Rome Representative – World Food Programme and Rome based Institutions

This position will lead engagement with World Food Programme (and other relevant Rome based Institutions) supporting the growth of the WFP portfolio and identifying opportunities to partner with WFP and other Rome based institutions to influence their work. The post holder will position Plan International as a partner of choice for WFP with a clear focus on the specific needs of girls and mitigating risks they are exposed to in humanitarian crises.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Lead and coordinate Plan International’s engagement with WFP and other Rome based institutions, ensuring high level representation and influencing with a broad range of departments and staff.
• Establish and maintain high level strategic engagement with WFP and other Rome based institutions identifying opportunities for Plan International engagement at global, regional and country levels.
• Represent Plan International CEO and the Global Humanitarian Director in high level meetings.
• Drive Plan International’s global engagement with WFP and other Rome based institutions ensuring increased profile and visibility of Plan by WFP at headquarters, regional and country levels.
• Responsible for the ongoing analysis and review of the global WFP portfolio, including maintaining the shared WFP Grant Tracker.
• Support Plan International National Organisations increase funding income from WFP
• Proactive engagement with WFP and Rome based institutions to support the strengthening of a gender and diversity focus in their work.
• Lead the internal coordination of WFP engagement within Plan International
• Support the strengthening of technical capacity of WFP Global Account Management Task Force to support Country Offices strengthen engagement to scale up and expand food/nutrition/CVA programming with WFP.
• Support the WFP Global Account Management Task force strengthen organisational capability on grant negotiations.
• Lead the development and promotion of key tools and guidance to strengthen Plan International engagement with WFP across multiple levels
• Support Country Office and Regional Hub engagement with country and regional WFP offices so that Plan International is increasingly seen as a partner of choice for WFP
• Analyse and develop overviews of key impediments faced by Country Offices when working with WFP, using this to help guide operational influencing activities with WFP.
• Advise Plan International Global Hub, National Organisations, Regional Hubs on opportunities for WFP engagement and funding.
• Lead the development of key research initiatives to support the ongoing profile raising and influencing work with WFP
• Develop regular WFP briefs for regarding WFP engagement for various entities in Plan.
• Leads the development and maintenance of knowledge management tools and guidance to support the strengthening of WFP engagement and grant management in Country offices.
• In collaboration with key Plan International Stakeholders develop an annual WFP engagement workplan, monitor its implementation and provide regular progress updates.
• Lead Plan International’s engagement in external interagency networks and working groups related to WFP and other Rome based institutions and humanitarian financing.
• Identify opportunities to provide high level strategic input to WFP work.
• In collaboration with Plan International Humanitarian network, identify opportunities for strategic partnerships with WFP technical teams.
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Essential

• Location: Rome, Italy (required)
• Significant experience of donor liaison and high-level external representation and influencing work.
• Demonstrable experience of engaging within the humanitarian system – clusters, UN agencies
• Proven skills in developing donor engagement strategies
• Significant experience in WFP contracting modalities and donor requirements
• Significant experience in driving income growth
• Demonstrable experience of working in a range of humanitarian crises in different regions of the world.
• Language skills – English.
• Demonstrable understanding / experience of the Humanitarian Charter, Sphere, Core Humanitarian Standard and their implementation in day-to-day work.
• Proven experience in engagement in global level interagency networks, and fora.

Desirable

• HEAT security training
• Previous experience in working on WFP related issues.
• Experience in Plan Internationals core humanitarian programme areas (Child protection in Emergencies, Education in Emergencies, Cash & Voucher Assistance, Food Security nutrition and livelihoods)
• Additional language skills in French, Spanish or Arabic

FULL TIME JOB

TEMPORARY CONTRACT (ONE YEAR)