Gender and Country Capacity Strengthening Officer

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 5 June 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome) 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). JOB TITLE: Gender and Country Capacity Strengthening Officer TYPE OF CONTRACT: Consultant UNIT/DIVISION: Gender Protection and Inclusion Unit/ PO DUTY STATION (City, Country): Rome, Italy (home-based) DURATION: 4.5 months (24 August to 31 December 2026)BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT: WFP is already deeply engaged in strengthening country capacities, providing extensive support to national stakeholders to enhance local capacities and systems. Over the 2019-2020 period, external capacity strengthening by WFP reached USD 533 million in expenditures, amounting to approximately 4 percent of total WFP transfer values. Though these numbers bear additional unpacking, they reflect strong WFP-wide engagement in capacity strengthening. Notably, capacity strengthening represents more than 50 percent of expenditures in 10 WFP Country Offices, and between 20-50 percent in an additional 10. As of 2020, 95 percent of Country Strategic Plans (CSPs) referred to country capacity strengthening (CCS). WFP’s product offer has evolved in response to changing country needs, with WFP providing support in new areas (gender, protection and inclusion, social protection, home-grown school feeding and food systems). Demand from partners and governments has increased for WFP to both provide direct support to crisis response and also strengthen governments’ longer-term ability to respond. For instance, WFP has supported governments in 65 countries in introducing new measures or scaling up/adapting their existing social protection schemes to mitigate the pandemic’s impact. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 on ending hunger (SDG 2) requires WFP to extend its reach beyond 115 million direct beneficiaries to the 800 million people globally who are food and nutrition insecure. WFP’s enhanced focus on systems strengthening is based on the recognition that national systems are the primary vehicle for achieving SDG 2. Working through and with governments and stakeholders across the whole of society presents WFP with tremendous opportunities for scale, impact and sustainability of results. It is for these reasons that the next corporate Strategic Plan is focusing attention on WFP’s capacitation role. Gender, Protection and Inclusion are a critical consideration across WFP's portfolio, and a proven factor in accelerating progress towards SDG 2. Although gender, protection and inclusion considerations informed several frameworks and policies, a new, in-depth technical conversation is timely as WFP is in the process of launching a Localization Policy which will complement the work on CCS and accelerate partnerships among WFP, state and non-state national actors. The purpose of this consultancy is to review the current WFP GPI framework and interventions in the field, unpack existing and possible linkages and synergies between the elements of GPI in WFP, and identify opportunities to improve integration, including advancing locally led solutions in collaboration with organizations led by women, youth, people with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and refugees. ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: It is worth noting that these recommendations are based on a review of evaluation reports that cover activities and operations in the GPI service. Inform GPI technical frameworks and Policies with gender evidence and good practices, in line with evaluation synthesis recommendations. This task will focus on: a) undertaking a review and analysis of WFP frameworks from a gender, protection and inclusion lens (through examination of technical and country programme documents and practitioner interviews with HQ, RB and CO teams); summarizing global evidence and good practices related to Gender, Protection and Inclusion in Localization, including recommendations; leading working sessions with staff to assess operational potential and identify opportunities for piloting key recommendations; designing methodologies for expanded consultation with beneficiaries and local organizations to inform WFP policies, programmes and operations. Strengthen guidance and tools to support the integration and mainstreaming of commitments related to gender, protection and accountability to affected populations into different policy and field interventions across programming areas. Support mainstreaming of a gender-sensitive agenda across WFP. This task will include providing inputs to: a) thematic areas currently working to strengthen different workstreams (e.g. Nutrition, SBP, and Supply Chain) and regional bureaus enhancing their GPI portfolio; conducting working sessions with the above to share findings and support mainstreaming of key recommendations. Support the GPI Information and Communication for Development and Knowledge Management Pillar with short inputs or advice as they translate findings/conclusions into knowledge management and learning products (e.g. producing a short 2 to 4-page summary advocacy/knowledge management product). Support the roll-out of the GPI Framework on Accountability for Results. DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT: Situation analysis of Gender, Protection and Inclusion in WFP, including a review of relevant global evidence, good practices and practical recommendations for increasing localization and locally-led solutions with Country Offices. Series of working sessions with WFP technical areas and regional bureaux/country offices to support operationalization of findings with regards to the localization policy and corporate position (produce 1 PPT summarizing findings). Update and integrate GPI programming objectives within the new modalities for collaboration with CSOs in alignment with Objective 2 of the Localization Policy. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Education: Advanced University degree in International Development, Economics, Social Science, or other field relevant to international development assistance Knowledge & Skills: Demonstrated knowledge of country capacity strengthening in the context of WFP’s operations. Demonstrates the ability to engage key stakeholders (e.g. WFP units and external partners) in policy dialogue to strengthen national government food and nutrition security strategies and programmes Data collection and analytical writing skills, including ability to analyse and consolidate quantitative and qualitative information to understand national capacities across a wide range of policy and programme areas and identify gap and needs, as well as WFP’s entry points. Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavour through demonstrated technical leadership. Strong communication and conceptual skills.

• Strong communication and conceptual skills

Languages: English 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 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 protected]. 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. Apply To This Job