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Social Protection for Enhanced Nutrition and Health Outcomes Intern

Social Protection, Policy and Programme Division, Rome, Italy

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 for highly motivated and talented candidates to join the Social Protection Unit of the Programme and Policy Division in WFP Headquarters in Rome, Italy as a Social Protection for Enhanced Nutrition and Health Outcomes Intern. The internship will last for 6 months, staring in August until February 2023.

Brief description of WFP’s work in Social Protection:

Social protection is an increasingly relevant strategy for governments to reduce extreme poverty, as well as various forms of hunger and inequality. Virtually every country in the world has at least one social protection scheme in place and 47 percent of the global population are already covered by some type of social protection programme. Yet, over 4.1 billion people still lack adequate social protection.

As a global leader in fighting hunger and malnutrition worldwide, often in very difficult contexts, the World Food Programme (WFP) is increasingly called upon by governments to support national social protection systems. In 2021, WFP partnered with governments in 83 countries to support their national social protection systems, making assistance to social protection an integral part of WFP’s activities in most of the countries where it operates.

In the face of the global socio-economic fallout from the Ukraine crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, WFP has supported governments to introduce, scale-up, and adapt social protection measures. These measures shield communities and families from global inflation, spikes in commodity prices, and supply chain and financial disruptions.

These multiple global crises are not only putting the lives and livelihoods of many people across the globe at risk, but also threatening to undermine decades of progress made towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through its dual role as a technical advisor and complementary actor, WFP is supporting governments to improve national social protection systems to meet the SDGs and ensure that more people can manage risk and meet their food security, nutrition and related essential needs.

General Information

• Title of Post: Social Protection for Enhanced Nutrition and Health Outcomes Intern
• Supervisor: Chief of the Social Protection Unit
• Unit: Social Protection
• Country: Italy
• Duty Station: Rome - Headquarters
• Duration of internship: 6 to 8 months (Negotiable)
• Expected Start Date: August 2022 (Negotiable)

Duties and responsibilities

Under close supervision from the Chief of the Social Protection Unit and the Social Protection Programme Policy Officer coordinating the food security and nutrition-sensitive agenda in light of the first strategic priority of WFP’s SP strategy, the candidate will perform the following duties:

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research on social protection impacts on nutrition and health to aid the development of policy and technical briefing notes, journal articles, and literature reviews topics to inform ongoing and future initiatives.
  • Digest and analyse evidence on social protection, nutrition, and health to extract and update key facts and figures that can facilitate a better understanding of key global trends, issues and policy efforts to link social protection, food and public health systems.
  • Identify key enabling and disenabling factors in the link between social protection, nutrition, and health outcomes.
  • Map and take stock of knowledge and learning resources on social protection, nutrition and public health to identify gaps in the subject area
  • Develop concept notes and proposals for research and capacity development initiatives.
  • Assist in the documentation of WFP’s work in nutrition-sensitive social protection, capitalizing on the experiences and lessons learnt by the Organization over the last years at national, regional, and global levels.
• Lead the development of innovative and clear evidence-based communication and learning resources to raise awareness around social protection’s contribution to food security, nutrition and public health
• Support inter-agency coordination efforts and initiatives which aim to highlight the challenges faced and contributions made by social protection to food systems
• Help define strategic initiatives to improve the outreach and impact of WFP’s social protection knowledge and learning agenda on nutrition and health both internally and externally
• Support the refinement and development of training modules on different areas of social protection which speak to diverse sectors such as urbanisation, healthcare, and food systems
• Help deliver training modules of social protection to national policymakers and practitioners.
• Actively coordinate the organisation of a high-level policy dialogue in commemoration of World Food Day 2022 on food security and nutrition-sensitive social protection

Qualifications and experience

• Presently enrolled in a graduate programme and have attended classes in the past twelve months, or a recent graduate from a graduate programme (within six months prior to the application to the internship programme). (Nutrition, Food Security, Public Health, Epidemiology, Development Studies, Public and Social Policy, Communications, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, International Relations, Management and/or Economics);
• Basic understanding and interest in different social protection definitions, approaches and key policy considerations
• Experience undertaking qualitative and quantitative research, with a proven command of different research methodologies
• Excellent communication skills and proven ability in creative-, systems- and/or design-thinking is an asset
• Excellent command of English; Working knowledge of a second UN language would be an asset.
• Excellent writing skills in English and other languages
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• Proficiency in MS Publisher, In Design and/or Photoshop is highly desirable

Required soft skills/WFP Competencies:

• Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Strong communications and analytical skills;
• Ability to manage multiple projects and coordinate activities with competing deadlines;
• Ability to adapt priorities and outputs to changing circumstances in a fast-paced environment;
• Excellent planning skills, time management, and attention to detail
• High emotional intelligence and strong inter-personal skill set;
• Receptiveness to and ability to provide feedback;
• Ability to effectively partner, mobilize support and support team building and partnerships;
• Self-starting mentality and comfort with responsibility and independent work;
• An interest in research, new learning opportunities, and sharing knowledge.

Working Languages

Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) is required (you can specify an additional language required)

Supervision (Level/Methods of Supervision)

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Social Protection Unit, the incumbent will be provided with close mentoring, guidance and technical supervision. Performance planning and reviews as well as learning and development discussions will be elemental part of the supervision. The Social Protection Programme and Policy Officer - Global Knowledge and Learning Manager will be the second-level supervisor. With the support of a comprehensive induction package and assignment of a buddy/mentor, 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:

• acquired excellent technical knowledge of nutrition sensitive social protection, different national social protection schemes, and the role of UN agencies to enhance of food, public health and social protection systems
• boosted their research and writing skills
• strengthened their skills in strategic communications through the identification of different tools and methodologies to effectively capture and disseminate technical research and information to influence different policymakers and practitioners
• contributed to the positioning of the Nutrition and Social Protection Units through the documentation of valuable experiences and lessons learnt on social protection policy and programming
• become familiar with key debates and approaches in public health, food security, nutrition, humanitarianism, and development;
• gained a general understanding of WFP as an organization and the UN system.

Information on the Country of Assignment

• Living conditions in Rome, Italy

The security situation in Italy remains in line with other European Countries. There are no specific threats against the UN in Italy. Considering the ongoing defeat of Daesh in the war territories, the trend in the short and mid-term will most likely continue to see the return of the militants to the countries of origins, including Italy. Insurrectional anarchism remains sufficiently organized on the Italian territory, as it has been present for many years. This movement could target the UN in the context of its anti-capitalism/anti-western narrative. 2) Whilst UN staff continue to be victims of minor crime such as street robbery and apartment break-ins, the infrequency of attacks and random nature of locations do not indicate that UN staff are at an elevated risk in comparison to residents or tourists in Italy. 3) Italy’s national territory is exposed to a broader range of natural hazards than any other European country. The vulnerability of its population and built environment is often severe and has in some cases been exacerbated by human activities.

• Other relevant information: Please add other information if any.

VA Reference no: 168581

Closing Date: 30 July 2022

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 recognised 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.

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Leads by Example with Integrity

Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments

Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative Teamwork

Applies Strategic Thinking

Builds and Maintains Sustainable Partnerships

Lives the WFP values and shows humanity and integrity by role modelling care for others

Delivers on commitments and adapts readily to change

Is inclusive and collaborative, and contributes to a culture of learning and personal growth

Demonstrates commitment to gather perspectives, analyse options and risks, and propose new ways of doing things

Builds and nurtures external partnerships and collaborates with partners to deliver common objectives

Different expectations of behaviour are defined depending on your grade and role/responsibilities within WFP.

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.

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