Government Partnerships Consultant – Social Protection

Job Title: Government Partnerships Consultant – Social Protection Type of Contract: International Consultancy Division: Global Partner Countries – Thematic Team Duty Station (City, Country): Rome HQ, Italy – would involve some travel Duration: 5 months – with possibility for extension BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT: ABOUT WFP The United Nations World Food Programme 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. The Global Partner Countries Division (GPC) supports organization-wide efforts to meet resource needs at corporate and country levels through active engagement with governments and public sector institutions. Within GPC, the Thematic Team was created in 2021 to advance WFP’s climate, resilience, social protection, and nutrition portfolio through more systematic and strategic fundraising for thematic and development activities, which requires a different approach than fundraising for WFP’s humanitarian work. ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT WFP is seeking to fill the position of Government Partnerships Officer for Social Protection, based in the Global Partner Countries Division at Headquarters in Rome, Italy. JOB PURPOSE WFP relies entirely on voluntary contributions to finance its projects. Relationships with fundraising partners from the public sector are pivotal in supporting WFP projects that save and change the lives of millions of people around the globe. Fundraising for the thematic agenda from development partners is gaining increasing momentum following the approval of WFP’s Strategic Plan. Such fundraising requires a distinct targeted and cross-departmental strategy that demands specific knowledge and skills – particularly in the area of social protection financing. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Lead the implementation of a government donor engagement work plan on social protection to identify, develop, and strengthen quality partnerships supporting WFP’s strategic objectives. This includes identifying common agendas with government donors and organizing joint actions such as thematic discussions, events, and publications. Develop and position WFP’s value proposition in social protection with partners, creating tailored donor engagement materials aligned with ongoing policy dialogues in national and global fora. Support internal coordination to ensure coherent partner engagement across the organization. Guide functional units, Regional Bureaux, and Country Offices on partnership strategies for social protection. Provide support on partnership management, proposal writing, and best practices. Disseminate these practices organization-wide and update programming portfolios and funding needs. Maintain up-to-date donor intelligence on social protection and promote the use of key information systems within WFP. Assist in coordinating the Social Protection Trust Fund, ensuring donor relations and reporting are managed effectively. Manage the social protection partnerships portfolio proactively, including partner profiling, data analysis, and outreach planning to maximize resource mobilization and collaboration opportunities. Support corporate dialogue with partners through high-level consultations, highlighting strategic opportunities, and providing recommendations to senior management via briefs and cheat sheets. Contribute to the design of complex partnership proposals, negotiations of agreements and MOUs, ensuring compliance with norms and partner visibility requirements. In countries where WFP operates, support positioning of the social protection portfolio with governments and international institutions, sharing insights on donor interests and engagement strategies. Perform other duties as required. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: Education: Advanced university degree in International Development, Economics, International Relations, Social Protection, or related fields. Experience: Minimum of eight years in partnership roles related to social protection policy, financing, and programming. Knowledge and Skills: Expertise in social protection policy, financing, and programming. Understanding of government and corporate strategies, public policy, and influence levels. Experience in developing multi-stakeholder partnerships and organizing advocacy events. Proven ability to build long-term relationships and expand engagement across sectors and geographies. Experience in resource mobilization, negotiations, and providing strategic advice. Ability to utilize data for decision-making and develop external messaging and briefs. Contributions to system improvements and partner intelligence platforms. Languages: Fluency in English (Level C). Knowledge of Spanish, French, or Arabic is a strong asset. Terms and Conditions WFP offers a competitive compensation package, determined by contract type and candidate qualifications. For more information about working with WFP, visit the sections “Our work” and “Countries” on our website. Ref. : VA No.832956 All employment decisions are merit-based. WFP is committed to an inclusive environment and conducts background checks. Candidates from the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), ICSC, FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, JIU, and similar bodies are not eligible for employment under this contract during or within three years after their service period. J-18808-Ljbffr

Location: provincia-di-ancona, IT

Posted Date: 6/17/2025