Government Partnerships Consultant – Social Protection

Sabiagrik; Bolzano; In loco; EUR 90.000 - 110.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

A leading international organization seeks a Government Partnerships Consultant for Social Protection, based in Rome. The role involves engaging with government donors, developing strategies for partnerships, and supporting fundraising efforts in the area of social protection. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in partnership roles and social protection policies, contributing to WFP's mission of achieving Zero Hunger.

Competenze

• Minimum eight years of relevant professional experience in partnership roles.
• Experience in social protection policy, financing, and programming.

Mansioni

• Lead the government donor engagement work plan on social protection.
• Drive positioning with partners on WFP’s corporate value proposition.
• Manage social protection partnerships portfolio, including profiling and data analysis.

Conoscenze

Social protection policy

Partnership development

Resource mobilization strategies

Government strategies understanding

Data-based decision making

Formazione

Advanced University degree in International Development

Economics

International Relations

Social Protection

Descrizione del lavoro

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.

ACCOUNTABILITIES / RESPONSIBILITIES :

1. Lead the implementation of a government donor engagement work plan on social protection that will enable WFP to identify, develop, and strengthen quality partnerships in support of WFP’s strategic objectives. This includes identifying a common agenda between WFP and Government Donors on social protection and organizing joint actions such as thematic discussions, events, and publications.
2. Drive the positioning with partners on WFP’s corporate value proposition in the thematic area of social protection, develop donor engagement material using tailored content and language that speaks to individual partner audiences, and align with ongoing policy dialogue in national and global fora; manage internally to support coherent partner engagement across the organization.
3. Guide functional units, Regional Bureaux (RBx), and Country Offices (COs) on partnership strategies for social protection. Offer support and guidance on partnership management, quality proposal writing, and best practices in partnership development. Disseminate best practices and provide guidance across the organization. Update social protection programming portfolios and funding requirements.
4. Keep donor intelligence on social protection up to date and promote the use of key information systems within the organization.
5. Assist in coordinating the Social Protection Trust Fund, ensuring related donor relations and reporting needs are met.
6. Proactively manage the social protection partnerships portfolio, including partner profiling and data analysis. Update outreach plans to maximize resources and pursue opportunities for WFP’s work on social protection. Enable partnership growth by identifying opportunities to expand, deepen collaboration, and scope new partners, guided by assessments, analysis, and due diligence, and ensure follow-up.
7. Support corporate dialogue with partners through high-level consultations, proactively highlight strategic opportunities and issues to senior management, and present recommendations on the best course of action to nurture trust and interest in WFP’s contribution to social protection (including through briefs and cheat sheets).
8. Support the design of large/complex partnership proposals, contribute to negotiations on strategic partnership agreements and/or MOUs in the area of social protection in line with corporate norms, processes, and regulations. Ensure partner visibility and that partner conditions are met.
9. In countries where WFP has a presence, support WFP’s effective positioning of the social protection portfolio vis-à-vis national governments and international institutions, based on socio-political understanding, sharing insights on donor interests, and advising on donor engagement for social protection.
10. Other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED :

Education :

Advanced University degree in International Development, Economics, International Relations, Social Protection, or a relevant field.

Experience :

Minimum eight or more years of relevant professional experience in partnership roles.

Knowledge and Skills :

• Experience and expertise in social protection policy, financing, and programming.
• Understanding of government and corporate strategies, priorities, and public policy formulation.
• Experience in developing multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Organized advocacy and positioning events.
• Developed long-term partner relationships and expanded engagements across geographies and sectors.
• Designed and managed resource mobilization processes and strategies, negotiated contract terms, and provided resourcing advice to seniors.
• Led data-based decision-making to enable internal stakeholders to make informed decisions.
• Created external messaging, talking points, and briefs tailored to stakeholder interests.
• Contributed to system improvements and partner intelligence platforms.

Languages :

Fluency (level C) in English. Knowledge of Spanish, French, or Arabic is a strong asset.

Terms and Conditions

WFP offers a competitive compensation package, determined by the contract type and candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit WFP’s websites “Our work” and “Countries” for more information on operations.

Ref. : VA No.832956

All employment decisions are based on organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to an inclusive work environment and will conduct background checks for all candidates.