DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS20 January 2025-23:59-GMT Greenwich Mean Time (Ouagadougou)
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.
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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).
The Government Partnership Officer will serve as the primary liaison between WFP and the Government of Burkina Faso. This role focuses on fostering collaboration, mobilizing resources, and ensuring that WFP’s programs are aligned with national priorities. Key responsibilities include building strong relationships with government entities and advocating for WFP’s objectives, identifying and securing government contributions (both financial and in-kind), ensuring WFP’s activities are in sync with national policies and frameworks, and providing regular updates, preparing reports, and maintaining records of government interactions. The officer will play a critical role in supporting WFP’s mission to address hunger and improve lives through strategic government partnerships.
ABOUT GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP OFFICER IN WFP BURKINA FASO
Background and Purpose of the Assignment:
Burkina Faso faces significant food insecurity and humanitarian challenges due to insecurity, climate change, and socio-economic shocks. The World Food Programme (WFP) plays a critical role in supporting the Government of Burkina Faso to achieve national and global objectives, particularly Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 (Zero Hunger) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
The Government Partnership Officer will support WFP’s engagement with the Government of Burkina Faso to align WFP’s activities with national priorities, mobilize resources, and strengthen partnerships to address the humanitarian and development needs of vulnerable populations.
This position is based in Ouagadougou and reports to the Head of External Relations Unit.
THE ROLE
Provide substantial value to WFP’s effective positioning with public, private and external partners to attract policy support, resources, technical assistance and innovative solutions to advance the work of WFP, while supporting member states in the achievement of the SDGs and Zero Hunger and emphasizing WFP’s contributions in this regard.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):
A. Partnership Development and Stakeholder Engagement
Act as WFP’s primary focal point for government partners, ensuring open and effective communication with relevant ministries, agencies, and technical bodies.
Foster strong, collaborative relationships with key government stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Social Action, Ministry of Economy and Finance, and others.
Represent WFP at government-led coordination meetings, working groups, and other forums to promote WFP’s mandate and activities.
B. Resource Mobilization and Advocacy
Identify opportunities for resource mobilization from the Government of Burkina Faso, including budgetary allocations, in-kind contributions, and other forms of support.
Advocate for WFP’s strategic priorities and demonstrate alignment with the government’s national strategies, such as the National Plan for Economic and Social Development (PNDES).
Prepare funding proposals, advocacy briefs, and communication materials tailored to government stakeholders.
C. Program Coordination and Policy Alignment
Ensure that WFP programs align with national development and humanitarian policies, frameworks, and action plans.
Collaborate with program teams to ensure government inputs are incorporated into the design, implementation, and monitoring of WFP activities.
Work with the government to facilitate WFP’s access to priority regions and address operational bottlenecks.
D. Reporting and Accountability
Prepare regular reports, briefing notes, and updates for government partners, demonstrating the impact of WFP’s programs and the value of their contributions.
Monitor and analyze changes in government policies, budgets, and priorities to inform WFP’s engagement strategy.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of WFP’s interactions with government stakeholders to ensure institutional knowledge continuity.
Other as required.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Education: Advanced University degree in Political Science, International Development, Development Economics, International Relations, Law, Marketing, Communications or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
Desired experiences for entry into the role:
Has a basic understanding of government and corporate strategies and priorities and experience in developing multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Has explored new partnership opportunities, provided inputs into developing solutions with prospective partners and explored new areas to scale-up existing activities.
Has designed and managed all resource mobilization processes and resource strategies, negotiated contract terms and provided resourcing advice to seniors.
Has gained experience in using technology and digital tools for data collection, analysis and shared data-based insights to add value to all partnerships.
Has supported creation of external communications and briefing materials.
Has provided advanced technical support and identified opportunities for service delivery excellence to strengthen partnerships.
Has motivated team spirit and contributed to a gender-balanced, inclusive and sound working environment.
Minimum three or more years of relevant professional work experience in partnership roles (post graduate experience/ at a NOB level)
Language: Fluency in both French and English (spoken and written) is highly required.
MORE ABOUT YOU
You have:
Strong Relationship-Building Skills: Proven ability to establish and nurture productive relationships with government stakeholders and other partners.
Excellent Communication Skills: Ability to convey complex ideas and information in a clear and persuasive manner, tailored to different audiences.
Resource Mobilization Expertise: A track record of identifying funding opportunities and successfully advocating for program support.
Program Coordination Knowledge: Demonstrated experience in ensuring alignment between program implementation and national policies or frameworks.
Analytical and Strategic Thinking: Skills to analyze government priorities and make recommendations that align with WFP’s objectives.
Team Spirit: A collaborative approach to working with diverse teams and fostering an inclusive and productive work environment.
Commitment to WFP’s Values: Dedication to WFP’s mission of achieving Zero Hunger and improving the lives of vulnerable populations.
ADDITIONAL / NICE TO HAVE
Knowledge of the Local Context: Familiarity with Burkina Faso’s political landscape, government structure, and humanitarian challenges.
Experience in High-Level Advocacy: Proven success in influencing high-level government policy and decision-making processes.
Project Management Experience: Experience in managing projects that involve multiple stakeholders, including government entities, donors, and NGOs.
Experience with UN Agencies or International NGOs: Previous experience working with UN agencies or international NGOs on government relations and partnerships.
Cultural Sensitivity and Adaptability: Ability to work in a diverse, multi-cultural environment with sensitivity to local customs and practices.
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 dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at global.inclusion@wfp.org. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.
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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION