Partnerships Consultant

The Partnerships Consultant will provide operational support to WFP Country Offices in developing, managing, and strengthening partnerships with locally based private sector entities. The role involves advising on partnership strategies, compliance, risk management, and capacity building to enhance private sector engagement aligned with WFP's strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

• Advise Country Offices on the development and implementation of local private sector partnership strategies aligned with WFP's corporate priorities and country strategic plans.
• Support Country Offices in identifying, assessing, and prioritizing potential private sector partners across relevant sectors.
• Provide strategic guidance on partnership models, value propositions, engagement approaches, and partnership structures to maximize impact and mutual benefit.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices across Country Offices.
• Advise Country Offices on WFP policies, procedures, and standards governing private sector engagement.
• Support the completion and review of due diligence processes, risk assessments, and partnership documentation.
• Ensure that proposed collaborations adhere to WFP's ethical standards, reputation management requirements, legal frameworks, and partnership approval processes.
• Provide recommendations to mitigate operational, financial, reputational, and compliance risks associated with private sector partnerships.
• Design and deliver training sessions, webinars, guidance materials, and practical tools to strengthen Country Office capacity in local private sector engagement.
• Develop and maintain knowledge resources, including templates, guidance notes, case studies, and lessons learned.
• Promote consistent application of partnership standards and processes across Country Offices.
• Serve as a focal point for technical queries related to local private sector partnerships.
• Support Country Offices in monitoring partnership performance, tracking commitments, and documenting results and impact.
• Assist in identifying opportunities to scale successful partnerships across countries and regions.
• Analyze trends, challenges, and emerging opportunities in private sector engagement and provide recommendations to enhance WFP's approach.
• Contribute to corporate reporting, partnership pipeline management, and data analysis related to local private sector collaborations.
• Coordinate across the CO Support hub and the Private Sector Partnerships team to ensure coherent support to Country Offices, including on broader private sector partnerships matters.
• Facilitate engagement between Country Offices and relevant internal experts to address partnership opportunities and challenges.
• Support the development of innovative partnership approaches that leverage private sector capabilities to advance WFP's mission and strategic objectives.
• Undertake any other duties as required by the supervisor.

Requirements

• A master's degree or equivalent in business management, international management, political science, economics, international affairs, public administration, social sciences, development studies, or related fields.
• Between 5-8 years of working experience in private sector partnership management, preferably at the field level.
• Experience working directly in or with the UN/WFP is an asset.
• Previous work experience in various country contexts and with partnerships management is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with WFP’s operations, policy, planning and partnerships is beneficial.
• Multidisciplinary and versatile professional experience working in various sectors.
• Self-starter, organised, flexible and comfortable working with multiple internal and external actors and to tight deadlines.
• Strong writing, analytical and research skills.
• Good interpersonal skills, teamwork spirit and ability to work in multicultural settings.
• Superior cognitive capacity.
• Proficiency/level C of English is required.
• Proficiency in at least one other WFP working language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, or Chinese) is required.

Skills

• Partnership Management
• Private Sector Engagement
• Operational Support
• Partnership Development
• Compliance Management
• Risk Management
• Capacity Building
• Policy Planning and Implementation
• Research Skills
• Analytical Skills
• Writing Skills
• Multi-cultural Team Collaboration
• Project Coordination
• Stakeholder Engagement
• International Affairs
• Business Management
• Public Administration
• Multisectoral Project Experience
• Knowledge of WFP Activities

Languages

English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese