Consultant Programme Policy
Pubblicato il 18-09-2026 - World Food Programme in Roma
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
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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: SOCIAL PROTECTION CONSULTANT
TYPE OF CONTRACT: CONSULTANCY
UNIT/DIVISION: PRGS
DUTY STATION (City, Country): HQ/ ROME/ ITALY (REMOTE)
DURATION: EOD 14.10.2026 and NTE 13.09.2027BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
Social protection is an increasingly relevant strategy for governments to reduce extreme poverty, as well as various forms of hunger and inequality. Over the past decade, low- and middle-income countries have expanded coverage to a record 4.7 billion people, marking the highest level in history. Today, virtually every country has at least one social protection scheme in place.
Yet, coverage gaps remain stark: 2 billion people in low- and middle-income countries remain uncovered or inadequately covered, and three out of four people in low-income countries receive no form of social protection. These gaps are most severe in fragile, conflict affected, and hunger-prone regions.
As a global leader in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, often operating in fragile and conflict-affected settings, WFP is increasingly called upon by governments to support national social protection systems and programmes. WFP works with governments and partners to strengthen the coverage, comprehensiveness, adequacy, and quality of social protection, with the aim of ensuring that more people have access to robust national systems that help them meet their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs, while managing the risks and shocks they face. In 2025, WFP partnered with governments in nearly 70 countries to strengthen national social protection, indirectly contributing to improved social protection coverage for 870 million people.
The Social Protection Consultant will be based in the Social Protection Unit under the guidance and supervision of the P4 Programme Policy Officer. The consultant will support the Unit's engagement in key partnerships and inter-agency coordination mechanisms, including initiatives that promote stronger linkages between social protection and nutrition. In line with WFP's efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships, policy engagement, knowledge exchange and organizational learning in social protection, the consultant will contribute to global partnership platforms, support peer learning and knowledge-sharing initiatives, and help generate evidence and technical products that advance dialogue and collaboration across the social protection sector.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
- Coordinate high-level engagements linking social protection and nutrition, including global partnerships, inter-agency platforms and policy processes, acting as the main focal point to ensure stakeholder participation and timely dissemination of agendas, action points and key documents.
- Assist in the preparation of strategic briefs, reports, presentations, key messages and other technical materials to support WFP's positioning, advocacy, partnership engagement and decision-making across the social protection portfolio.
- Research and analyse policy and operational issues in social protection to support the development of WFP knowledge products, technical and conversational briefings, reviews, presentations and papers that advance WFP's strategic agenda and external engagement in social protection.
- Maintain and strengthen the visibility and accessibility of WFP social protection knowledge products across socialprotection.org and relevant internal information management platforms, ensuring continuity, coherence and dissemination of institutional knowledge.
- Assist in the documentation of WFP's work in social protection, capitalizing on the experience and lessons learnt of the organization in this field and for the strategic agevolazioni of a wider audience of policymakers and practitioners at national, regional, and global levels.
- Support the Social Protection Unit's knowledge exchange and peer-learning initiatives by identifying opportunities, coordinating with relevant stakeholders, and monitoring progress and results.
- Promote capacity building and knowledge sharing among participating stakeholders. This includes organizing training sessions to foster learning and skill development, as well as facilitating the exchange of best practices, experiences, and expertise between parties.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education
Advanced University degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, International Development, International Relations, Sociology, Communications, Journalism Marketing or other fields relevant to social protection and communications and advocacy.
Experience
At least three years of professional experience, with: International development, humanitarian action, public policy and/or social protection, information and content management, research and evidence generation, communications and advocacy, and/or learning and capacity building.
Knowledge & Skills:
Knowledge of current developments and policy debates in social protection and related areas of public policy.
Strong research, analytical and writing skills, with experience producing high-quality technical, policy and knowledge products.
Ability to translate complex information into concise materials and key messages tailored to different audiences.
Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outputs in a fast-paced environment.
Experience undertaking qualitative research and applying relevant research methodologies.
Strong digital literacy and familiarity with knowledge-sharing and online communication platforms.
Excellent communication skills and proven ability in creative-, systems- and/or design thinking is an asset.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
Proficiency in graphic design and publishing tools (e.g. Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Publisher or equivalent) is desirable.
Languages
Excellent command of English; Working knowledge of a second UN language would be an asset.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
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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: (email hidden)
NO FEE DISCLAIMER
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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.
- We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
- If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at (email hidden). Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.
- At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.
- 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.