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. Position WFP’s value proposition in social protection with partners, develop tailored donor engagement materials, and support policy dialogue in national and global fora. Manage internal support to ensure coherent partner engagement across the organization. Guide functional units, Regional Bureaux, and Country Offices on partnership strategies for social protection. Support partnership management, proposal writing, and best practices. Disseminate these practices organization-wide. 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 handled effectively. Manage the social protection partnerships portfolio, including partner profiling, data analysis, and outreach plans to maximize resources and opportunities for collaboration. Identify opportunities for growth and follow-up. Support corporate dialogue with partners through high-level consultations, highlighting strategic opportunities and issues, and providing recommendations to senior management via briefs and cheat sheets. Contribute to designing complex partnership proposals, negotiate strategic agreements or MOUs in line with corporate norms, and ensure partner visibility and compliance with conditions. In countries where WFP operates, support positioning of the social protection portfolio vis-à-vis national governments and international institutions, sharing insights and advising on donor engagement. Perform other duties as required. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: Education: Advanced university degree in International Development, Economics, International Relations, Social Protection, or a related field. Experience: Minimum of eight years in partnership roles. 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. Ability to build long-term relationships and expand engagement across sectors and geographies. Experience in resource mobilization, negotiation, and providing resourcing advice. Data-driven decision-making skills and external messaging development. Contributions to system improvements and partner intelligence platforms. Languages: Fluency in English (Level C). Knowledge of Spanish, French, or Arabic is a plus. Terms and Conditions: WFP offers a competitive package based on contract type and qualifications. Visit "Our work" and "Countries" on WFP’s website for more info. Ref. : VA No.832956 WFP is committed to an inclusive, harassment-free work environment. All candidates will undergo background and reference checks. Employment decisions are merit-based and consider organizational needs. J-18808-Ljbffr

Location: provincia-di-pistoia, IT

Posted Date: 6/16/2025