Deadline: 30 July 2022

The World Food Programme (WFP) is currently seeking for highly motivated and talented candidates to join the Social Protection Unit of the Programme and Policy Division in WFP Headquarters in Rome, Italy as a Social Protection for Enhanced Nutrition and Health Outcomes Intern. The internship will last for 6 months, staring in August until February 2023.

I. Duties and responsibilities

Under close supervision from the Chief of the Social Protection Unit and the Social Protection Programme Policy Officer coordinating the food security and nutrition-sensitive agenda in light of the first strategic priority of WFP’s SP strategy, the candidate will perform the following duties:

 

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research on social protection impacts on nutrition and health to aid the development of policy and technical briefing notes, journal articles, and literature reviews topics to inform ongoing and future initiatives.
  • Digest and analyse evidence on social protection, nutrition, and health to extract and update key facts and figures that can facilitate a better understanding of key global trends, issues and policy efforts to link social protection, food and public health systems.
  • Identify key enabling and disenabling factors in the link between social protection, nutrition, and health outcomes.
  • Map and take stock of knowledge and learning resources on social protection, nutrition and public health to identify gaps in the subject area
  • Develop concept notes and proposals for research and capacity development initiatives.
  • Assist in the documentation of WFP’s work in nutrition-sensitive social protection, capitalizing on the experiences and lessons learnt by the Organization over the last years at national, regional, and global levels.
• Lead the development of innovative and clear evidence-based communication and learning resources to raise awareness around social protection’s contribution to food security, nutrition and public health   

• Support inter-agency coordination efforts and initiatives which aim to highlight the challenges faced and contributions made by social protection to food systems
• Help define strategic initiatives to improve the outreach and impact of WFP’s social protection knowledge and learning agenda on nutrition and health both internally and externally
• Support the refinement and development of training modules on different areas of social protection which speak to diverse sectors such as urbanisation, healthcare, and food systems
• Help deliver training modules of social protection to national policymakers and practitioners.
• Actively coordinate the organisation of a high-level policy dialogue in commemoration of World Food Day 2022 on food security and nutrition-sensitive social protection

II. Eligibility 

• Presently enrolled in a graduate programme and have attended classes in the past twelve months, or a recent graduate from a graduate programme (within six months prior to the application to the internship programme). (Nutrition, Food Security, Public Health, Epidemiology, Development Studies, Public and Social Policy, Communications, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, International Relations, Management and/or Economics);
• Basic understanding and interest in different social protection definitions, approaches and key policy considerations
• Experience undertaking qualitative and quantitative research, with a proven command of different research methodologies
• Excellent communication skills and proven ability in creative-, systems- and/or design-thinking is an asset
• Excellent command of English; Working knowledge of a second UN language would be an asset.
• Excellent writing skills in English and other languages
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• Proficiency in MS Publisher, In Design and/or Photoshop is highly desirable 

III. Required soft skills:

 

• Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Strong communications and analytical skills;
• Ability to manage multiple projects and coordinate activities with competing deadlines;
• Ability to adapt priorities and outputs to changing circumstances in a fast-paced environment;
• Excellent planning skills, time management, and attention to detail
• High emotional intelligence and strong inter-personal skill set;
• Receptiveness to and ability to provide feedback;
• Ability to effectively partner, mobilize support and support team building and partnerships;
• Self-starting mentality and comfort with responsibility and independent work;
• An interest in research, new learning opportunities, and sharing knowledge.

IV. Supervision

• Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Social Protection Unit, the incumbent will be provided with close mentoring, guidance and technical supervision.
• Performance planning and reviews as well as learning and development discussions will be elemental part of the supervision.
• The Social Protection Programme and Policy Officer - Global Knowledge and Learning Manager will be the second-level supervisor.
• With the support of a comprehensive induction package and assignment of a buddy/mentor, the intern will rapidly become a productive member of the team. 

V. Terms and Conditions

• Interns receive a monthly stipend from WFP up to the maximum amount of US$1000 per month depending on the duty station of assignment.
• WFP is not responsible for living expenses, arrangements for accommodation, necessary visas and related costs.
• WFP will reimburse travel ticket for candidates who are nationals of developing countries and are pursuing their studies in their home country.
• WFP will recognize candidates’ educational credentials from recognised institutions that have been certified by competent international or national authorities such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or Ministries of Education.
• Candidates who bear any of the following relations to WFP staff members are not eligible to apply: sons, daughters, brothers or sisters.

VI. Training  & Learning

• Throughout their assignment WFP interns have access to an industry leading learning platform, WeLearn.
• Depending on opportunities and availability of funds, he/she may participate in WFP workshops or seminars, as appropriate.
• At the end of the assignment, the Intern should have:

1. Acquired excellent technical knowledge of nutrition sensitive social protection, different national social protection schemes, and the role of UN agencies to enhance of food, public health and social protection systems
2. Boosted their research and writing skills
3. Strengthened their skills in strategic communications through the identification of different tools and methodologies to effectively capture and disseminate technical research and information to influence different policymakers and practitioners
4. Contributed to the positioning of the Nutrition and Social Protection Units through the documentation of valuable experiences and lessons learnt on social protection policy and programming
5. Become familiar with key debates and approaches in public health, food security, nutrition, humanitarianism, and development;
6. Gained a general understanding of WFP as an organization and the UN system.

VII. How to Apply?

To apply and for more information, please, click HERE