Partnerships Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of extreme weather. Established in 1961, WFP operates in over 80 countries, employing thousands of staff members who work tirelessly to ensure effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people globally. WFP is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. The organization has received numerous accolades, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, recognizing its efforts in combating hunger and promoting security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security worldwide. WFP's mission is driven by its core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion, which guide its operations and interactions with partners and communities.

Job Overview:
The Partnerships Consultant position is situated within WFP’s Partnerships Department's Country Office Support Hub (PPDR), which is instrumental in helping Country Offices protect, grow, and diversify their partnerships and resources from both public and private donors. The consultant will focus primarily on private sector opportunities, providing operational support to WFP Country Offices in developing, managing, and strengthening partnerships with locally based private sector entities. This role is critical as Country Offices increasingly seek to engage domestic businesses, foundations, industry associations, and social enterprises to advance shared goals. The consultant will report to the PPDR's Country Office Support Team Lead and will work closely with private sector partnership accounts managers and regional offices. The consultant's responsibilities will include providing guidance on partnership identification, assessment, development, negotiation, implementation, and stewardship, ensuring compliance with WFP's private sector partnership policies and ethical standards, and promoting knowledge management and learning across WFP to enhance partnerships.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advise Country Offices on the development and implementation of local private sector partnership strategies aligned with WFP's corporate priorities and country strategic plans.
• Support Country Offices in identifying, assessing, and prioritizing potential private sector partners across relevant sectors.
• Provide strategic guidance on partnership models, value propositions, engagement approaches, and partnership structures to maximize impact and mutual benefit.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices across Country Offices.
• Advise Country Offices on WFP policies, procedures, and standards governing private sector engagement.
• Support the completion and review of due diligence processes, risk assessments, and partnership documentation.
• Ensure that proposed collaborations adhere to WFP's ethical standards, reputation management requirements, legal frameworks, and partnership approval processes.
• Provide recommendations to mitigate operational, financial, reputational, and compliance risks associated with private sector partnerships.
• Design and deliver training sessions, webinars, guidance materials, and practical tools to strengthen Country Office capacity in local private sector engagement. 1
• Develop and maintain knowledge resources, including templates, guidance notes, case studies, and lessons learned. 1
• Promote consistent application of partnership standards and processes across Country Offices. 1
• Serve as a focal point for technical queries related to local private sector partnerships. 1
• Support Country Offices in monitoring partnership performance, tracking commitments, and documenting results and impact. 1
• Assist in identifying opportunities to scale successful partnerships across countries and regions. 1
• Analyze trends, challenges, and emerging opportunities in private sector engagement and provide recommendations to enhance WFP's approach. 1
• Contribute to corporate reporting, partnership pipeline management, and data analysis related to local private sector collaborations. 1
• Coordinate across the CO Support hub and the Private Sector Partnerships team to ensure coherent support to Country Offices, including on broader private sector partnerships matters. 1
• Facilitate engagement between Country Offices and relevant internal experts to address partnership opportunities and challenges. 1
• Support the development of innovative partnership approaches that leverage private sector capabilities to advance WFP's mission and strategic objectives. 2
• Undertake any other duties as required by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate must possess a master's degree or equivalent in disciplines such as business management, international management, political science, economics, international affairs, public administration, social sciences, development studies, or other related fields. Additionally, candidates should have a diverse mix of experience related to the portfolio, with familiarity with WFP’s operations, policy, planning, and partnerships being highly beneficial. The candidate should demonstrate a multidisciplinary and versatile professional experience, having worked in various sectors, and should be a self-starter, organized, flexible, and comfortable working with multiple internal and external actors under tight deadlines. Strong writing, analytical, and research skills are essential, along with good interpersonal skills, teamwork spirit, and the ability to work in multicultural settings.

Educational Background:
Candidates are required to have a master's degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as business management, international management, political science, economics, international affairs, public administration, social sciences, development studies, or other related disciplines. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of partnership management and the operational environment in which WFP operates.

Experience:
The position requires between 5-8 years of working experience in private sector partnership management, preferably at the field level. Experience working directly in or with the UN/WFP is considered an asset. Candidates should have previous work experience in various country contexts and with partnerships management, which is strongly preferred to ensure they can navigate the complexities of the role effectively.

Languages:
Proficiency in English at level C is mandatory, as it is the primary working language of WFP. Additionally, proficiency in at least one other WFP working language is required, which may include French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, or Chinese. This multilingual capability is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the diverse international environment of WFP.

Additional Notes:
The position is a contract for a duration of 11 months, categorized under the CST (Consultant) contract type. The role is based in Rome, Italy, and is expected to be full-time. WFP is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. The organization does not charge any fees in connection with the application or recruitment process, and all employment decisions are made based on organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks to ensure a safe and inclusive work environment.