International Consultant Expert - Cooperating Partners Management

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

BACKGROUND:

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation committed to achieving Zero Hunger. In Afghanistan, WFP works through a broad network of Cooperating Partners (CPs) across emergency response, resilience, livelihoods, food security, nutrition, and school feeding. Strengthened Cooperating Partner Management (CPM) is essential to ensure accountability, risk-informed decision-making, compliance with corporate policies, cross-cutting standards, and high-quality programme delivery.

This consultancy supports improving the entire CP management cycle: partner selection, due diligence, contracting, risk management, performance monitoring, cross-cutting compliance, digitalisation of CP processes, and knowledge management.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

To provide technical and compliance-focused support to the CPM Unit in improving partner selection systems, due diligence, digital compliance, performance monitoring, knowledge management, documentation quality, and internal controls. The consultant will identify gaps, implement corrective measures, strengthen data-driven oversight, and ensure alignment with WFP’s corporate CP Management guidance.

This is a time-bound assignment with clear deliverables over 11 months

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

(Within delegated authority and under the supervision of the Deputy Head of Programme)

1. Risk-Informed CP Engagement

• Strengthen risk assessment processes and embed risk indicators and mitigation measures into CP planning, selection, and management.
• Conduct detailed risk reviews of CP portfolios and recommend operational, programmatic, and financial mitigation measures.

2. Compliance, Documentation & Internal Controls

• Conduct systematic quality checks of CP partnership files (selection, due diligence, agreements, budgets, reports, invoices) for compliance with WFP corporate standards and Country Office SOPs.
• Develop and roll out a standardised compliance and documentation checklist for CO and Field Offices.
• Identify systemic compliance gaps and propose improvements to internal controls and assurance processes.

3. Digitalisation of Partner Management (Partner Connect / other systems)

• Support onboarding and use of WFP’s digital tools for partnership management, including Partner Connect or other corporate platforms.
• Strengthen CP and WFP team capacity to use digital systems for selection, contracting, performance monitoring, reporting and invoice management.
• Improve data accuracy, completeness, and timeliness across all digital partnership records.

4. Performance Management & Accountability

• Strengthen CP performance evaluation tools, integrating corporate KPIs, cross-cutting indicators, and risk-based metrics.
• Develop and update data-driven dashboards for CP performance, compliance, and financial oversight.
• Conduct trend analyses to inform corrective actions and capacity strengthening.

5. Cross-Cutting Compliance (Gender, Protection, Safeguarding, Environmental & Social Standards)

• Ensure cross-cutting obligations are integrated into partner selection, FLAs, implementation plans, and monitoring.
• Develop tools and checklists for assessing CP adherence to protection, gender, inclusion, safeguarding, and environmental standards.
• Provide guidance and follow-up on identified gaps.

6. Strategic Partner Engagement

• Review existing CP modalities and support the transition toward longer-term or strategic partnerships where appropriate (e.g. multi-year FLAs).
• Support analysis of CP comparative advantages, capacity strengths, and alignment with WFP’s Country Strategic Plan.

7. Guidance, SOPs, Training & Capacity Strengthening

• Update CP Management SOPs based on identified gaps and strengthened processes.
• Develop user-friendly guidance notes, templates, and job aids for CO and Field Office staff.
• Deliver targeted training for staff and CPs on compliance, risk management, digital tools, cross-cutting requirements and documentation standards.

8. Knowledge Management & Information Streamlining

• Establish and maintain a centralised, structured CP Management knowledge repository (guidance, templates, SOPs, tools, lessons learned).
• Systematically document lessons learned and good practices from CP engagements.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing across units and Field Offices to improve consistency and institutional memory.

KEY DELIVERABLES (within 6 months):

Updated CP Management SOPs
Finalised and rolled out CO-wide and FO-wide, including new compliance and digital processes.

CP Compliance & Documentation Strengthening Package

Standardised compliance checklist.

Completion of CP file reviews with a corrective action tracker.

Digital Partnership Management Strengthening

CPs and WFP teams onboarded to digital tools (e.g. Partner Connect).

Improved data accuracy and completeness for partner records and invoices.

CP Risk Management Package

Updated risk assessment templates and dashboards.

Completed risk ratings for all active partners.

Cross-Cutting Compliance Tools & Review

Tools/checklists for gender, protection, inclusion, safeguarding, environmental & social standards.

Summary report with gaps and recommendations.

CP Performance & Accountability Dashboards
Fully operational dashboards tracking CP performance, compliance, and financial oversight.

Knowledge Management System for CPM

Central repository established.

Lessons learned/good practices documented and shared.

Job aids & guidance tools finalised.

Training & Capacity Strengthening Rollout
Minimum of four targeted training sessions delivered to teams and CPs.

End-of-Assignment Report
Comprehensive report outlining achievements, gaps, and sustainability recommendations.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

University degree in law, business/public administration, finance, accounting, international development, audit or other relevant field and/or professional qualification in audit, performance and risk management or other related fields.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in risk management, partnerships, compliance, internal control systems, or programme management.
• Experience with digitalisation of programme or partnership processes (e.g. Partner Connect, data platforms) is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in due diligence, oversight, documentation review or performance monitoring.
• Humanitarian or development field experience is an advantage.

DESIRABLE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Strong knowledge of WFP partnership procedures is an asset.
• Excellent analytical, documentation, and organisational skills.
• Ability to manage digital tools, dashboards and knowledge management systems.
• Strong coordination, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to deliver training and capacity building.

Languages:

Good oral and written English (UN level C).

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

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.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.