Internship – Knowledge management and advocacy, Emergencies and Transitions Unit – HQ Rome Italy
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.
Internship – Knowledge management and advocacy (Urban)
Emergencies and Transitions Unit (PRO-P),
HQ Rome, Italy
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organisation saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We are currently seeking to fill an intern position in our Emergencies and Transitions Unit (PRO-P) of the Programme Division, based in Rome, Italy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIVISION
About the Emergencies and Transitions Unit: Guided by WFP’s Strategic Plan (2022-2025), PRO-P is responsible for key thematic areas critical to achieving people-centred programming: protection, conflict sensitivity, accountability to affected populations, humanitarian access and principles, beneficiary data privacy, protection and management. PRO-P has recently restructured, shifting from a thematic- to function-based model to better integrate thematic content and deliver support to field operations across the programme cycle.
Recognising that addressing urban food security requires holistic and interconnected approaches, WFP established an Urban Secretariat based in PRO-P, as well as a corporate workstream involving Country Offices, Regional Bureaus and Headquarter Units to develop forward-looking, effective, innovative approaches that advance WFP engagement in the urban environment. Through this formal architecture, WFP has developed its first-ever Global Urban Strategy, launched in mid-2023, which set its priorities in dealing with urban food insecurity and malnutrition while drawing on its many past lessons learned and experiences in operating in urban areas.
Implementation of the urban strategy is being complemented by guidance materials and an Urban Community of Practice, which brings together WFP colleagues working in or interested in programming in urban areas to generate knowledge exchange, collaboration and learning, and to support troubleshooting and sharing advice around urban food security and nutrition.
The intern will work closely with the Urban Secretariat to support the roll-out of the community of practice, as well as advocacy and outreach activities as part of the dissemination plan of the urban strategy. They will additionally contribute to curating content – identifying, collecting, and organising relevant knowledge resources to disseminate with staff at Headquarters (HQ), Regional, Country and field level. While performing this role, the intern will also liaise with PRO-P’s Programme Evidence Building, Knowledge Management and Learning team to develop and deliver knowledge products and services.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Title of Post: Internship – Knowledge management and advocacy Intern (Urban)
- Supervisor: Senior Urban Programme Officer / Global urban lead
- Unit: PROP
- Country: Italy
- Duty Station: Rome HQ
- Duration of internship: 6-8 Months
- Expected Start Date: September 2023
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct supervision of the Senior Urban Programme Officer/Global urban lead, the candidate will perform the following duties and responsibilities:
Support community management
- Help promote active participation, moderate discussions, and encourage knowledge exchange within community platforms and communications channels.
- Support the organisation of community meetups: scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, organising speakers, and drafting meeting summaries.
- Produce analytics of usage of the community’s platforms and engagement during meetings.
- Maintain and enhance the internal knowledge repository, organising and classifying materials using WFP guidelines and tools for knowledge management.
- Regularly scan the community of practice and relevant platforms from other units and regional offices to see what information is useful and can be gathered.
Support dissemination and advocacy of WFP’s work in urban areas
- Propose and promote creative and effective solutions for the dissemination of guidance materials for programming in urban areas and the urban strategy across HQ, Regional, Country Office and field level.
- Organise events and workshops, including developing materials and handling logistics and administrative matters.
- Prepare concept notes and slides to guide internal project planning and external discussions.
- Support internal and external communications of WFP’s work in urban areas, writing short stories, social media posts, and other digital communication content, as required.
Support dissemination and uptake of the urban guidance
- Support the coordination of validation and dissemination workshops, through the CoP and beyond, including scheduling meetings, invitations and arranging logistics (as needed).
- Support the coordination of the guidance outcome group members meetings ensuring timely communication and preparation of necessary materials.
- Assist the design work (visual aid) of the developed guidance material and other relevant content.
Support in other activities within the Urban Secretariat, as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate programme from a recognised university OR recently graduated from an undergraduate or graduate programme (within six months prior to the application to the internship programme) from a recognised university;
- University course attendance in the past 12 months.
- Relevant disciplines are social science, communications, journalism, information science, urban planning, international relations, or a field relevant to international development assistance.
- Interest in urban food systems and urban development is an advantage.
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
- Proficiency in Office 365 (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook).
- Familiarity with communications tools and marketing platforms, such as Mailchimp, Canva, is an asset.
- Team player
- Self-motivated, self-starter
- Organised, with a focus on timelines and deliverables
- Strong analytical abilities, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail
- Demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs
- General knowledge of the United Nations system policies, structures, and governance and commitment to WFP’s mission and values
WORKING LANGUAGES
Excellent written and spoken English is required (proficiency/level C).
Working knowledge of a second UN language would be an asset.
SUPERVISION (Level/Methods of Supervision)
The intern will be working under the direct supervision and report to the Programme Officer.
TRAINING COMPONENTS
Throughout their assignment WFP interns have access to an industry leading learning platform, WeLearn. Depending on opportunities and availability of funds, he/she may participate in WFP workshops or seminars, as appropriate.
LEARNING ELEMENTS
At the end of the assignment, the Intern should:
- Have knowledge of urban programming for food security and nutrition, across different operational contexts/setups
- Have a broad understanding of strategy development, programme guidance development and establishing and maintaining a community of practice in the context of food security and nutrition
- Have gained international experience working within the world’s largest humanitarian organisation
- Have understood at first-hand the work of WFP and gain working experience of WFP’s operation
- Have developed databases, knowledge products, and communications materials
OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION
- VA Reference no: 828271
- Closing Date: 26 July 2023 at 11:59pm Rome time
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
- Interns receive a monthly stipend from WFP up to the maximum amount of US$1000 per month depending on the duty station of assignment.
- WFP is not responsible for living expenses, arrangements for accommodation, necessary visas and related costs.
- WFP will reimburse travel ticket for candidates who are nationals of developing countries and are pursuing their studies in their home country.
- WFP will recognise candidates’ educational credentials from recognised institutions that have been certified by competent international or national authorities such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or Ministries of Education.
- Candidates who bear any of the following relations to WFP staff members are not eligible to apply: sons, daughters, brothers or sisters.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
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Different expectations of behaviour are defined depending on your grade and role/responsibilities within WFP.
All employment decisions are made on the basis of organisational 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.
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