Anticipatory Action Field Assistant at UN Volunteers
Details
Mission and objectives
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization
saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in
emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build
resilience.
Context
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest
humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to
help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes, contributing to
saving and changing lives. Access to climate services and early warnings
by the most at risk contribute to better decision making on use of
household resources prior to, during and after climate shocks impact on
lives and livelihoods. The fundamental right of access to both high
quality climate services and early warnings has been acknowledged in the
recent call of the UN Secretary General (UNSG) to enhancing early
warning systems (EWS) to reach a complete coverage, ensuring that within
five years every person is reached through EW delivery (UN Early
Warnings for All Initiative, 2022). WFP has committed to supporting this
initiative through its global operational reach and expertise in the
delivery of climate services through its global integrated climate risk
management and anticipatory action portfolio.
Climate extremes are a key driver of food insecurity in Tanzania. The climate crisis is compounding drivers of food insecurity, including conflict and economic shocks. To successfully manage these intersecting issues, disaster risk management and humanitarian response systems need to evolve from crisis response to forward-looking risk management, closely linked to climate science and climate services. The impact of climate extremes can be reduced when reliable climate observations and forecasts, translated into actionable climate services geared towards more informed decision-making to support most at risk communities.
To spearhead the implementation of WFP’s engagement with government
counterparts and partners to institutionalize Anticipatory Action and
strengthen national systems for climate and Disaster Risk Management,
Tanzania Country Office is seeking a community UNV position for 12
months to support the roll-out and readiness activities at the
operational level in Arusha under Anticipatory Action (AA) in the
targeted districts covering Monduli and Same. UNV will be key to support
the critical phase of programme set-up.
The UNV will provide critical on‑the‑ground support to ensure effective
engagement with local authorities, communities, and partners during this
start‑up phase. Since there is no WFP presence in this region, he/she
will be based in Simanjiro in close coordination with the Arusha focal
points.
Task description
Under the supervision of the Anticipatory Action Programme Lead, the UNV will:
1. Support the operational roll‑out and readiness activities of the Anticipatory Action project in Simanjiro District
2. Facilitate coordination and engagement with district authorities, line departments, community leaders, and local stakeholders
3. Support community‑level sensitization and awareness on Anticipatory Action concepts and planned interventions
4. Assist in the collection, verification, and documentation of baseline
and operational data relevant to AA triggers and early actions
5. Support planning and organization of meetings, trainings, and field activities at district and community levels
6. Monitor implementation progress and provide regular field updates and reports to the WFP programme team
7. Support identification of operational challenges and practical solutions during the start‑up phase
8. Ensure proper documentation of lessons learned and good practices to inform scale‑up
9. Perform any other related duties as assigned by the supervisor
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Required experience
No experience required
Nationality
Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
2 years
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Swahili, Level: Fluent, Desirable
Required education level
Technical/vocational diploma in Disaster management, climate change,
development studies, agriculture, or related field is an advantage
Competencies and values
i. Strong interpersonal and community engagement skills
ii. Ability to work independently in remote settings
iii. Flexibility and willingness to travel frequently
iv. Cultural sensitivity and professionalism
v. Commitment to UN values and humanitarian principles
Skills and experience
i. At least 2 years of relevant experience in community‑based projects,
disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, or humanitarian programmes
ii. Experience working with local government authorities and communities
iii. Knowledge of early warning, early action, or climate‑related interventions is an asset
iv. Strong communication, coordination, and reporting skills
v. Good understanding of the context of the district
Area(s) of expertise
Community development, Crisis and emergency response, Development programmes
Driving license
–
Other information
Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of
free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not
the principal motivating factor.
Living conditions and remarks
DUTY STATION: Simanjiro
This assignment is reserved exclusively for individuals who are residents of the above duty station. Applicants must ensure that they currently reside in this duty station at the time of application and indicate their residence location in their motivation letter. Candidates from other regions/locations are not eligible to apply.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that
welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to
achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics.
As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers
commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting
respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of
a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic
origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social
origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to
inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2
(Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
Scam warning
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.
Community Engagement and Anticipatory Action Field Assistant at UN Volunteers
Details
Mission and objectives
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization
saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in
emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build
resilience.
Context
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest
humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to
help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes, contributing to
saving and changing lives. Access to climate services and early warnings
by the most at risk contribute to better decision making on use of
household resources prior to, during and after climate shocks impact on
lives and livelihoods. The fundamental right of access to both high
quality climate services and early warnings has been acknowledged in the
recent call of the UN Secretary General (UNSG) to enhancing early
warning systems (EWS) to reach a complete coverage, ensuring that within
five years every person is reached through EW delivery (UN Early
Warnings for All Initiative, 2022). WFP has committed to supporting this
initiative through its global operational reach and expertise in the
delivery of climate services through its global integrated climate risk
management and anticipatory action portfolio.
Climate extremes are a key driver of food insecurity in Tanzania. The climate crisis is compounding drivers of food insecurity, including conflict and economic shocks. To successfully manage these intersecting issues, disaster risk management and humanitarian response systems need to evolve from crisis response to forward-looking risk management, closely linked to climate science and climate services. The impact of climate extremes can be reduced when reliable climate observations and forecasts, translated into actionable climate services geared towards more informed decision-making to support most at risk communities.
To spearhead the implementation of WFP’s engagement with government
counterparts and partners to institutionalize Anticipatory Action and
strengthen national systems for climate and Disaster Risk Management,
Tanzania Country Office is seeking a community UNV position for 6 months
to support the roll-out and readiness activities at the operational
level in Arusha under Anticipatory Action (AA) in the targeted districts
covering Monduli and Same. UNV will be key to support the critical
phase of programme set-up.
The UNV will provide critical on‑the‑ground support to ensure effective
engagement with local authorities, communities, and partners during this
start‑up phase. Since there is no WFP presence in this region, he/she
will be based in Arusha with travels the implementation districts (Same,
Monduli, Longido, Simanjiro).
Task description
Under the supervision of the Anticipatory Action Programme Lead, the UNV will:
1. Support the operational roll‑out and readiness activities of the
Anticipatory Action project in the 3 districts (Same, Monduli, Longido)
2. Facilitate coordination and engagement with district authorities, line departments, community leaders, and local stakeholders
3. Support community‑level sensitization and awareness on Anticipatory Action concepts and planned interventions
4. Assist in the collection, verification, and documentation of baseline
and operational data relevant to AA triggers and early actions
5. Support planning and organization of meetings, trainings, and field activities at district and community levels
6. Monitor implementation progress and provide regular field updates and reports to the WFP programme team
7. Support identification of operational challenges and practical solutions during the start‑up phase
8. Ensure proper documentation of lessons learned and good practices to inform scale‑up
9. Perform any other related duties as assigned by the supervisor
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Required experience
No experience required
Nationality
Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
2 years
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Swahili, Level: Fluent, Desirable
Required education level
Technical/vocational diploma in Disaster management, climate change,
development studies, agriculture, or related field is an advantage
Competencies and values
i. Strong interpersonal and community engagement skills
ii. Ability to work independently in remote settings
iii. Flexibility and willingness to travel frequently
iv. Cultural sensitivity and professionalism
v. Commitment to UN values and humanitarian principles
Skills and experience
i. At least 2 years of relevant experience in community‑based projects,
disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, or humanitarian programmes
ii. Experience working with local government authorities and communities
iii. Knowledge of early warning, early action, or climate‑related interventions is an asset
iv. Strong communication, coordination, and reporting skills
v. Good understanding of the context of the district
Area(s) of expertise
Community development, Development programmes, Crisis and emergency response
Driving license
–
Other information
Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of
free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not
the principal motivating factor.
Living conditions and remarks
The assignment will be based in Arusha, with frequent travel to field locations including Simanjiro, Same, and Longido.
Arusha is a well-developed city with access to essential services including healthcare facilities, supermarkets, banks, restaurants, internet services, and suitable accommodation options. The city serves as a major hub for humanitarian and development operations in northern Tanzania and hosts several UN agencies and international organizations.
Field missions to Simanjiro, Same, and Longido may involve travel to remote and semi-arid areas with varying road conditions and limited access to some services. Volunteers should therefore be flexible and prepared for frequent movement between urban and rural settings. Basic amenities are generally available in district towns; however, occasional power and internet interruptions may occur in field locations.
The security situation in the duty stations is generally stable. Nevertheless, adherence to UNDSS security protocols and host entity guidance during field travel is required at all times.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that
welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to
achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics.
As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers
commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting
respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of
a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic
origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social
origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to
inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2
(Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
Scam warning
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.