Partnerships specialist
Organizational Context
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency addressing hunger and acute malnutrition. WFP provides solutions to end hunger and aligns humanitarian responses with early recovery and development objectives. Its dual mandate allows it to build unique strengths in enhancing food security and nutrition resilience, particularly in protracted crisis contexts. This role is based in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
Job Purpose
The Partnerships Specialist will support the WFP in Mauritania by implementing partnership, resource mobilization, and advocacy activities. This includes developing high-quality funding proposals, reports, and briefing notes. The role involves diversifying partnerships through profiling, outreach, and showcasing WFP's results, ensuring visibility and compliance. The specialist will produce data-driven analyses and recommendations to strengthen existing partnerships and identify new funding opportunities. They will coordinate programmatic and operational information, prepare strategic materials for partners and management, and support decision-making. The position also involves monitoring partnership data, participating in field missions and advocacy events, and facilitating communication with various WFP offices.
Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Head of Partnerships, Reporting, and Communication Unit, the Partnerships Specialist will implement partnership, resource mobilization, and advocacy activities, including developing quality funding proposals, reports, and briefing notes. The role involves contributing to partnership development and diversification through profiling, partner outreach, and highlighting WFP results, while ensuring visibility and compliance. The specialist will produce data-driven analyses and recommendations to strengthen existing partnerships and identify new funding opportunities. Responsibilities include coordinating programmatic and operational information, preparing strategic materials for partners and management, and supporting decision-making. The position requires monitoring partnership data using institutional systems to support WFP's positioning and influence public policies. The specialist will participate in field missions, events, and advocacy activities with partners, donors, and UN actors to promote WFP priorities and SDGs. Facilitating communication and coordination with various WFP offices and monitoring the implementation of the country office's private sector engagement strategy are also key duties. The role includes updating team work tools and performing other required tasks.
Work Experience
A minimum of three years of relevant professional experience is required in fields such as international development, development economics, international relations, law, marketing, or communication. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, SharePoint) is essential. Experience in developing strategic partnerships, mobilizing resources, data analysis and visualization, and preparing reports and advocacy documents is highly desirable. Prior experience with UN agencies or humanitarian/development organizations, particularly WFP, is an asset.
Skills
Core values include strict adherence to WFP confidentiality rules and ethical standards. Key competencies include partnership development and management, resource mobilization, communication, advocacy, and public information. Strong analytical, data visualization, and reporting skills are necessary. The ability to work collaboratively in a team and contribute to an inclusive, gender-equitable, and diverse work environment is important.