Consultant Programme Policy

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

2 July 2026-23:59-GMT-05:00 Eastern Standard Time (Panama)

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ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

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WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE:
Climate services and Anticipatory Action/Forecast-based Action Consultant for Latin America and the Caribbean
TYPE OF CONTRACT:
Regular (full time) Consultancy
UNIT/DIVISION:
Programme Unit/RBP
DUTY STATION (City, Country):
Panama City
DURATION:
27 July 2026 – 27 June 2027

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The impacts of climate variability and change are already visible in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Central and South America are characterised by reduced water availability and increased flooding and landslides. Subsistence farming communities are especially affected by reduced food production and quality, leading to increased pressures on communities and governments, with an alarming rate of permanent migration out of areas affected by drought. Small island states in the Caribbean are also being exposed to more intense hurricanes, livelihood impacts from losses to ecosystem services, and low-lying coastal areas are at risk of sea level rise.
One of the challenges that governments and communities face in addressing weather and climate-related shocks is they lack access to timely and easy-to-understand climate information that can help them make well-informed decisions. Such information can be in the form of “last mile” communication channels that allow community members to receive tailored climate information that services their needs.
Forecast-based Financing and Action (FbF and FbA) borrow from the climate services field, by using climate information to support decision-tools. FbF/A focus on enabling anticipatory actions for disaster mitigation at community and government levels, by using credible seasonal and weather forecasts. These forecasts are linked to predetermined contingency plans, actors and funding instruments which are used to reduce the humanitarian response needs in the critical window between a forecast and an extreme weather event. This mechanism is changing the way the humanitarian system and governments respond to climate-related disasters.
WFP is seeking an expert with specialized skills in climate services and/or FbF/A to coordinate and technically lead the roll out of such projects in the LAC region.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Consultant is based in WFP's Regional Bureau of Panama (RBP), working within the Resilience team but in a cross-cutting function across programme teams and with country offices (COs) to:
1.Support the Regional Strategy for WFP’s work on anticipatory action/climate services in LAC. This requires collaboration with different RBP programmatic teams and COs to establish scope of work and seek feedback from internal experts and external partners. A review of WFP’s current related work in the region should be undertaken. An implementation plan for the strategy would then be developed in coordination with these colleagues.
2.Support the development of tools to enhance climate analysis to inform FbF and anticipatory action, including community assessments, in collaboration with the RAM team.
3.Provide guidance and technical expertise to country offices as they design and implement climate services and FbF/A activities. This can include providing direct in-country support, remote guidance and advice, as well as connecting countries with experts and partners to carry out different activity areas. The key activity areas include:
Provide guidance to COs in their formulation, design and implementation of WFP Country Strategic Plans and climate finance proposals so that climate service and FbF/A activities are well articulated in line with national policies and priorities.
•Carry out and/or coordinate needs assessments of “last mile” users to ensure that their preferences, opportunities, and barriers can be better understood, and which will facilitate tailored design of climate service activities that will meet their needs.
•Lead capacity assessments of institutions such as national meteorological agencies, agrometeorological advisory departments, and intermediary organisations producing and transferring climate information to end-user groups. This can include also assessing available climate information products (including weather alerts, forecasts, seasonal outlooks etc) from local, national, and regional scales, to determine possible entry-points and improvements to existing efforts.
•Enable a participatory approach with a range of stakeholders to co-develop climate information products and FbF/A actions, with a range of outcomes including: improvement and/or defining climate information products, vulnerability thresholds, forecast tools and triggers; establishing new climate information transfer and feedback mechanisms; identifying appropriate anticipatory actions and/or climate change adaptation options for different sectors/livelihoods; developing and testing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with forecast thresholds and triggers for FbF/A anticipatory actions; etc.
•Broker strategic partnerships between COs and stakeholders for policy engagement, advocacy, and implementation. For the latter, the Consultant should facilitate COs to connect to a range of partnerships, including research institutions, service providers more easily for capacity strengthening and delivery, including use of long-term agreements.
Work with COs and RBP experts to ensure robust set-up of and implementation of country M&E frameworks and tools to ensure evidence generation and capture of lessons learnt.
4.Participate and represent WFP in strategic regional climate services and FbF/A forums and policy bodies, including the Regional Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action. This includes identifying and ensuring a WFP presence in relevant policy dialogues, ensuring WFP’s inputs into such platforms, and identifying new joint activities if appropriate.
5.Build a strong regional position on WFP’s work on climate analyses, services and FbF/A, through ensuring evidence generation and knowledge management as well as research pieces. This includes capturing and disseminating best practices and lessons learned, and in ensuring advocacy material and knowledge exchange with WFP COs and partners.
6.Support the development of proposals on climate services and FbF/A in the region in close coordination with other Programme units, PPM, and other units as required.
7.Other activities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Advanced University degree in meteorology, hydrology, geography, environmental sciences/management, climate change adaptation, development studies, social sciences, or related fields.
Experience:
8+ years of post-graduate experience in climate services, weather or seasonal forecasting, early warning systems, and/or project management related to any of these topics. Should have experience in the application of climatology/meteorological skills to a wider development context, such as: the integration of climate information (short term to seasonal timescale) into food security early warning and monitoring systems and activity planning; working with National Hydro-Meteorological Agencies and local government stakeholders to strengthen capacities; linking climate risk analysis to national/community development, climate, food security, and disaster risk reduction policy and planning; undertaking needs assessments and participatory co-development processes; co-developing tailored communication and dissemination strategies.

Knowledge & Skills:
Strong knowledge of climate services, Forecast-based Financing/Action; undertaking participatory processes and needs assessments; M&E design; ability to work with minimal supervision; good coordination and managerial skills; ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing; ability to work in a team and establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds.
Languages:
Fluent in English and Spanish, including strong writing skills. Working knowledge of French is an advantage.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

 

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Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

 

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

 

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

 

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.

• We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.

• At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, 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.