Nutrition Partnerships Officer

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Job Title: Nutrition Partnerships Officer

Type of Contract: International Consultant

Division: Nutrition division (NUT)

Duty Station (City, Country): Rome HQ, Italy

Duration: 6 months, from June to December 2023 (potentially renewable)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

WFP’s Nutrition Division (NUT) manages several strategic partnerships, including with UN agencies, NGO actors, civil society, businesses, and academia, as well as local farmers, producers, retailers, and communities. Under the terms set forth below, the Nutrition Partnerships Officer will report to the Senior Nutrition Partnerships Officer, and work closely with the Chief of Strategic Partnerships and Innovative Financing for Nutrition[1], with other Divisions and WFP staff at headquarters (HQ), regional bureaux (RB) and country offices (CO), as well as with other external partners and stakeholders.

The incumbent will strengthen current and future strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to further WFP’s nutrition efforts around its strategic priorities and objectives. The incumbent will also promote the involvement of WFP Nutrition in key networks and platforms where WFP is not currently included, and the development of partnerships with new stakeholders, including – among others – NGOs, donors, and think tanks.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES/DELIVERABLES:

1. At the technical level, lead on strengthening UN coordination on nutrition through existing mechanisms and fora:

• • At the technical level, engage with partners under the United Nations (UN) Nutrition umbrella to strengthen UN coordination on nutrition. Advise the Director of Nutrition in her capacity as a UN Nutrition Steering Committee member, as needed;

• • Provide guidance to the Division on the development of additional inter-agency partnership frameworks with the Rome-Based Agencies and UN Nutrition members; prepare and implement them as required;

• • Prepare and provide proposals for senior management on the preparation of a bilateral partnership agreement framework on nutrition with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

1. Lead WFP’s technical engagement in multilateral, multistakeholder partnerships for nutrition:

• • At the technical level, lead the follow-up process to the UN Food Systems Summit on behalf of the Nutrition Division, particularly the preparatory work ahead of the Food System Stocktaking Moment in July 2023, by engaging with WFP colleagues at the global, regional, and country level as relevant;

• • Lead and guide WFP’s partnership engagement in the Healthy Diets Coalition from Sustainable Food Systems, including through the Special Project on Fragility;

• • Continue to position WFP as a key partner to the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, both through technical level engagement, as well as through playing an advisory role for WFP’s Senior Leadership engaged in the SUN Executive Committee (WFP Director of Nutrition) and SUN Lead Group (WFP’s ED);

• • Ensure WFP is adequately represented in Committee on World Food Security (CFS) key fora and events, including the 2023 Annual Plenary Session (CFS 51) and side events, as necessary;

• • Lead on the reporting and follow-up process to the 2021 Nutrition for Growth on behalf of the WFP Nutrition Division.

1. Lead, provide guidance, and implement efforts aiming at strengthening partnerships with civil society organizations:

• • Work closely with the WFP Nutrition Outreach and Advocacy team to strengthen partnerships with civil society – including by leading on the preparation of the Annual Partnership Consultation event at WFP;

• • Provide guidance and recommendation to the Nutrition Division on strategies to strengthen the preparation and implementation of FLAs fit for nutrition;

• • In collaboration with the NOA team, lead on the implementation of the Divisional Action Plan for partnerships with NGOs.

1. Lead on other partnerships efforts and strengthen strategic engagements in various fora and platforms, as needed:

• • Engage in other platforms and partnerships for nutrition (e.g., GloPan, IFNA, EAT, etc.) as needed;

• • Lead the preparation of events, conferences, and meetings on nutrition, as needed (i.e. plan agenda, speakers and logistics; draft talking points, presentations, briefs);

• • Play an advisory role to the Nutrition Division management in the representation functions, including through the preparation of background documents, talking points and briefs, and by attending internal and external meetings, as required;

• • Draft and/or review strategy documents, reports, briefs;

• • Play an advisory role when required to further partnerships and advocacy efforts at global, regional and country-level and explore opportunities for new strategic partnerships for nutrition, as appropriate.

1. Support WFP Nutrition Staffing Coordinator in rolling out the Strategic Workforce Action Plan and other related duties, as needed:

• • Play an advisory role to the Staffing Coordinator and implement tasks as needed to assist the Nutrition Division in the implementation of its new Strategic Workforce Action Plan (e.g., liaising with relevant internal stakeholders, planning meetings, preparing and circulating relevant communications, etc.).

• • Adequately undertake other duties, as required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree, in disciplines such as public health, nutrition, food security, economics, political science, international relations, sociology, anthropology or any other related field. A master’s degree will be considered an asset.

Experience:

At least 5 years of relevant experience with progressively increasing responsibilities in partnerships, project design and management, multi-stakeholder/multi-sectoral coordination, communications and advocacy.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;

• Strong communication and negotiation skills to engage with various stakeholders from different sectors and backgrounds;

• Ability to manage competing priorities and coordinate with multiple stakeholders on tight deadlines;

• Good planning and analytical skills and ability to juggle competing priorities successfully and to work under tight deadline;

• Self-motivated and ability to work under minimal supervision.

Languages:

Level C2 English language proficiency is required. Knowledge of a second official UN language would be considered an asset.

Terms and Conditions

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP.

http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

Deadline for applications: 11 May 2023

Ref.: VA No. 793074

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.

[1] Particularly in support of the Staffing Coordinator function.

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