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: Rome HQ, Italy – some travel involved
• Duration: 5 months – possible 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. Its mission is to help achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes, working daily to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the most vulnerable populations, especially women and children, access nutritious food.

The Global Partner Countries Division (GPC) supports organization-wide efforts to meet resource needs through engagement with governments and public sector institutions. The Thematic Team, created in 2021, aims to advance WFP’s climate, resilience, social protection, and nutrition portfolio through strategic fundraising for development activities.

Organizational Context

WFP seeks to fill the position of Government Partnerships Officer for Social Protection, based at Headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Job Purpose

WFP relies on voluntary contributions to fund its projects. Building relationships with public sector fundraising partners is crucial in supporting projects that impact millions worldwide. Fundraising in this thematic area requires a targeted, cross-departmental strategy, especially in social protection financing.

Responsibilities

1. Lead the implementation of a government donor engagement plan on social protection to identify and strengthen partnerships aligned with WFP’s strategic objectives, including organizing thematic discussions and events.
2. Develop positioning and engagement materials tailored to individual partners, supporting policy dialogue at national and global levels, and ensure organizational coherence in partner engagement.
3. Guide and support regional and country units on partnership strategies, proposal writing, and best practices in partnership development.
4. Maintain updated donor intelligence on social protection and promote key information systems within WFP.
5. Assist in coordinating the Social Protection Trust Fund, managing donor relations and reporting.
6. Manage the social protection partnerships portfolio, including partner profiling, data analysis, and outreach planning to expand collaborations.
7. Support corporate dialogue, highlighting strategic opportunities and issues to senior management through briefs and presentations.
8. Contribute to designing complex partnership proposals and negotiations, ensuring partner visibility and compliance with norms and regulations.
9. Support WFP’s positioning of social protection portfolios with governments and international institutions, sharing insights and advising on donor engagement.
10. Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications and Experience

Education: Advanced degree in International Development, Economics, International Relations, Social Protection, or related fields.

Experience: Minimum of 8 years in partnership roles, with expertise in social protection policy, financing, and programming.

Knowledge and Skills

• Experience in developing multi-stakeholder partnerships and organizing advocacy events.
• Proven ability to develop long-term relationships and expand engagement across sectors and regions.
• Experience in resource mobilization, negotiation, and resource strategy development.
• Data-driven decision-making skills and ability to create external messaging and briefs.
• Innovation in 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 package, determined by contract type and candidate qualifications. For more information, visit WFP’s ‘Our work’ and ‘Countries’ pages.

Ref.: VA No.832956

All hiring decisions are merit-based. WFP is committed to an inclusive, harassment-free workplace and conducts background checks on candidates.

Note: Employment will not be offered to members of certain oversight bodies within the UN system within three years of their service.

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