Innovative Finance Consultant

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

31 July 2025-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is 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.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website:
WHY JOIN WFP?- WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.- WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.- WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.- A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.- We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE: Change Management and Business Innovation - Innovative Finance Consultant
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Rome, Italy or Remote
DURATION: 6 months
LEVEL: Consultant (Junior)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
Over the past years the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has responded to an unprecedented level of emergencies, while maintaining ongoing operations. This increased demand stretches the organization which means WFP has to find new approaches and ways of working to ensure we are channelling every available resource to the people we serve.
The Change Management and Business Innovation Unit (BIU) was established in 2015 to manage change and to promote innovation as part of WFP’s Innovation division:

- BIU acts as the “advisory arm” of WFP
- BIU is composed of staff with top-tier management consulting backgrounds as well as UN experience

We execute projects on behalf of Executive Directors, Assistant Secretary Generals, and Directors across the UN system, and have become a trusted advisor to WFP and other entities (e.g. UN Women, UNFPA, Business Innovation Group). Our focus is on end-to-end solutions, including problem assessment, data analysis, operational model design, change plan and implementation monitoring.
The United Nations entities are scaling up their efforts to mobilize innovative financing solutions to meet growing humanitarian and development needs. As part of the Change Management and Business Innovation Unit (BIU), this consultancy will focus on designing and implementing cutting-edge financing instruments that can unlock new funding flows, alternative to traditional Official Development Assistance (ODA), for our partners.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Execution of Business Innovation projects in Innovative Finance
2. Additional activities and needs

DELIVERABLES:
Examples of specific deliverables are:

- Execution of Business Innovation Projects in Innovative Finance
- As part of a BIU team, support the the design and structuring of innovative financing mechanisms aligned with our partners’ strategic priorities.
- Support the development of innovative financing strategies
- Conduct landscape reviews of existing and emerging financing models across the UN system and development finance ecosystem.
- Develop investment theses, business cases, and financial models for new instruments.
- Engage with donors, investors, and implementing partners to co-develop and validate financing structures.
- Support the operationalization of selected mechanisms, including legal, governance, and risk frameworks.
- Provide strategic advisory support to senior leadership on financing innovation.
- Prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and briefing materials for internal and external stakeholders.
- Additional activities and needs
- Contribute to internal capacity-building efforts on innovative finance
- Support knowledge management reviews and best practices sharing
- Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries
- Additional project support based on pipeline and new projects contracted during time of contract, as required QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education: Preference for a degree in finance, economics, business administration, public
policy, or related field.

**Experience**:

- At least 2 years of relevant work experience in innovative finance,