Consultancy (Level 1) – Government Partnerships Officer

Key Account Management Team (PPRK)

Public Partnership and Resourcing Division (PPR)

Rome, Italy

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

Brief description of the Public Partnership and Resourcing (PPR) Division:

The Public Partnerships and Resourcing Division (PPR) supports organization-wide efforts to meet the resource needs at corporate and country levels through active engagement with governments and public sector institutions.

General Information:

• Title of Post: Government Partnerships Officer  
• Unit: PPR
• Country: Rome Italy
• Duty Station: Rome
• Initial contract duration: 11 months
• Expected Start Date: 1 November 2023

Duties and responsibilities:

Under the strategic guidance of the Key Accounts Team Leader:

The incumbent will in principle spend an equal share (50/50) of time in support of i) donor portfolio, and ii) on broader corporate workstreams aimed to unlock further funding efficiencies.

Donor Portfolio:

1. Support the portfolio manager on monitoring donor contracts at field level and across the different donor entities.
2. Oversee performance issues on key contracts that carry particular reputational risk to core agreements.
3. Support to portfolio manager on arising contract issues due to changes within WFP systems, such as management of softly-earmarked contributions and related reporting on contributions.

Corporate issues related to the quality funding agenda:

4. Contribute to the work of the Public Partnerships and Resourcing Division by performing cross-cutting stakeholder analysis and mappings related to effectiveness and efficiency of resources.
5. Based on this analysis, identify new opportunities of predictable and flexible funding, and strengthen WFP’s capacity to respond to donors’ requirements, including on visibility and reporting to unlock such opportunities. Jointly with the CAM division, contribute to prepare the Annual Flexible Funding Report.

6. Contribute to corporate coordination on engagement with specific donor clusters.
7. Leverage WFP’s analytical systems to strengthen the evidence on impact and utility of predicable and flexible funding and enhance visibility through available means, including reporting structures and internal tracking.
8. Support PPR in engagements with internal and external stakeholders in pursuit of enhancing the quality of funding. This includes advising, providing technical support and preparing advocacy messages for internal and external stakeholders on grants management related issues; on multilateral, softly earmarked and earmarked funding; and on strategic internal mechanisms such as advance financing.
9. In coordination with WFP Geneva and New York offices, follow and report on the developments of the international and cross-agency workstreams on quality funding, such as the Grand Bargain and the Funding Compact, and explore opportunities for translating these into donor engagement, performance narrative and key messages.
10. Perform other related duties, as required.

Required qualifications and experience:

• Education:
• Master’s Degree or equivalent in International Development, Political Science, International Relations and/or other relevant field.
• Advanced University degree in International Development, Political Science, International Relations and/or other relevant field.
• or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

• Experience:
• Minimum three years of proven professional experience in international cooperation and donor relations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of WFP’s resource mobilization strategy.
• Fluency in WFP’s grants management and corporate data systems.
  Knowledge of the Grand Bargain, Funding Compact and on how to improve the quality of funding through funding negotiations with donors.
• Experience in report writing -editorial experience and knowledge is an asset.
• Sound knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals and current international humanitarian architecture.
• Experience with the UN system and preferably with WFP.

Required knowledge and skills:

• Excellent planning, management and coordination skills.
• Knowledge on WFP’s corporate systems such as Salesforce, WINGS, Factory and others.
• Ability to work independently towards challenging targets and strict deadlines.
• Strong research and writing skills.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural and dynamic environment. Excellent oral and communication skills. Excellent sales, marketing and communications skills to approach and cultivate partnerships and fundraising in a creative and entrepreneurial manner;
• Excellent English language writing and speaking skills required, including demonstrated ability to write concisely about complex socio-economic issues;
• Demonstrated social media management experience and related communications experience and capacity;
• Excellent presentation, problem solving and people skills;
• Ability to work independently, plan strategically, as well as to organize, assess and coordinate the work of others;
• General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures governing administration is an asset;
• Ability to work harmoniously with people of different national and cultural backgrounds, government officials, other UN agencies and multilateral institutions.

Languages:  

• Fluency in written and verbal communication in English required, with working knowledge of another UN language (Spanish) desirable.  

Terms and Conditions:

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. 

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP: http://www.wfp.org 

Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

VA Reference no: 829496

Closing Date: 6 October 2023

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.