Localization Specialist
Pubblicato il 18-09-2026 - WFP in Roma
Organizational context
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives and building a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity. WFP is committed to a localization policy, emphasizing the central role of local and national actors in humanitarian response and efforts to combat food insecurity and malnutrition. This involves shifting how WFP's work is designed, delivered, and funded to better support locally led initiatives.
Job purpose
The Localization Specialist will provide technical leadership, steering, and coordination for the implementation of WFP's Localization Policy, with a primary focus on strengthening engagement with community-based organizations (CBOs) as technical partners in food security and nutrition. This role involves adapting corporate frameworks, partnership modalities, and risk management processes to better enable formal partnerships and meaningful engagement with CBOs, including women-led and disability-led groups. The specialist will consolidate lessons learned from pilot activities,
develop corporate guidance, and provide technical assistance to country offices. Additionally, the role will support strengthening the influence of local actors in shaping policies and operations, advocating for harmonized approaches with other UN agencies, and contributing to communications and funding proposals. The objective is to enhance programme quality, efficiency, and elevate local actors as frontline leaders in humanitarian response.
Responsibilities
The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking a Localization Specialist to operationalize its Localization Policy, which prioritizes local and national actors in humanitarian responses. This role involves shifting WFP's work design, delivery, and funding to better support locally led efforts addressing food insecurity and malnutrition. The specialist will focus on strengthening engagement with community-based organizations (CBOs) as technical part