Micro-Insurance Project Officer

Location

Boston, MA

Reports to

Manager of Advocacy and Collaborations

Coordinates with

All members of the Private Sector Department’s micro-insurance team, Humanitarian Response Department, Policy & Research Department, Resource Development, the Executive Office, Oxfam International counterparts, and a wide variety of external stakeholders including farmers, donors, vendors, the media, partner organizations and companies, and  “Centers of Excellence” (universities, agencies, and think tanks with whom OA partners.)

Background:

OA has brought together Ethiopian farmers, global insurer Swiss Re, the Relief Society of Tigray (REST), the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), Mekele University, and over a half dozen other organizations to launch a market-driven climate change resiliency project called “Horn of Africa Risk Transfer for Adaptation” (HARITA).  Over the last year and a half, HARITA’s project partners have worked on designing a climate risk management package for teff farmers in the village of Adi Ha, located in Ethiopia’s northernmost state of Tigray.  The project has pioneered an innovative form of weather index micro-insurance that farmers purchase through their labor.

In the upcoming 2009-2010 season, the pilot will expand to 5 additional villages and begin to lay the groundwork for possible scale up to a federal level in Ethiopia.   Pending a feasibility study, OA may also begin exploring microinsurance pilots in other regions of the world as well as begin looking at insurance mechanisms at the meso- and macro- levels.

Purpose of position:

The PSD Micro-Insurance Project Officer will play a critical role in the Private Sector Department’s work to expand the Micro-Insurance pilot in 2009 – 2010, and will work in a cross-departmental and cross-organizational team to explore the feasibility of scaling the pilot to a federal level program. 

Primary responsibilities

Project Implementation: 

• Act as primary liaison between the Private Sector Department and the Horn of Africa Regional Office.
• Work closely with the Ethiopia Country Project Manager to expand the pilot in 2009-2010 while also laying the groundwork for eventual scale up to a federal level program. 
• Serve as a resource person on the use of financial tools for development, particularly as the project creates a micro-credit package that is integrated with weather index insurance.
• In cooperation with the Ethiopia Country Project Manager and the PSD Policy Advisor, manage the international aspects of a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) workplan to help Oxfam better understand the factors for success in a scaled up pilot. 
• Work with the PSD Policy Advisor on building a standard training package for farmer financial literacy.
• Work with the PSD Collaborations Consultant on preparing and managing the project budget, keeping a close eye on the quality of any internationally sub-contracted work.
• Liaise with international legal, insurance, economic, and development advisors to ensure the project is conforming to best practices.
• Hire, coordinate, and supervise international consultants/vendors involved in the pilot in 2009-2010.
• Participate in regular cross-departmental strategy sessions on microinsurance and other meetings related to the project.
• Master theoretical concepts and become familiar with best practices in microfinance (particularly microinsurance and microcredit), disaster risk reduction, and climate change risk management.
• Promote institutional learning between departments at Oxfam America.
• Travel to rural parts of Ethiopia as well as to international conferences/meetings will occur approximately eight to ten times per year. 

Program Strategy: 

• Work in a team whose task is to determine how the current pilot could be scaled to a federal level program. Ensure there is a high degree of coordination between actors focused on the current phase and the future phases of the pilot.  
• As time permits, work in a team whose task is to determine how a variety of insurance tools can best support Oxfam America’s overall strategies and activities in all regions.
• Explore the feasibility of establishing microinsurance pilots in other regions.
• Assist in compiling insurance team updates and disseminate these updates.

Expectations for the position

• The incumbent will stay abreast of professional standards, trends and issues affecting this set of responsibilities, demonstrating continuous learning of the field
• S/he will work effectively and collaboratively in support of building a team-based culture of work, will perform all duties appropriately for a multi-cultural environment, treating all persons with dignity and respect, and will be familiar with and committed to Oxfam America mission and goals.

Qualifications

Required

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, International Development, Business or related field.

Experience and core competencies:

• Five to seven years of work experience in development, business, or environmental management which includes at least three years of experience with project management and implementation.
• Very strong analytical and research skills.
• Sound working knowledge of international development programs.
• A superior set of cross-cultural diplomatic skills and experience balancing various stakeholder needs
• Deep experience in microfinance and agriculture.
• Knowledge of the key organizational development issues including climate change adaptation, gender equity and a rights-based approach to development.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of the field of international development and human rights.