Emergency Specialist, P-3, Temporary Position, #00137994, O/P Rome, Italy, Office of Emergency Operations, Off of Emergency Prog, HQ

Organizational Context

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child, with a strong focus on equity and reaching the most vulnerable. UNICEF offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.

Job Purpose

The Emergency Specialist (Anticipatory Action) is responsible for leading the management and implementation of the insurance-backed anticipatory action (AA) programme. This role provides technical, operational, and coordination support to ensure effective programme delivery. The focus areas include programme management and coordination, technical support and leadership on trigger development and risk analytics, support to country offices and programme implementation, monitoring, learning, reporting, and knowledge management, and contributing to UNICEF's broader anticipatory action and disaster risk finance workstreams. The position is crucial for leveraging innovative disaster risk financing instruments to enable early, risk-informed interventions that reduce humanitarian needs and protect development gains for children.

Responsibilities

Lead the management and implementation of the insurance-backed anticipatory action (AA) programme, ensuring effective programme delivery. Provide technical, operational, and coordination support to achieve programme objectives. Develop and refine trigger mechanisms and risk analytics for anticipatory action. Offer support to UNICEF Country Offices in the implementation of AA programmes, including capacity building and guidance. Oversee monitoring, learning, reporting, and knowledge management activities related to the AA programme. Contribute to UNICEF's broader anticipatory action and disaster risk finance (DRF) workstreams, including policy development and strategic planning. Engage with key partners such as OCHA and WFP to leverage shared risk analytics, joint frameworks, and coordinated delivery. Track budgets and monitor financial aspects of the AA programme to ensure efficient resource utilization. Facilitate the integration of innovative financing mechanisms and data-driven approaches into UNICEF's humanitarian response strategies.

Work Experience

Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in humanitarian action, anticipatory action, disaster risk management, disaster risk finance, or related fields. Experience in programme coordination, multi-stakeholder engagement, risk analysis, trigger development, or early warning systems is required. Experience supporting country offices and programme implementation, as well as in monitoring, reporting, and knowledge management, is also necessary. Budget tracking or financial monitoring experience is required.

Skills

Programme Management, Coordination, Multi-stakeholder Engagement, Risk Analysis, Trigger Development, Early Warning Systems, Country Office Support, Monitoring and Reporting, Knowledge Management, Budget Tracking, Financial Monitoring, Disaster Risk Management

Explore related opportunities