Consultant EPR Officer
Organizational Context
The World Food Programme (WFP) in Venezuela is enhancing its emergency preparedness and response capabilities to address current and emerging humanitarian needs. The Country Office is managing multiple priorities, including earthquake response, anticipatory action, El Niño preparedness, and contingency planning, aligning with UN frameworks and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Job Purpose
The Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Consultant will provide technical leadership and coordination to strengthen WFP Venezuela's capacity to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to humanitarian emergencies. This role involves supporting the design and implementation of preparedness activities, including earthquake response and early recovery, and planning for potential impacts like El Niño. The consultant will develop and update contingency plans, CONOPS, and preparedness tools, while strengthening collaboration with government counterparts and other partners. Key responsibilities include monitoring risks, supporting resource mobilization, and preparing strategic reports to ensure the Country Office maintains a high level of operational readiness and effectively addresses evolving humanitarian challenges.
Responsibilities
The Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Officer plays a crucial role in supporting the World Food Programme (WFP) in Venezuela to effectively anticipate, prepare for, and respond to humanitarian emergencies. This involves leading and supporting WFP's emergency preparedness and response activities, including specific interventions for earthquake response and early recovery. A key responsibility is to bolster preparedness for potential impacts like El Niño, which includes scenario development and response planning. The officer will also be instrumental in developing, updating, and maintaining essential documents such as Contingency Plans (CONOPS), preparedness tools, and emergency response frameworks to enhance institutional readiness. Furthermore, the role entails providing technical guidance to the EPR team and field offices, strengthening disaster risk management systems through collaboration with government counterparts, UN agencies, and NGOs. Coordination with regional and headquarters units is vital for information sharing and accessing technical support. The officer will monitor risks, analyze trends, and provide recommendations to improve WFP's preparedness and response capabilities. Support for resource mobilization by identifying funding opportunities and preparing strategic inputs for reporting and decision-making are also key functions. Ultimately, the EPR Officer ensures WFP and its partners are well-equipped to manage and respond to humanitarian crises in Venezuela.
Work Experience
Requires at least five years of progressive postgraduate professional experience in emergency preparedness, humanitarian response, program management, food security, or coordination. Demonstrated experience supporting emergency preparedness and response operations, particularly in sudden-onset disasters like earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes, is also necessary.
Skills
Emergency Preparedness, Humanitarian Response, Disaster Risk Management, Programme Management, Food Security, Coordination, Information Management, Analytical Writing, Presentation Skills, Cross-cultural Collaboration, Spanish Language Proficiency, English Language Proficiency