Partnerships Officer at Wfp in Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda

Partnerships Officer Location: Kigali, Rwanda, The Republic Of DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 7 July 2026-23:59-GMT+02:00 Central Africa Time (Kigali) 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. To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok. 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). JOB TITLE: Partnerships Officer TYPE OF CONTRACT/Grade: Fixed Term, NOB UNIT/DIVISION: External Partnerships and Communication DUTY STATION (City, Country): Kigali/Rwanda DURATION: 12 months renewable ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency fighting hunger. WFP reaches more than 150 million people per year - delivering humanitarian food assistance and working with smallholder farmers, communities, and governments to improve nutrition and build resilience to crises. As conflict, climate change and economic shocks drive up the number of hungry people in Eastern Africa, finding innovative solutions to the complex humanitarian and development challenges in the region is essential, now perhaps more than ever. In Rwanda, WFP supports the Government with its ambitious goals to ensure food security and nutrition and equitable access to sustainable livelihoods for all. In this effort, WFP Rwanda works closely with diverse stakeholders to provide general food and nutrition assistance to over 135,000 refugees, asylum seekers and returnees; to strengthen national disaster risk management, social protection, school meals and nutrition programmes; to transform food systems; and to support emergency preparedness and response. This position is based in the Rwanda Country Office and reports to the Head of Partnerships, Communications, and Reporting. The Partnerships Officer contributes to the strategic positioning of WFP Rwanda by supporting partner engagement across Government, bilateral/multilateral donors, IFIs, UN agencies, NGOs, and private sector actors, in alignment with national priorities and WFP’s Country Strategic Plan. The role requires strong coordination with programme, supply chain, and technical units to ensure that WFP presents coherent, evidence-based, and context-specific value propositions to partners. JOB PURPOSE Support WFP Rwanda’s effective positioning and resource mobilization efforts by contributing to the development, management, and growth of strategic partnerships that mobilize resources, policy support, and technical collaboration in support of national priorities and Zero Hunger. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority) 1. Partnership Portfolio Development & Positioning Contribute to the implementation of WFP Rwanda’s Partnerships and Resourcing Strategy, with a focus on priority donors, Government institutions, and emerging partners. Support the development of partner-specific engagement strategies aligned with Rwanda’s policy agenda (e.g. social protection, resilience, food systems, refugee response). Assist in translating programme activities into clear, compelling value propositions tailored to different audiences. 2. Donor Engagement & Resource Mobilization Support the identification, tracking, and cultivation of funding opportunities across bilateral, multilateral, and IFI partners. Contribute to the preparation of high-quality proposals, concept notes, and donor reports, ensuring alignment with corporate standards and donor requirements. Maintain accurate partner intelligence and pipeline tracking using corporate systems (e.g., Salesforce, WINGS, WFPGo). 3. Government & Policy Engagement Support Provide analytical support to strengthen WFP’s positioning with the Government of Rwanda, including line ministries and national agencies. Contribute to briefing materials and talking points that align WFP programmes with national strategies and policy frameworks. Monitor and analyse the evolving policy environment to identify opportunities for engagement and influence. 4. Strategic Communications & Visibility Support implementation of the Country Office communications strategy by developing clear, evidence-based messaging for external audiences. Contribute to the preparation of briefing notes, talking points, presentations, and visibility materials for senior management. Ensure partner visibility requirements are met and aligned with agreed commitments. 5. Partnership Management & Coordination Support day-to-day management of partnerships, including tracking deliverables, compliance requirements, and reporting timelines. Engage with internal units to ensure coherent partner engagement and consistency of messaging across the portfolio. Facilitate coordination with UN agencies, NGOs, and other partners, including for joint initiatives and events aligned with SDGs and Zero Hunger. 6. Analysis, Insights & Innovation Analyse partner trends, funding patterns, and country context to inform strategic decision-making and identify opportunities for diversification. Contribute to the development of innovative partnership approaches, including blended financing, IFI engagement, and private sector opportunities (as relevant at CO level). Support the use of data and evidence to strengthen partner engagement and programme positioning. 7. Risk Monitoring & Preparedness Support monitoring of partnership and funding risks, contributing to mitigation measures and reporting. Contribute to preparedness and response efforts, including development of partner-facing materials in emergency contexts. DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience in roles related to partnerships, programme management, policy engagement, communications, business development, strategy, or other positions with significant external engagement and stakeholder coordination responsibilities. Demonstrated experience working with or engaging diverse stakeholders, such as government institutions, development partners, private sector entities, academia, or civil society. Direct experience in UN or humanitarian settings is an asset but not required. Experience contributing to resource mobilization, strategic initiatives, or business development processes, including preparation of proposals, reports, briefs, or analytical outputs. Proven ability to translate technical or programmatic work into clear, compelling messaging tailored to different audiences (e.g., senior leadership, external partners, policy audiences). Experience using data, analysis, or insights to inform decision-making, communication, or stakeholder engagement. Exposure to multi-sectoral or cross-functional work environments, demonstrating the ability to collaborate across teams and adapt to complex, evolving contexts. DESIRED COMPETENCIES Excellent writing and communication skills: Strong ability to produce clear, concise, and compelling proposals, briefs, and donor communications tailored to different audiences. Partnership-building and relationship management: A dynamic and proactive professional able to build, manage, and grow partnerships across Government, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, and private sector actors. Strategic thinking with strong execution: Able to translate strategic direction into high-quality deliverables and actionable outputs. Contextual awareness and political acumen: Ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and understand Rwanda’s governance and development landscape. Analytical and data-driven mindset: Ability to use data and evidence to inform partner engagement and positioning. Adaptability and initiative: Comfortable working in a dynamic environment, managing competing priorities, and proactively identifying opportunities. STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 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 relevant work experience.) Experience At least three years of relevant professional experience in partnerships, resource mobilization, communications, or related fields. Language Fluency (level C) in English. Knowledge of French or another UN/WFP working language is an asset. 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 committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org NO FEE DISCLAIMER The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel. We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application. If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply. At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process. All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.