Internship – Freerice – Social Media and Content

Communications, Advocacy and Marketing, CAM

Headquarters – Rome, Italy

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.  We are currently seeking to fill an intern position in the Freerice Team of the Communications, Advocacy and Marketing Division, based in Rome, Italy.

Brief description of Freerice, CAM Division:

Freerice is a philanthropic trivia game that engages students, teachers and the wider public with WFP’s mission and work. The Team supports the Communications Division by driving interest and awareness towards WFP’s global campaigns through content creation and strategic in-game communications. The Team also strives to create a user-friendly platform via web and apps in order to encourage wider user adoption of the game and longer play time, thus triggering larger financial donations to WFP’s work through the game.  The Freerice Social Media intern will report directly to the Freerice Project Manager.

The Social Media Intern will run Freerice social media channels. This includes writing, editing, and posting content across platforms, managing the editorial calendar, and engaging with users through comments and direct messages. They will assess social media metrics, produce monthly reports, and manage the monthly budget pacing for boosting content. They will also monitor the Freerice inbox and provide email support.

The Social Media Intern will help develop in-game content and features. They will help review existing questions and categories and assist the Project Manager to add additional content to Freerice. They will assist with updating banners, creating activity feed posts and publishing news items on Freerice.com and on the apps.

The Social Media Intern will support the Project Manager to develop new partnerships, on and offline. They will prospect new partnerships and Freerice “ambassadors” by identifying and liaising with influencers, volunteers, schools and other members of our community. They will seek out media opportunities to boost Freerice’s profile and will contribute to partnership outreach by developing assets (decks, brochures) as needed.

General Information

• Title of Post: Freerice Social Media Intern
• Supervisor: Freerice Project Manager
• Unit: CAM
• Country:  Italy
• Duty Station: HQ/Rome
• Duration of internship: 6 months extendable to 8 months.
• Expected Start Date: November 2021

Duties and responsibilities

Freerice Social Media & Community Management

• Create, curate and source engaging content deliverables including copy, photos and multimedia content;
• Look for key brand-building moments to engage audiences and create authentic and positive interaction with our followers;
• Respond to DMs, mentions, comments and support emails as needed;
• Manage the monthly budget pacing for boosting organic content;
• Analyze and understand social media metrics to provide actionable insights and make content creation and strategy decisions.

Freerice Content Development

• Review existing in-game content and categories to ensure questions are accurate, up-to-date, appropriate and aligned with Freerice’s mission;
• Help create new questions and add new categories to Freerice;
• Work closely with members of the CAM Team to support WFP campaigns;
• Support the Project Manager to keep Freerice.com and the apps updated with new banner ads, micro-blog posts and in-game pop-ups.

Freerice Partnerships / Outreach / Other Focal Point Duties

• Maintain existing informal partnerships with organizations, individuals, influencers, and others to help Freerice grow and gain new content;
• Update and create new outreach and partnership assets (decks, brochures, calls) as needed to help Freerice grow, especially around educators, parents, and employee engagement;
• Support the Project Manager to engage new and existing Freerice corporate sponsors through content creation and reporting, as needed.

Qualifications and experience

• Currently enrolled in a recognized university or graduate school or be a recent graduate (max. 6 months after graduation) in Communication, Sales, Marketing or related field.
• Has attended University courses in the last 12 months and have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies.
• Excellent command of English and working knowledge of a second UN language would be an asset.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook).

Required soft skills/WFP Competencies:

• Digitally savvy and knowledgeable about the contemporary state of social media and online platforms.
• Experience managing/serving large online communities.
• Ability to produce materials in Canva to meet the needs of different audiences.
• Experience running social media accounts (ideally aimed at gen Z and millennial audiences).
• Ability to quickly adapt and master new digital tools to create content.
• Ability to multi-task and function effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN WFP.

Working Languages

Excellent written and spoken English is required (proficiency/level C). Another UN language would be an advantage.

Supervision (Level/Methods of Supervision)

Under the direct supervision of the Freerice Project Manager, the incumbent will be provided with mentoring, guidance and technical supervision. Performance planning and reviews as well as learning and development discussions will be elemental part of the supervision. The Head of Digital will be the second-level supervisor. With the support of a comprehensive induction package and assignment of a buddy/mentor, the intern will rapidly become a productive member of the team.

Training components

Throughout their assignment WFP interns have access to an industry leading learning platform, weLearn. Depending on opportunities and availability of funds, he/she may participate in WFP workshops or seminars, as appropriate.

Learning Elements

At the end of the assignment, the Intern will have developed:

• Continued growth of the communities on social media platforms through content creation, and continued high levels of support to our users via email & social;
• New and updated in-game content (questions, assets) in Freerice;
• New and updated promotional materials for internal and external audiences;
• Strategic partnerships and collaborations with members of the Freerice community and corporate sponsors;
• Monthly reporting of Freerice performance to the Project Manager.

Living conditions in Rome, Italy (Living conditions, security, health, etc)

The security situation in Italy remains in line with other European Countries. There are no specific threats against the UN in Italy. Considering the ongoing defeat of Daesh in the war territories, the trend in the short and mid-term will most likely continue to see the return of the militants to the countries of origins, including Italy. Insurrectional anarchism remains sufficiently organized on the Italian territory, as it has been present for many years. This movement could target the UN in the context of its anti-capitalism/anti-western narrative. 2) Whilst UN staff continue to be victims of minor crime such as street robbery and apartment break-ins, the infrequency of attacks and random nature of locations do not indicate that UN staff are at an elevated risk in comparison to residents or tourists in Italy. 3) Italy’s national territory is exposed to a broader range of natural hazards than any other European country. The vulnerability of its population and built environment is often severe and has in some cases been exacerbated by human activities. 

VA Reference no: 148517

Closing Date: 26 September 2021

Terms and Conditions:

• Interns receive a monthly stipend from WFP up to the maximum amount of US$1000 per month depending on the duty station of assignment.
• WFP is not responsible for living expenses, arrangements for accommodation, necessary visas and related costs.
• WFP will reimburse travel ticket for candidates who are nationals of developing countries and are pursuing their studies in their home country.
• WFP will recognize candidates’ educational credentials from recognised institutions that have been certified by competent international or national authorities such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or Ministries of Education.
• Candidates who bear any of the following relations to WFP staff members are not eligible to apply: sons, daughters, brothers or sisters.

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply.  WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.

Fighting Hunger Worldwide