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 world’s 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).
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations’ frontline agency fighting hunger. WFP reaches more than 80 million people every day – delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with smallholder farmers, communities, and governments to improve nutrition and build resilience.
As conflict, climate change and COVID-19 drive up the number of hungry people in Eastern Africa, finding innovative solutions to the complex humanitarian & development challenges in the region is essential, now perhaps more than ever. WFP Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa which oversees some of the most promising innovations at WFP, has recently launched a WFP Innovation Hub for Eastern Africa to disrupt hunger in the region (Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda). Its main goals are to a) upscale & support local innovation ecosystems to strengthen local food systems, b) support WFP country offices to test new products and innovations and c) facilitate best practices & knowledge sharing.
Based in Nairobi, the WFP Innovation Hub for Eastern Africa identifies, supports and scales high potential solutions to hunger worldwide. It supports entrepreneurs (could be WFP innovators or external startups, NGOs, companies) to take their innovations to the next level – either getting ideas to the first proof of concept or already implemented solutions to the next scale-up. The most promising innovations are supported in scaling further. The WFP Innovation Hub for Eastern Africa is currently supported by USAID, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other partners.
PURPOSE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
With a growing portfolio the Hub is looking for an Innovation Associate. With additional funding secured, the Hub is planning to launch innovation programmes in the region and further strengthen is work on value chain impact investing. Reporting to the Innovation Programme Manager, you will be spearheading this critical work within the Hub. Entrepreneurial and independent, you will be working with all functional units in the Regional Bureau, HQ and Country Offices as well as stakeholders and partners in the global and regional innovation ecosystem and lead the development of this portfolio.
The responsibilities will include:
Design and Lead WFP innovation hub programmes and activities
- Lead the implementation of innovation programmes (for example IGNITE innovation challenges, Seed innovation programme), supporting local ventures and bringing local innovations to WFP’s programming and operations.
- Manage the coordination of scale up innovation strategy development and project coordination for projects scaling up in WFP’s programmes and operations.
- Support with learning, impact collection, and documentation of case studies for relevant innovation projects, enabling regional lessons learnt and impact reporting and continuous improvement of innovation projects and programmes.
Manage partnerships development and communication to amplify innovation
- Lead the work with Country Offices and the Innovation Hub to map stakeholder ecosystems and identify and build partnerships with local and global partners for innovation.
- Lead on developing a fundraising strategy and plan for the Innovation Hub together with COs.
- Manage and refresh the Regional and CO communication strategy for innovation work. Prepare and update accordingly innovation fact sheets and communications to ensure information sharing with donors, partners, and other key stakeholders.
- Generate, edit, and publish content on regional social media to create visibility for regional and CO innovation work. Oversee regional social media accounts design, traffic metrics, respond to followers, and stay up to date with relevant trends that can be deployed under WFP Communications guidance.
- Be a contact point with regional communications team for approvals, advisory, and support required from innovation team.
Manage the alumni network comprised of ventures from previous programs.
- Collaborate with implementing partners to engage alumni through events, communication, and surveys, ensuring updated venture records and timely sharing of relevant opportunities.
- Identify and promote internal opportunities for ventures to contribute to Country Offices (COs) and Regional Bureaus (RBs) programs, catalyzing discussions to assess feasibility.
- Coordinate with the innovation hub to establish platforms, events, and activities that enable the alumni community to regularly connect, share knowledge, network, and stay informed about the hub’s opportunities.
- Occasionally engage the alumni to gather information for the WFP data room enabling them leverage the impact fund.
Support other Innovation activities.
- Support other innovation programs and activities such as innovation challenges, learning & knowledge management, innovative financing, comms etc. as per the requirement and guidance of your supervisor.
EXPECTED DELIVERABLES:
- Support to successful launch of innovation programs/trainings/capacity building initiatives.
- Documented partnerships and fundraising strategy for innovation.
- Successful partnerships identified and built across the region for innovation activities.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
First university degree in Business Administration, Finance, Entrepreneurship, International Development, Environmental Science, Development Economics, or any other relevant field.
Experience:
At least 3 years of related professional experience.
Knowledge & Skills:
Relationship management, project 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: [email protected]
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 [email protected] 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.
