Partnerships and Advocacy Department, Public Partnerships and Resourcing Unit, Ottawa, Canada

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.  We are currently seeking to fill an External Relations intern position in our WFP Offices Unit of the Public Partnerships and Resourcing Division, based in Ottawa, Canada.

Brief description of Public Partnerships and Resourcing (PPR) Division:

The Public, Partnerships and Resourcing Division provides leadership and expertise to WFP’s global partnership, advocacy and resource mobilization efforts with the aim to ensure that the needs of the people we serve are fully met and that Member States are effectively supported in achieving Zero Hunger and Agenda 2030. In doing so, PPR engages with governments, the private sector, UN agencies, international financial institutions, academia, think-tanks, NGOs and the public at large through HQ and global WFP Offices.  These Offices are located in critical global hubs and key donor capitals, carrying out Department-related functions, including in Ottawa, ON, Canada.

WFP’s partnership function has evolved significantly over the past five years, building on a series of global and corporate strategies. Partnerships are crucial levers to achieve Zero Hunger. Proactive advocacy, effective positioning, trends analysis and engagement enable WFP to strengthen both operational and resourcing partnerships to maximize impact. WFP recognizes that there is no effective partnering without prior positioning & advocacy.

General Information

• Title of Post: External Relations Intern
• Supervisor: Head of Office
• Unit: WFP Office
• Country:  Canada
• Duty Station: Ottawa
• Duration of internship: 6 months
• Expected Start Date: 3 August 2020

Duties and responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Head of Office and supporting the Partnership Officer, the candidate will perform the following duties:

• Provide operational support for stakeholder database creation, input, management and reporting;
• Provide operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner;
• Analyse relevant information to prepare briefs for engagements with external stakeholders;
• Compile relevant and strategic inputs for external and internal communications, including internal briefing materials;
• Identify relationships within data and provide insights to enable discussions and inform actions with stakeholders;
• Use data analysis visualization to draw out fact-based insights and develop powerful narratives within own area of responsibility.

Qualifications and experience

• Currently enrolled, with at least six months graduate studies completed, or recently graduated (within the past six months) from Political Studies, International Relations or relevant field;
• Verbal and written fluency (level C) in English and French; working knowledge of additional UN language would be an asset;
• Excellent Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook), knowledge of another database an asset;
• Understanding of Canadian government political context, policies and policy making.

Required soft skills/WFP Competencies:

• Conveys motivated team spirit and contributes to a gender-balanced, inclusive and sound working environment;
• Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of stakeholders);
• Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission;
• Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs;
• Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment;
• Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and to develop and improve individual skills;
• Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances;
• Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work;
• Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities;
• Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles;
• Portrays an informed and professional demeanour toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.

Working Languages

Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) is required.

Working knowledge of French (proficiency/level C) is required.

Supervision

Under the supervision of Head of Office and supporting the Partnership Officer, the External Relations Intern will be provided with close mentoring, guidance and technical supervision. Performance planning and reviews as well as learning and development discussions will be an essential part of the supervision. With the support of a comprehensive induction package, the intern will rapidly become a productive member of the team.

Training components

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.

Learning Elements

At the end of the assignment, the Intern should have contributed to:

• the establishment of an efficient and effective stakeholder database;
• powerful narratives by using data analysis visualization to enable action-oriented discussions with partners;
• briefs for partnership development;
• ongoing operations and establishment of the new WFP Canada Office.  

Information on the Country of Assignment

• Living conditions in Ottawa, Canada

The security situation in Canada remains stable. There are no specific threats against the UN in Canada. UN staff in Canada are fully integrated into public life.  Public health care is provided through the provincial government.  Ottawa is well equipped with several hospitals and walk-in clinics for emergency care. 

• Other relevant information

The successful candidate will be required to work from the office in Ottawa, Ontario and will be provided with the necessary support and onboarding material.  The office will fully adhere to all Public Health Safety recommendations.

VA Reference no: 122927

Closing Date: 2 July 2020

Please note that the deadline is at 11:59 pm Rome time (GMT + 1) 

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 recognized 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.

Female and Indigenous applicants are especially encouraged to apply.  WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate based on HIV/AIDS status.

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.

Fighting Hunger Worldwide