External Partnerships Officer

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 24 November 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome) 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. 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 extreme weather shocks. 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: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok. 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.
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We offer
an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement). JOB TITLE: External Partnerships Officer TYPE OF CONTRACT: Consultancy Level II UNIT/DIVISION: PPD DUTY STATION (City, Country): Rome, Italy DURATION: 11 months BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT: The Public Partnerships Division (PPD) leads WFP's strategic engagement with government partners and key multilateral stakeholders. PPD's vision is to be a driving force behind WFP's partnerships and resource future, serving as an agile, innovative and trusted enabler that protects, grows and diversifies support for WFP's mission. By generating insight and intelligence and advancing solution-driven global engagement, PPD will bring together governments, institutions, donors and strategic allies to transform partnerships from transactions into lasting alliances that amplify influence, unlock new opportunities, and deliver greater impact for the people WFP serves. PPD leads WFP’s institutional collaboration with the other Rome-based Agencies (RBAs), namely FAO and IFAD, and WFP's engagement with the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). Against the backdrop of the evolving multilateral environment, including the UN80 reform agenda, effective engagement with FAO, IFAD, CFS and Member States is of strategic importance. Dedicated capacity is therefore required to position WFP effectively, safeguard its institutional interests, strengthen policy influence and translate inter-agency collaboration into concrete corporate value and collective results. Under the direct supervision of the Director, Government Partnerships, the staff member will provide strategic leadership, coordination, analysis and high-quality advisory support across WFP's CFS and RBA portfolio, working closely with Headquarters divisions, Regional, Country and Global Offices, the CFS Secretariat, Member States and RBA counterparts. ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Under the direct supervision of the Director, Government Partnerships, lead WFP's strategic engagement in CFS, define and coordinate corporate positioning, and advance and safeguard WFP’s institutional and policy priorities in intergovernmental processes. 2. Direct and coordinate WFP’s substantive contributions to CFS governance and policy work, including the Bureau and Advisory Group, the annual Plenary Session, and priority thematic workstreams under the CFS Multi-Year Programme of Work. 3. Provide timely, strategic and technical advice to WFP Senior Management and, as appropriate, to Member States and CFS stakeholders to support informed decision-making and strong, implementable policy outcomes. 4. Support the Director in leading WFP corporate engagement and collaboration with FAO and IFAD, identifying opportunities for joint action while ensuring coherence with WFP's mandate, operational priorities and institutional interests. 5. Represent and advance WFP's priorities in the RBA Sherpa mechanism and other relevant inter-agency coordination platforms, ensuring timely follow-up on agreed actions. 6. Coordinate WFP's engagement in key RBA Governing Body sessions and facilitate effective engagement by WFP senior management with FAO and IFAD senior management. 7. Provide guidance and coordination support to Headquarters divisions, Regional, Country and Global Offices on strategic or sensitive engagement with FAO and IFAD. 8. Coordinate joint RBA positioning, initiatives and external messaging for major global events and multilateral fora, where appropriate, to enhance coherence, visibility and collective impact. 9. Oversee corporate reporting and strategic communications on RBA collaboration to Member States and senior management, ensuring accuracy, consistency and a clear articulation of results and added value. 10. Lead the preparation and quality assurance of executive-level briefings, talking points, speeches, correspondence, decision notes, records of discussion and other strategic products, supported by relevant partner intelligence and analysis. DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT: 1. A coherent WFP engagement framework for CFS is maintained and implemented, with corporate priorities, key messages, stakeholder positions, risks and recommended courses of action regularly updated and communicated to senior management. 2. WFP's substantive and organizational preparation for the CFS annual Plenary and other priority CFS meetings is completed on time, including coordinated corporate inputs, delegation planning, speaking roles, briefings and follow-up actions. 3. WFP contributions to priority CFS policy and thematic workstreams are consolidated, quality-assured and submitted within agreed timelines, with WFP's mandate, operational evidence and policy priorities accurately reflected in negotiations and outcomes to the extent possible. 4. The Director, Government Partnerships, is supported effectively in the role of WFP representative to the CFS Advisory Group and in strategic engagement with the CFS Chair, Bureau, Secretariat, Member States and RBA counterparts, with clear advice and documented follow-up. 5. A structured corporate engagement approach for FAO and IFAD is implemented, including forward planning for Governing Body sessions, senior-level engagements and priority institutional processes, with responsibilities, messages and follow-up actions clearly assigned. 6. WFP participation in the RBA Sherpa mechanism and related inter-agency processes is substantively prepared and coordinated, and agreed actions are tracked through to completion or formally handed over. 7. Headquarters divisions, Regional, Country, and Global Offices receive timely, tailored guidance on significant FAO, IFAD and CFS engagements, enabling consistent positioning and effective management of institutional sensitivities and opportunities. 8. Joint RBA positions, initiatives or communication products for selected global events and multilateral fora are developed, cleared and delivered as appropriate, with WFP priorities and comparative advantages clearly reflected. 9. High-quality corporate reporting on RBA collaboration is delivered to Member States and senior management within agreed timelines, supported by validated inputs, evidence of results, analysis of strategic value and actionable recommendations. 10. Executive-quality briefs, talking points, speeches, correspondence, decision notes, records of discussion and partner-intelligence products are delivered to deadline and consistently meet standards of accuracy, political sensitivity, audience relevance and strategic clarity. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:
Advanced University Degree in one of the following disciplines: Political Science, International Relations, Diplomatic Affairs, or other related fields.

Experience:
At least eight years of progressively responsible post-graduate professional experience in multilateral affairs, intergovernmental or inter-agency coordination, external relations or strategic partnerships. Demonstrated experience engaging Member States and advising senior leadership. Proven ability to manage complex institutional processes and deliver high-quality analysis and written products under tight deadlines. In-depth knowledge of FAO, IFAD and CFS structures, governance and decision-making processes is highly desirable. Knowledge &

Skills:
Excellent strategic, political and institutional judgement, with strong analytical, diplomatic, negotiation, coordination and advocacy skills. Outstanding drafting and oral briefing skills, including the ability to translate complex policy and operational issues into concise, decision-ready advice for senior audiences. Ability to build consensus across organizational boundaries, manage competing priorities and operate effectively in politically sensitive environments. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and standard WFP corporate systems. Languages: Fluency in spoken and written English. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset. WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission. Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: global.inclusion@wfp.org NO FEE DISCLAIMER The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.
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• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process. All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.