DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS29 October 2025-23:59-GMT+03:00 East Africa Time (Nairobi)
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.
ABOUT WFP
The World Food Programme is the worldโs largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.
To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.
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: Partnerships Associate
TYPE OF CONTRACT: SC6
UNIT/DIVISION: Partnerships and Innovation Unit (WFP ESARO)DUTY STATION (City, Country): Nairobi, Kenya
DURATION: 1 year with possibility of extension based on performance and available funding.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The WFP Regional Bureau for Eastern and Southern Africa (ESARO) is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and provides strategic direction, technical guidance, resource mobilization, and project management support to WFP operations and activities in the countries in Eastern and Southern Africa region.
Enhancing partnerships and exploring new forms of engagement with key stakeholders are critical to achieve WFPs mandate. ESARO assists the region in raising funds where most needed and optimizing the management of these resources. The unit undertakes and provides partnership support to Country Offices on the Integrated Road Map, regional donor relations, UN and NGO relations, partnership knowledge management, private sector partnerships and innovations.
For this role, the Private Sector & Foundations Partnerships Associate will have the unique opportunity to influence WFP's work in the region and to ensure that by working with Private Sector partners and Foundations in innovative ways, WFP delivers real results for the millions of people in the region who face food insecurity. The candidate will provide support to the private sector and foundations team with a focus on the effective and efficient implementation of the phase II and III Novo Nordisk- Danish MFA- Grundfos Foundation project as well as the mapping and development of partnership opportunities for WFPโs operations in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region.PURPOSE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
Support the work of RBN on new Private Sector, Foundations and Innovation initiatives and ongoing engagement with existing and potential partners.
a) Monitor the Private Sector and foundations landscape to identify and grow opportunities of engagement with potential partners who can help achieve WFPโs strategic objectives.
b) Contribute to the preparation of proposals and presentations to effectively build partnerships with private sector and foundation prospects.
c) Support RBNโs efforts to increase WFPโs positioning with the private sector through research analysis, communication, advocacy, and visibility.
d) Support in providing regular information to inform new and potential donors on the strategy, design, relevance, and impact of programmes, to advocate for WFP work.
e) Support in the legal procedures for new private sector, foundations and Innovation partnerships.
Exploration of new, innovative, and impactful engagement strategies with the Private Sector and foundations.
a) Work with country offices to identify and build technical partnerships with local private sector partners.
b) Contribute data and ideas to the development of new strategies to better secure and steward private sector and foundations donors (technical partnerships, individual giving, High Net Worth Individuals, corporates).Support Country Offices and ESARO while liaising with HQ on Private Sector and Foundations engagement and management.
a) Support in preparation of briefing documents and presentations for internal senior management meetings and external meetings with donors and other stakeholders.
b) Work in collaboration with Partnerships and Innovations focal points as relevant to ensure the flow of information with country offices, other WFP units and external audiences.
c) Broker knowledge within the unit and ensure that knowledge is shared through the WFP corporate tools.
d) Work with the team and country offices to develop and meet donor reporting requirements as required.
e) In close collaboration with the programme-partnership regional working group, support the regional communications team on the delivery of a communications and advocacy plan and media engagement plan for the phase II Novo Nordisk- Danish MFA- Grundfos Foundation project.
f) Support the Foundations Manager to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the phase II Novo Nordisk- Danish MFA- Grundfos Foundation project โ under the Private Partnerships Unit and ensure timely submission of project deliverables and reporting.
g) Work closely with the Foundations Manager and Finance to track and report on expenditures for the phase II Novo Nordisk- Danish MFA- Grundfos Foundation project, Regional trust fund budgetPerform any other relevant duty/assignment as may be deemed necessary by his/her supervisor or Unit Leads.
EXPECTED DELIVERABLES:
โข Develop strong long-term relationships with private sector and foundations partners.
โข Projects implemented and completed successfully and within schedule, with learnings, impact and donor reports captured and shared.
โข Learning and impact information gathered and shared, with suggestions for improvement to innovation programmes and projects.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education: First university degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, International Development, Development Economics, or any other relevant field.
Experience: At least 3 years of related professional experience.
Knowledge & Skills: Relationship management, project building & management, communication, prospecting, and creative mindset.
Languages: Fluency (level C) in English language, Swahili is a plus.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.
Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework
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: global.inclusion@wfp.org
NO FEE DISCLAIMER
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
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.