Programme & Policy

Overview

Assist with promoting climate risk management solutions.

You have:

• Currently enrolled in a graduate degree programme or recently graduated (within the past 6 months) in relevant disciplines.
• Excellent command of English required.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Ability to produce high-quality written materials.
• Ability to function in a cross-cultural team environment.

# Internship – Communications and Knowledge Management

Global Risk Transfer Team

Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes Unit, WFP Rome, Italy

(Remote Internship - Rome, Italy, if situation allows)

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.

In view of increasing needs, the PRO-C Global Risk Transfer team is seeking an intern candidate to assist with two workstreams that will promote and advance integrated climate risk management solutions in WFP’s Country Programmes:

1. Support development of internal and external communications materials and content to promote scale up and mainstreaming of WFP’s climate risk financing mechanisms,
2. Support knowledge management for PRO-C Global Risk Transfer programmes.

We are currently seeking to fill a Communications and Knowledge management intern position in our Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes Unit (PRO-C) of the Policy and Programme Division (PRO), based in Rome, Italy.

Brief description of PRO-C, PRO:

The Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction Unit (PRO-C) in WFP's Policy and Programme Division (PRO) focuses on the impact the climate crisis has on hunger, food security and nutrition. WFP is deploying climate risk financing and climate risk management tools and services worldwide to enhance the resilience of communities and governments vulnerable to food insecurity, helping them adapt to the risk of more frequent and intense climate extremes and hazards.

WFP launched its flagship microinsurance programme, the R4 Rural Resilience Initiative (R4), in 2011 to empower farmers and food insecure rural households with a set of integrated risk management tools, including Risk Transfer (e.g. climate risk insurance), Risk Reduction (e.g. physical, human and social assets for improved resource management), prudent Risk Taking (e.g. increasing investments and income generation) and Risk Retention (e.g. informal and formal savings accounts). R4 aims to develop long-term resilience to the growing challenges of food insecurity and climate change as well by integrating with WFP core programs and national social protection systems. R4 is present in Ethiopia, Senegal, Malawi, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Mozambique, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua and is currently preparing expansion to new countries (the Gambia, Haiti, Cuba…). In 2020, R4 contributed to insuring close to 200,000 households and is continuing its expansion in 2021.

In addition, WFP is implementing ARC Replica in Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Zimbabwe and is expanding its risk financing initiatives at the sovereign level. This requires some support in terms of training of local stakeholders and Country Office staff, and communicating the results of operations funded through insurance payouts received from ARC Replica.

General Information

• Title of Post: Internship
• Supervisor: Programme and Communications Officer
• Unit: PRO-C
• Country: Italy
• Duty Station: HQ Rome (Remote internship)
• Duration of internship: 6 months
• Expected Start Date: 28/01/2022

Duties and responsibilities

1. Support communications for the PRO-C Global Risk Transfer Team by:

• Working with WFP Country Offices and external partners to draft articles, essays, occasional papers, presentations, and talking points.
• Preparing briefing notes and talking points for senior staff,
• Updating and coordinating development of factsheets, websites and other materials.

2. Support the development of a guidance for knowledge management on climate risk management and risk transfer progammes by:

• Collecting, organizing and consolidating information from WFP Country Offices, Regional Bureaux, as well as existing materials and guidance,
• Elaboration of knowledge materials (e.g.: case studies, factsheets, one-pagers, etc.);
• Share information, experiences, ideas, questions etc., and facilitate engagement between WFP staff, Partnership Platforms and other UN Agencies.

Qualifications and experience

• Currently enrolled in a graduate degree programme or recently graduated (within the past 6 months) in one or more of the following disciplines: Journalism, international relations, public relations, communications, environmental studies, development studies, or other related fields;
• University course attendance in the past 12 months;
• Excellent command of English;
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)

Required soft skills/WFP Competencies:

• Very good analytical and writing skills;
• Ability to produce high-quality written materials, including graphically-based PowerPoint presentations as well as text documents;
• Ability to function comfortably in a cross-cultural team environment, handle multiple assignments and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of the UN Systems and WFP internal/external platforms will be an asset.

Working Languages

Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) is required. Working knowledge of a second UN language would be an asset;

Supervision (Level/Methods of Supervision)

Under the direct supervision of the Risk Transfer Team Programme and Communications Consultant, 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 Risk Transfer Team Senior Advisor 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:

• Gain an understanding of WFP’s climate risk management approaches and WFP’s country programmes that are deploying risk transfer solutions to address climate shocks.
• Develop communication materials for various audiences with differing levels of technical knowledge and communicate complex programmatic concepts through multiple formats and media to internal and external stakeholders.
• Learn about WFP’s work within the humanitarian, development and peace nexus and the broader UN System.

Information on the Country of Assignment

• Living conditions in Rome, Italy (Remote internship)

(Living conditions, security, health, etc)

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

VA Reference no: 154453

Closing Date: 26 December 2021

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.

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply. WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of 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

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Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wfp.org