Job: Operations Officer (Cooperation with the European Union)

Location: Brussels, Belgium
Closing Date: Wednesday, 20 November 2013

Background / General description:

The Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) is a partnership of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) system to support the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). The HFA is the primary international agreement for disaster reduction, adopted by one hundred sixty-eight (168) governments and multilateral organizations, including the World Bank. The principal strategic goal of the HFA is to effectively integrate, in a coherent manner, disaster risk considerations into sustainable development policies, planning, programming, and financing at all levels of government.

The GFDRR is managed by the World Bank on behalf of the participating donor partners and other partnering stakeholders. The work of the GFDRR is divided into three tracks. Track I is designed to enhance global and regional advocacy, partnerships, and knowledge management for mainstreaming disaster reduction. Track II is directed at mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in country development processes to ensure that risk assessments, risk mitigation, risk transfer, and emergency preparedness are incorporated into in all strategic plans and programs. This track is designed to provide ex ante support, primarily through technical assistance to enhance investments in risk reduction and risk transfer mechanisms, as well as disaster management planning to low- and middle-income country governments. Track III supports primarily low-income countries for accelerated disaster recovery and risk reduction in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

Since 2006, GFDRR has relied on the WB office in Brussels to foster cooperation with the EU, European bilateral donors and the ACP Group of States. A 54.5 million Euro contribution from the EU to GFDRR to support Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) activities in ACP countries was signed in May 2011, establishing the ACP-EU Natural Disaster Risk Reduction (NDRR) Program. The GFDRR Brussels team was expanded to be able to support the implementation of the ACP-EU NDRR Program and continue to act as GFDRR focal point on the partnership with the European Institutions and European bilateral donors. The objective of the ACP-EU NDRR Program is to address prevention; mitigation and preparedness to natural hazards in ACP countries, through three windows of action with technical assistance, capacity building and advisory/ analytical work at regional and country levels. The Program also supports requests from ACP countries in the aftermath of a disaster with post disaster needs assessments (PDNA), rapid-response technical assistance, capacity building and the development of sustainable recovery frameworks. After nearly two years into implementation, the ACP-EU NDRR Program has a growing portfolio of 40+ projects and has engaged in various outreach activities.

Note: This is an international term appointment in the Brussels Office (HQ Satellite Office). The local salary scale applies, and standard expatriate benefits (home leave & education benefits) apply should a non-Belgian national be selected.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The Operations Officer will mainly be working on the implementation of the ACP-EU NDRR Program. He/She will also focus on strengthening GFDRR's overall partnership with the EC beyond ACP countries and act as GFDRR focal point in Brussels on the coordination with the EC on Post-disaster Needs Assessments and the Recovery Framework.

All tasks described below will be undertaken under the supervision of GFDRR Senior Operations Officer/ Team Leader, ACP-EU NDRR Programme and EU Donors Relations in Brussels, the GFDRR Manager and the relevant Team Leaders in GFDRR DC, and in close coordination with the WB DRM regional teams and the other members of the GFDRR Brussels team.

Implementation of the ACP-EU NDRR Program and other potential partnerships with the EC (60%)

As part of the GFDRR Brussels team, the incumbent will contribute to the day-to-day implementation of the ACP-EU NDRR Program, in particular:

