and Southern Africa, is required.
• Experience in dealing with African governments in the East and Southern Africa Region is required.
• Availability to undertake frequent travel.
• Senior expert in country programme engagement with a good understanding of the international humanitarian aid, donor and development communities, with focus on the East and Southern Africa Region.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships.
• Strong analytical skills in order to identify systemic issues, both programmatic and operational, and develop viable solutions. 
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation and diplomatic skills with the ability to establish effective working relations with people at all levels and of different national and cultural background.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks under tight deadlines in a timely manner in a dynamic environment.
• Some knowledge and experience of food security planning and emergency response in Africa would be an asset. 
• Understanding of and skills in applying best management / supervisory practices including coaching and mentoring staff.
• Ability to represent ARC as an advocate and reliable partner.