Back Regional Emergencies Supply Chain Officer - Asia& The Pacific (International Consultant)

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

Are you interested in supporting implementation of Asia-Pacific emergency supply chain preparedness activities? Are you ready to change and save the lives of the world's most vulnerable people? If yes, this opportunity is for you!

TERMS AND CONDITION

JOB TITLE: Regional Emergencies Supply Chain Officer - Asia and the Pacific

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Regular Consultancy Contract (International Consultant, Level II/III*)*

UNIT: Supply Chain (Emergency Preparedness & Response)

DUTY STATION: Bangkok, Thailand (Frequent travelling is required)

DURATION: 11 months (Extendable)

*The level of the contract will be determined by WFP based on the skills and experience of the selected candidate.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to WFP is recognition that ending hunger is a critical first step towards global peace. WFP recognizes that one of the greatest contributions it can make to humanity is to provide a voice to the 690 million hungry people in the world. The Nobel Peace Prize gives us a platform to make their needs heard and to mobilize support for the assistance they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

As the Asia-Pacific region continues its dynamic transformation, WFP is a strongly positioning its role in the region. This is imperative not only due to the transition of many countries to Lower Middle/Middle Income status in the Asia Pacific region, but also because of the recurring and increasing ferocity of natural disasters. The Asia-Pacific is the most disaster affected region in the world, especially susceptible to sudden-onset disasters that can outstrip national response capacities and create unique challenges for timely delivery of international humanitarian assistance.

To meet these challenges, the WFP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RBB) maintains its Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) capacity with the objective of improving the timeliness, efficacy and efficiency of national and regional humanitarian response. WFP’s shift from direct delivery to enabling in-country capacities in the Asia-Pacific region aims at improving efficient and effective institutions, systems and programmes that will be able to tackle the root causes of food insecurity and hunger among vulnerable populations. To meet this commitment, WFP RBB is strengthening its approach to manage the implementation of regional and national-level initiatives on country capacity strengthening that includes focus on critical priority areas of social safety-nets, disaster and emergency preparedness, evidence-based analytics and Supply Chain optimization.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The role of the Regional Emergencies Supply chain Officer is to support implementation of EPR activities in Asia and the Pacific. This includes supporting RBB and Country Offices (COs) to undertake preparedness activities, provide technical support, guidance, coordination and implementation of emergency responses. This position will work closely with a cross functional EPR Working group and contribute to a coordinated approach to EPR in RBB.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Reporting to the Head of Supply Chain, the Regional Emergencies Supply Chain Officer will be responsible for the following activities:

• Support and guide the COs and RBB to implement corporate guidance and tools to improve Supply Chain Emergency Preparedness & Response (including in focus areas such as climate change and disaster risk reduction);

• Coordinate the cross-functional RBB Emergency Preparedness and Response Working Group which aims to:

  • Assess hazards and emerging risks in countries in the region, provide outlooks, early warnings analysis and recommend preparedness actions to senior management.
  • Coordinate cross-functional Preparedness & Response support to COs (including the roll out of the revised Emergency Preparedness Response Package, Minimum Preparedness Actions, Concepts of Operations and Emergency Simulation Exercises).
  • Ensure that the Regional Bureau in Bangkok is ready to respond to emergencies. This includes reviewing SOPs / deployment procedures, maintaining surge staff lists, setting up minimum preparedness actions, sharing / managing information and organising Simulation Exercises to test the Bureau readiness.
  • In case of an emergency requiring RBB involvement, support a coordinated response.
• Monitor emerging risks and contribute to HQ and RBB early warning and risk analysis products, from a Supply Chain perspective.
• Support and coordinate emergency response operations (either remotely or through deployment).
• Support the identification of capacity gaps in EPR. Lead, design, facilitate and coordinate staff development events (including Simulation Exercises) and training material to strengthen staff skills.
• Collaborate with Human Resources to develop and maintain a regional roster of emergency response expert staff (both National and International) in the Asia Pacific region.
• Support the organisation, coordination and the preparation of lessons learnt exercises for all small (L1 and L2) to large scale (L3) responses and maintain information repository at Bureau level and ensure that Lessons Learned are used to guide preparedness and future responses;
• Contribute to designing WFP Country Strategic Plans, ensuring the integration of relevant Supply Chain Preparedness & Response interventions. Support CO developing projects aimed at capacity strengthening of partners. Provide technical assistance and strategic advisory to COs engaged in capacity strengthening activities with National Disaster Management Authorities (NDMAs) and / or other humanitarian stakeholders on Supply Chain disaster management;
• Support the development of partnerships (especially fostering engagements with Academia, Private Foundations, other development / humanitarian partners and private companies) to ensure comprehensive support is provided to local emergency response stakeholders;
• Support the reinforcement of the partnership with ASEAN, SRAC and other inter-regional bodies on Preparedness & Response, including on skill development (ACE Programme and DELSA, in collaboration with UNHRD). Support / participate to interagency coordination forums and provide WFP EPR inputs.
• Perform any other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Education:
Mandatory
• Minimum Bachelor degree in Logistics / Supply Chain Management, Disaster Management, International Relations, Engineering or related fields.

Desirable
• Master degree in Logistics / Supply Chain Management, Disaster Management, International Relations, Engineering or related fields. Specialisation in Humanitarian Supply Chain is an advantage.

Experience:
Mandatory
• Minimum 10 years humanitarian / development experience, including international experience (outside home country) in emergency / humanitarian contexts.
• Ability to lead and coordinate Supply Chain responses in medium to large-scale disasters (both natural and man-made).
• Strong understanding of humanitarian principles, emergency and security management in high risk environments.

Desirable
• Experience in designing and implementing Supply Chain capacity strengthening programmes;
• Experience supporting emergency food assistance (in-kind and/or cash/voucher) programming and distribution is an advantage;

Knowledge & Skills:
Mandatory
• Ability to build partnerships, coordinate and build consensus with a variety of internal and external stakeholders across functions;
• Ability to analyse and synthesize complex information and develop succinct reports / proposals for partners and donors;
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral;

Desirable
• Good understanding of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG2 (zero hunger) and SDG17 (Partnerships).
• Strong awareness and understanding of gender and disability inclusion perspectives.

Languages:
Mandatory
• Fluency in oral and written English

Desirable
• An intermediate knowledge of one other UN language (Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages).

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Monday 19 April 2021, Midnight, Bangkok Time.

Female applicants, individuals with disabilities, and those from developing countries are encouraged to apply.

WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organisation. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection & recruitment process, and for work-related needs upon joining the Programme. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.