• Coordinate the monitoring of the overall implementation status of the ACP-EU NDRR Program, identifying the gaps in the approval and the implementation of proposals, and proposing actions to address them. When required, conduct site visits to assess the quality of grant implementation, monitor grant activity, meet with stakeholders and ensure that the objectives are met and the work is harmonized with GFDRR's mission;
• Coordinate the preparation of financial and narrative reports to the European Commission on the implementation of the ACP-EU NDRR program as foreseen in the WB-EC Administration Agreement. Contribute to ad hoc/monthly reporting to the ACP Secretariat.
• Review and comment proposals submitted under Windows I, II and III of the ACP-EU NDRR Program, taking into account their compliance with the program's objectives and eligibility criteria, technical feasibility and budget.
• Develop and maintain - together with GFDRR Monitoring and Evaluation Team in HQ - the ACP-EU NDRR monitoring, evaluation and reporting system, to be able to regularly report to the EC on progress made by the program as per the jointly agreed indicators, as well as to report on the Program's contribution to the GFDRR Strategy and Work Plan and ensure coherence with the overall GFDRR M&E framework.
• Liaise with GFDRR Task Managers and all Regional DRM Coordinators on the status of implementation of activities to be able to report back regularly to the EC and anticipate possible issues/ challenges.
• Liaise with the EC and be the focal point on GFDRR Brussels to ensure good coordination in the different phases of a PDNA (both at HQ and Delegation level) and to speed up the approval of PDNA financing requests under Window III of the ACP-EU NDRR Program.
• Contribute to the smooth implementation of the communication strategy of the ACP-EU NDRR program, including i) website management and regular update, ii) addressing EU visibility requirements (PDNAs and other report, conferences etc), iii) development and update of the ACP-EU NDRR Program related communication tools mentioned in the plan, iv) ensure that updates on the ACP-EU NDRR Program activities are regularly fed into GFDRR main website, newsletter and other relevant GFDRR communication tools with clear and visible logos etc.
• Contribute to the implementation of future partnership programs with the European Commission. This includes in particular drafting of the implementation arrangements (in collaboration with the EC and the World Bank DRM Regional Coordinators), appraisal of proposals, monitoring of the program implementation, evaluation of the proposals results, reporting to the EC and the related Steering Committee etc.

GFDRR Post-Disaster Needs Assessment and Recovery Framework (20%)

• Act as focal point for Post-Disaster response and the Recovery Framework initiative in GFDRR Brussels. Advise and support the Team Leader for Sustainable Recovery on the overall coordination with the EU including identifying possible fund raising opportunities.
• Facilitate the coordination between EU (HQ and Delegations), WB and UN in the different phases of the PDNAs, as well as during the rolling out of the Recovery Framework initiative.
• If requested by the Team Leader for Sustainable Recovery, participate as a member of World Bank's rapid response team in post-disaster needs assessment missions in ACP countries and beyond.
• Contribute to the elaboration and finalization of the PDNA guide, a joint UN-EU-WB initiative to consolidate methodologies to conduct long-term recovery assessments in post disaster situations
  Fostering the cooperation with the EU Institutions and Member States on DRR and CCA and contribute to GFDRR Brussels team day-to-day activities (15%)
• Identify and promote strategic collaboration between GFDRR and the EC in the field of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
• Undertake research and knowledge management activities, monitor EU news related to DRR and CCA to be sent regularly to GFDRR colleagues in Brussels and DC
• Prepare briefs for GFDRR and World Bank Senior Management meetings with EU Institutions.
• Contribute to the organization of GFDRR events, report launches etc in Brussels and abroad (if so requested) including logistics, sending invitations etc.
• Attend and represent GFDRR in meetings and for a related to DRR in Brussels and abroad.
  Any other task as assigned by the Sr Operations Officer, GFDRR Brussels (5%)
• Support the GFDRR Brussels Sr Operations Officer in day-to-day tasks as needed
• Act as back up for the other members of the GFDRR Brussels Team whenever needed
• Represent GFDRR at internal and external meetings and deliver presentations on ACP-EU NDRR Program as well as on GFDRR in general.

Selection Criteria:

• Master's degree in Economics, Social or political Sciences, Environmental Sciences or related field.
• At least five years of experience in the areas related to development cooperation, disaster risk reduction and/or and climate change and humanitarian affairs.
• Experience working in an international organization. Working experience in a developing country/field office and knowledge of World Bank operations would be an advantage
• Strong knowledge of EU institutions, policies and financing instruments. Experience working with EU would be a plus.
• Self-starter works independently, seeking guidance on complex projects/issues from senior staff.
• Strong integration and writing skills, capable of pulling together inputs from various sources to address complex issues under pressure and in a timely manner. Strong communication and advocacy skills.
• Experience in post disaster situations, including field assignments would be an advantage.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and French. Knowledge of other languages is an asset.
• Strong computer skills, Microsoft applications.

Required Competencies:

• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Understands policy making process; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients.
• Policy Dialogue Skills - Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders.
• Integrative Skills - Working to develop an integrated view across all facets of current sector. Client Orientation - Takes personal responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success.
• Drive for Results - Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results, and has the personal organization to do so.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team's work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view.
• Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Actively seeks knowledge needed to complete assignments and shares knowledge with others, communicating and presenting information in a clear and organized manner.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Analyzes facts and data to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others' work.

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