Consultant, Finance for Disasters Expert Advisory

Organizational Context

Hosted by the IFRC and launched at the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019, the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP) brings together an unprecedented range of stakeholders across the climate, humanitarian and development communities with the aim of making 1 billion people safer from disasters by 2025.

Despite the mounting impacts of climate change, one in three people are still not adequately covered by early warning systems, and early and anticipatory approaches - enabling action in advance of hazards striking - are not implemented at the scale required. Yet we know early warning and early action can save lives and assets worth at least ten times their cost.

We create a space in which partners and aligned organizations use our ambitious targets to drive a systemic shift towards acting earlier to reduce the impacts of disasters, mobilize commitments and inspire action. We do not create a new funding mechanism or directly implement ground-level projects; however, we seek to enable coherence, alignment and complementarity of existing initiatives, while learning together what new initiatives are needed to make 1 billion people safer from disasters.

At present, REAP organises its work around the areas of Comprehensive Risk Management by governments, Financing for Early Action, Financing for Early Warning and delivery of Early Warning to first mile communities. This Consultancy is in support of REAP’s ongoing work on Financing for Early Action.

Job Purpose

This consultancy will cover the remaining period of what is termed REAP 1.0 i.e. the initial 2019 to 2025 period of REAP as established at the founding of the partnership. This period ends on 31st December and the Consultant will be required to technically support the Partnership to realise the objectives, outcomes and activities of the current Target 2 Work Plan. In addition, they will be required to contribute technical expertise to the Secretariat on the 2025 to 2030 Strategy as well as provide technical support to the Partners on any objectives and activities emerging from the new Strategy and attendant transition period.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

D) A) Desired outcomes

• REAP partners and Secretariat continue to have a source of on-demand, ad hoc and neutral technical advice on matters of Finance for Early Action, Disaster Risk Finance, Social Protection and related topics to Secretariat and partners.
• REAP has in-house capacity to meet specialised Partner needs in terms of analysis, sensemaking, advisory and briefing documents.
• REAP has in-house technical capacity on disaster finance to inform REAP Strategy 2030, the attendant transition period and post 2025 initiation period.
• REAP Secretariat has technical support to ensure actionable follow on from planned inter-regional coordination workshop of member governments and regional IGOs on key topics of finance for getting ahead of disasters. This may entail development of documents and/or assisting the facilitation of discussions and action planning on specific topics as dictated by Partner demand.
  
  
  

B) Consultancy outputs

• Provide continuity of provision ad hoc and on demand technical advice specific to both money in and money out elements of financing early action for REAP Secretariat and Partners.
• Develop analysis, sensemaking, briefing position papers on key issues related to EW and EA financing for REAP—minimum of 2 within the Contract period.
• Support the REAP Secretariat in its engagement with Partners to identify priority topics for the above.
• Contribute to the extension of the Partnership membership and expertise by proactively ensuring connections and information sharing with relevant external stakeholders.
• Ensure the final REAP 2030 strategy and work planning has the necessary technical inputs to ensure a clear path forward on objectives and deliverables.
  
  
  

C) Method of delivery

This consultancy will be remote with occasional requirements to meet with the REAP Secretariat and/or Partners in person. This is unlikely to exceed 2 in person meetings in the Contract period and the Consultant will be provided with as much advance notice as operationally possible. Costs to be reimbursed per the IFRC Consultancy policies.

The primary method or evidence of deliverables for this Contract will be:

• Publications/Documents
• Attendance at/facilitation of and inputs to Partner convening processes such as workshops, bilateral meetings and other coordination mechanisms as employed by REAP
• Submissions to/reviews of relevant REAP strategies and other documents
  
  
  

D) Support to be provided to the consultant

The Consultant will have full access to the REAP Secretariat for briefings, networks and collaborative working. The Consultant will have weekly support calls with the assigned manager from the REAP Secretariat and time with other Secretariat members as requested.

Full access will be provided to the Consultant in relation to all the work that has taken place to date on Financing for Early Action including work plans, partner consultations, publications and other source.

The Consultant will be expected to partially attend weekly Secretariat planning and information sharing meetings. They will also be invited to and strongly encouraged to attend Monthly Partnership Calls. Finally, the Consultant is invited and encouraged to attend any and all REAP Working Group meetings.

Job Duties And Responsibilities (continued)

D) Management of consultancy

The Consultant will be managed by the Implementation Lead of the REAP Secretariat but will be accountable to all Secretariat members and Partners. Line management may be subject to change in line with the evolving changes of the Partnership as necessitated by the eventual REAP 2030 Strategy. This will not change the expectations of the Partnership of the Consultant and any changes in line management or TOR objectives will be discussed with the Consultant in advance.

Education

Required

• University degree in international development, international relations, political science, economics or related fields, or 15 years relevant and documented relevant professional experience.
  
  
  

Experience

Required

• Significant experience within the field of finance for Early Warning and/or Early Action.
• Substantial experience (10+ years) in policy analysis, technical advisory and production of high-quality guidance to policymakers on at least three of the following topics: Climate and Disaster Risk Finance, Humanitarian Financing, DRR Financing, Development Financing Social Protection and Political Economic Analysis.
• Significant experience (5+ years) in working with or for donor governments on issues related to development, humanitarian and/or CDRFI funding.
• Significant experience in working with or for International Financial Institutions including Development Banks and Risk Pools.
• Significant experience in providing high-quality advisory to ODA and other bilateral funding recipient countries on issues related to at least two of the following: Climate and Disaster Risk Finance, Humanitarian Financing, DRR Financing, Development Financing Social Protection and Political Economic Analysis.
• Significant experience in providing technical and/or strategic advice to a variety of RC, UN and CSO entities.
• Demonstrable track record in providing high-quality analysis for a wide range of stakeholders in a prompt, clear and user-centred manner.
• Proven track record in delivering high-quality content to support advocacy to influence policy in at least one of the following sectors/topics- Humanitarian Action, DRR, Development, Climate Action, Social Protection.
• Significant experience in working within a partnership/network/advisory body and attendant stakeholder engagement/management responsibilities.
  
  
  

Preferred

• Experience working within the RC/RC National Society, IFRC or the IFRC Movement.
• Experience working within senior/strategic management of an international and/or government-facing agency/organisation.
• Existing networks within the relevant topic areas noted above.
  
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Excellent quantitative and qualitative analysis skills.
• Very high professional standard of spoken and written English.
• Ability to work within a multicultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.
• Deep understanding of global dynamics, ensuring a balanced and inclusive perspective that represents diverse regions and communities.
  
  
  

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Schedule for payment of fees
  
  
  

The total time available for this this contract over the period of 1st of April to 31st of December 2025 will be 40 days. The Consultant will invoice IFRC monthly, in arrears, based on days worked in the previous calendar month.

The Consultant will provide the Line Manager with a forecast of days to be worked per the planned activities on a monthly basis.

• Time Allocation, for budget purpose
  
  
  

The contract will cover 40 days between the periods of 1st of April to 31st of December 2025 with the possibility of extension pending budget availability, grant conditions, satisfactory deliverables and relevant force majeure considerations as outlined in the relevant IFRC regulations considering the employment of Consultants.

Application Instructions

• Please submit your application in English only.
• Please include the below in the application:

• • CV
  • Cover letter
  • explaining how you meet the position criteria
  • with suggested daily rate in CHF
  • Two (2) examples of recent work relevant to the position.
    

An interview will form part of the selection process for preferred candidates.