DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
25 October 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)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 extreme weather shocks.
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).
JOB TITLE: Partnerships Consultant
TYPE OF CONTRACT: CST REG
UNIT/DIVISION: PPDR - Country Office Support Hub
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Rome
DURATION: 11 months
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
WFP’s Partnerships Department's Country Office Support Hub (PPDR) helps Country Offices protect, grow and diversify their partnerships and resourcing across public and private donors.
Based on Country Office needs, PPDR provides operational, strategic and business development support to strengthen resource mobilization and partnership management across a range of partners.
PPDR assists Country Offices in navigating main corporate reporting and partnership planning processes. PPDR also promotes knowledge management and learning across WFP to ensure teams have the information and tools they need to enhance partnerships. PPDR works closely with Partnerships divisions, Global Offices, Regional Director Offices and other Headquarters divisions to deliver timely, practical and high quality support.
The consultant will focus on private sector opportunities. The consultant will report to PPDR's Country Office Support Team Lead. The consultant will work in coordination with private sector partnership (PSP) accounts managers and regional offices.
The consultant will provide operational support to WFP Country Offices in developing, managing, and strengthening partnerships with locally based private sector entities. As Country Offices increasingly seek to engage domestic businesses, foundations, industry associations, and social enterprises to advance shared goals, the consultant plays a critical role in enabling effective, compliant, and impact-driven collaboration.
The consultant serves as a key resource for Country Offices, providing guidance on partnership identification, assessment, development, negotiation, implementation, and stewardship. The role supports Country Offices in identifying opportunities to leverage private sector expertise, innovation, networks, products, services, and financial resources to advance WFP's strategic objectives and country-level priorities.
In addition, the consultant ensures that all private sector engagements comply with WFP's private sector partnership policies, due diligence requirements, risk management procedures, and ethical standards. The consultant will build awareness and capacity among Country Office teams by providing technical advice, training, tools, and best practices related to private sector engagement.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Advise Country Offices on the development and implementation of local private sector partnership strategies aligned with WFP's corporate priorities and country strategic plans.
2. Support Country Offices in identifying, assessing, and prioritizing potential private sector partners across relevant sectors.
3. Provide strategic guidance on partnership models, value propositions, engagement approaches, and partnership structures to maximize impact and mutual benefit.
4. Facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices across Country Offices.
5. Advise Country Offices on WFP policies, procedures, and standards governing private sector engagement.
6.Support the completion and review of due diligence processes, risk assessments, and partnership documentation.
7. Ensure that proposed collaborations adhere to WFP's ethical standards, reputation management requirements, legal frameworks, and partnership approval processes.
8. Provide recommendations to mitigate operational, financial, reputational, and compliance risks associated with private sector partnerships.
9. Design and deliver training sessions, webinars, guidance materials, and practical tools to strengthen Country Office capacity in local private sector engagement.
10 Develop and maintain knowledge resources, including templates, guidance notes, case studies, and lessons learned.
11. Promote consistent application of partnership standards and processes across Country Offices.
12. Serve as a focal point for technical queries related to local private sector partnerships.
13. Support Country Offices in monitoring partnership performance, tracking commitments, and documenting results and impact.
14. Assist in identifying opportunities to scale successful partnerships across countries and regions.
15. Analyze trends, challenges, and emerging opportunities in private sector engagement and provide recommendations to enhance WFP's approach.
16. Contribute to corporate reporting, partnership pipeline management, and data analysis related to local private sector collaborations.
17. 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.
18. Facilitate engagement between Country Offices and relevant internal experts to address partnership opportunities and challenges.
19. Support the development of innovative partnership approaches that leverage private sector capabilities to advance WFP's mission and strategic objectives.
20. Undertake any other duties as required by the supervisor.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
-Effective guidance to Country Offices on local private sector partnerships
-Value propositions to local private sector aligned with HQ rules
-Guidance and lessons learned
-Temporary deployment
-Operational support
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
A master's degree or equivalent in one or more of the following disciplines: business management, international management, political science, economics, international affairs, public administration, social sciences, development studies, or other related fields.
Experience:
Between 5-8 years of working experience in private sector partnership management, at the field level would be preferable. Working directly in or with the UN/WFP is an asset. Previous work experience in various country contexts and with partnerships management strongly preferred.
Knowledge & Skills:
The ideal candidate will have diverse mix of experience related to the portfolio, and would benefit from familiarity with WFP’s operations, policy, planning and partnerships. The candidate should have a multidisciplinary and versatile professional experience, working in various sectors. He/She should be a self-starter, organised, flexible and comfortable with working with multiple internal and external actors and to tight deadlines. Strong writing, analytical and research skills; good interpersonal skills, teamwork spirit and ability to work in multicultural settings; superior cognitive capacity.
Languages:
Proficiency/level C of English (requirement); Proficiency in at least one other WFP working language(s) required (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, or Chinese).
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
All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.
We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.
At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.
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.