Climate Risk Assessment Leader

Roles and responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical support for the implementation and scaling of Anticipatory Action (AA) and climate risk management initiatives, either at a regional level or within a specific Country Office (CO), ensuring alignment with WFP’s global strategies and frameworks on disaster risk reduction and resilience-building.
• Lead and coordinate AA efforts within WFP, either by supporting COs across the region or managing AA and climate risk management programmes directly at the country level. This includes integrating early warning systems with forecast-based action plans to mitigate the impacts of climate shocks on vulnerable populations.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders, including national governments, humanitarian partners, and donors, to support the effective implementation of AA initiatives. Foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing to build national capacities in early warning systems, forecast-based financing, and disaster preparedness.
• Provide technical assistance and capacity-building to WFP teams and partners, ensuring that staff at the regional or CO level have the skills and knowledge to implement AA and climate risk management activities effectively. This includes designing and delivering training sessions, facilitating workshops, and developing guidance materials.
• Contribute to resource mobilization efforts by identifying and securing funding opportunities from donors such as the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, and other relevant partners. Assist in the development of funding proposals and strategic documents that enhance WFP’s ability to expand its AA portfolio.
• Coordinate and oversee the monitoring and reporting of AA and climate risk management activities, ensuring that all projects meet donor requirements and are implemented within the agreed-upon timelines and budgets. Regularly update senior management on progress, challenges, and successes.
• Support the development of operational frameworks for the integration of AA into national disaster risk management and social protection systems. This may include working with governments and other stakeholders to establish early warning protocols, trigger mechanisms for early action, and scalable shock-responsive social protection schemes.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, including WFP’s Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) teams, emergency preparedness units, and external partners, to ensure the effective use of early warning information and climate services for decision-making.
• Contribute to knowledge management and advocacy by documenting best practices, lessons learned, and case studies from AA initiatives, and promoting WFP’s role in anticipatory action within regional and global forums. Engage in regional dialogues and platforms to advocate for the scaling of AA and climate risk management approaches.
• Adapt AA models and tools to suit local contexts, ensuring that WFP’s AA activities are tailored to the specific climate risks and vulnerabilities of the regions or countries where they are implemented.
• Perform other duties as required, depending on the needs of the regional bureau or CO, to advance the anticipatory action and climate risk management agenda.

Desired candidate profile

Education: Advanced university degree in political/social sciences, international development, climate science, disaster risk management, or related fields. A first university degree with additional years of experience may be accepted instead of an advanced degree.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in humanitarian and/or development fields, with a focus on climate risk management, disaster risk reduction, anticipatory action, or related areas.
• Proven experience in managing or implementing programmes related to AA, early warning systems, forecast-based financing, climate services, and broader disaster risk management.
• Experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, or climate-vulnerable contexts, preferably in the MENAEE region.
• Strong track record in developing partnerships, securing donor funding, and building operational capacity in resilience and climate risk management.
  

Knowledge & Skills

• Demonstrated understanding of early warning systems, anticipatory action, and climate risk management approaches.
• Excellent coordination and networking skills, with the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders across multiple countries.
• Knowledge of donor policies, strategies, and priorities in relation to disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and resilience-building.