Partnerships Consultant, Rome

WFP - World Food Programme; Roma; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

World Food Programme is seeking a Partnerships Consultant in Rome to support private sector engagement across Country Offices. You will advise on strategy, identify partners, and guide engagement models to maximise impact while ensuring compliance with WFP policies and due diligence requirements.

The role emphasizes knowledge sharing, risk assessment, and the development of guidance materials to strengthen local capacity in private sector partnerships and to scale successful collaborations

Qualifications

• Education: A master's degree or equivalent in one or more of the following disciplines: business management, international management, political science, economics, international affairs, public administration, social sciences, development studies, or other related fields.

Responsibilities

• Advise Country Offices on the development and implementation of local private sector partnership strategies aligned with WFP's corporate priorities and country strategic plans.
• Support Country Offices in identifying, assessing, and prioritizing potential private sector partners across relevant sectors.
• Provide strategic guidance on partnership models, value propositions, engagement approaches, and partnership structures to maximize impact and mutual benefit.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices across Country Offices.
• Advise Country Offices on WFP policies, procedures, and standards governing private sector engagement.
• Support the completion and review of due diligence processes, risk assessments, and partnership documentation.

Skills

Partnership management

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Writing skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Master's degree in business management / international management / economics

Job description

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 25 October 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)

Job Title

Partnerships Consultant

Type of contract

CST

Location

Rome

Duration

11 months

Background and Purpose of the Assignment

WFP's Partnerships Department's Country Office Support Hub (PPDR) helps Country Offices protect, grow and diversify their partnerships and resourcing across public and private donors. Based on Country Office needs, PPDR provides operational, strategic and business development support to strengthen resource mobilization and partnership management across a range of partners. PPDR assists Country Offices in navigating main corporate reporting and partnership planning processes. PPDR also promotes knowledge management and learning across WFP to ensure teams have the information and tools they need to enhance partnerships. PPDR works closely with Partnerships divisions, Global Offices, Regional Director Offices and other Headquarters divisions to deliver timely, practical and high quality support. The consultant will focus on private sector opportunities. The consultant will report to PPDR's Country Office Support Team Lead. The consultant will work in coordination with private sector partnership (PSP) accounts managers and regional offices. The consultant will provide operational support to WFP Country Offices in developing, managing, and strengthening partnerships with locally based private sector entities. As Country Offices increasingly seek to engage domestic businesses, foundations, industry associations, and social enterprises to advance shared goals, the consultant plays a critical role in enabling effective, compliant, and impact-driven collaboration. The consultant serves as a key resource for Country Offices, providing guidance on partnership identification, assessment, development, negotiation, implementation, and stewardship. The role supports Country Offices in identifying opportunities to leverage private sector expertise, innovation, networks, products, services, and financial resources to advance WFP's strategic objectives and country-level priorities. In addition, the consultant ensures that all private sector engagements comply with WFP's private sector partnership policies, due diligence requirements, risk management procedures, and ethical standards. The consultant will build awareness and capacity among Country Office teams by providing technical advice, training, tools, and best practices related to private sector engagement.

Accountabilities / Responsibilities

1. Advise Country Offices on the development and implementation of local private sector partnership strategies aligned with WFP's corporate priorities and country strategic plans.
2. Support Country Offices in identifying, assessing, and prioritizing potential private sector partners across relevant sectors.
3. Provide strategic guidance on partnership models, value propositions, engagement approaches, and partnership structures to maximize impact and mutual benefit.
4. Facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices across Country Offices.
5. Advise Country Offices on WFP policies, procedures, and standards governing private sector engagement.
6. Support the completion and review of due diligence processes, risk assessments, and partnership documentation.
7. Ensure that proposed collaborations adhere to WFP's ethical standards, reputation management requirements, legal frameworks, and partnership approval processes.
8. Provide recommendations to mitigate operational, financial, reputational, and compliance risks associated with private sector partnerships.
9. Design and deliver training sessions, webinars, guidance materials, and practical tools to strengthen Country Office capacity in local private sector engagement.
10. Develop and maintain knowledge resources, including templates, guidance notes, case studies, and lessons learned.
11. Promote consistent application of partnership standards and processes across Country Offices.
12. Serve as a focal point for technical queries related to local private sector partnerships.
13. Support Country Offices in monitoring partnership performance, tracking commitments, and documenting results and impact.
14. Assist in identifying opportunities to scale successful partnerships across countries and regions.
15. Analyze trends, challenges, and emerging opportunities in private sector engagement and provide recommendations to enhance WFP's approach.
16. Contribute to corporate reporting, partnership pipeline management, and data analysis related to local private sector collaborations.
17. Coordinate across the CO Support hub and the Private Sector Partnerships team to ensure coherent support to Country Offices, including on broader private sector partnerships matters.
18. Facilitate engagement between Country Offices and relevant internal experts to address partnership opportunities and challenges.
19. Support the development of innovative partnership approaches that leverage private sector capabilities to advance WFP's mission and strategic objectives.
20. Undertake any other duties as required by the supervisor.

Deliverables at the end of the contract

• Effective guidance to Country Offices on local private sector partnerships
• Value propositions to local private sector aligned with HQ rules
• Guidance and lessons learned
• Temporary deployment
• Operational support

Qualifications & Experience required

Education: A master's degree or equivalent in one or more of the following disciplines: business management, international management, political science, economics, international affairs, public administration, social sciences, development studies, or other related fields.

Experience: Between 5-8 years of working experience in private sector partnership management, at the field level would be preferable. Working directly in or with the UN/WFP is an asset. Previous work experience in various country contexts and with partnerships management strongly preferred.

Knowledge & Skills: The ideal candidate will have diverse mix of experience related to the portfolio, and would benefit from familiarity with WFP's operations, policy, planning and partnerships. The candidate should have a multidisciplinary and versatile professional experience, working in various sectors. He/She should be a self-starter, organised, flexible and comfortable with working with multiple internal and external actors and to tight deadlines. Strong writing, analytical and research skills; good interpersonal skills, teamwork spirit and ability to work in multicultural settings; superior cognitive capacity.

Languages: Proficiency/level C of English (requirement); Proficiency in at least one other WFP working language(s) required (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, or Chinese).

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Reasonable accommodation

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About WFP

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability. WFP is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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