Logistics & Procurement

Overview

Assist in supply chain logistics and analysis at WFP in Rome.

You have:

• You are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate programme from a recognized university in International Development, Business Administration, Supply Chain, or related field.
• You are proficient in MS Office package, particularly in Microsoft Excel.
• You have previous work or internships in the humanitarian, supply chain or logistics fields.
• You have good research and analytical skills.
• You are fluent in oral and written English and have technical writing skills.
• Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

# Internship – Supply Chain Field Support Unit (FSU)

Supply Chain, 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 to fill an intern position in our Field Support Unit in the Supply Chain Division based in Rome, Italy.

Brief description of the Supply Chain Field Support Unit:

WFP Supply Chain is the backbone of WFP’s operations, enabling the organization to deliver life-saving assistance to millions of people in more than 80 countries. With close to six decades of experience and expertise in humanitarian supply chain, WFP Supply Chain is critical to all aspects of WFP’s operations, be it emergency response, capacity building, school feeding, nutrition or other programmatic interventions.

This is made possible by an array of complex and diverse functions – spanning end-to-end planning, food procurement, goods and services procurement, food safety and quality, logistics, in-house shipping, aviation and cash-based transfers and markets – managed by WFP Supply Chain for the organization. Supply Chain also extends its expertise to partners and the wider humanitarian community, helping them to achieve their operational goals. Underpinning it all are 4,000 dedicated staff, often working in some of the most remote and challenging environments possible.

WFP conducts the vast majority of its life-saving activities in what is broadly referred to as the “field”, often in challenging emergency contexts. By supporting operations in the field as ably and efficiently as possible, the Field Support Unit strengthens the organization’s emergency response capacity and thus the ability to save and change lives. Embedded in the Supply Chain Division, FSU’s team of experienced supply chain staff, with diverse skill sets, offers support to WFP country offices, providing supply chain coordination in emergencies, operational and technical guidance and supporting compliance and oversight.

General Information

• Title of Post: Internship with the Supply Chain Field Support Unit (FSU)
• Supervisor: Head of the Field Support Unit
• Unit: SCOL
• Country: Italy
• Duty Station: Rome
• Duration of internship: Six Months
• Expected Start Date: Spring 2022

Duties and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Field Support Unit, the candidate will perform the following duties:

• Conduct desk research in support of longer term supply chain projects and provide summaries and/or analyses;
• Assist with the preparation of Concept of Operations and preparedness plans, ensuring they are regularly revised/updated as required;
• Support the design, development and implementation of a WFP Logistics Global Knowledge Management project;
• Establish and support the management of an internal FSU team information management structure;
• Assist with the preparation of documents including presentation material and briefing packs in support of FSU activities and field operations;
• Support data analysis and propose recommendations for resolving operational issues;
• Provide administration and logistics support to FSU activities, meetings and events;
• Support in preparation and development of material as part of training programmes and deployments;
• Take and keep notes and meeting minutes as needed; and
• Perform other duties as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education and experience

• You are enrolled in a undergraduate or graduate programme from a recognized university in International Development, Business Administration, Supply Chain, Procurement, Logistics or another related field with a minimum of two years completed undergraduate studies and have attended classes in the past 12 months; or recently graduated from an undergraduate or graduate programme (within six months prior to the application to the internship programme) and have attended classes in the last 12 months of enrolment in the university.
• You are proficient in MS Office package, particularly in Microsoft Excel.
• You have previous work or internships in the humanitarian, supply chain or logistics fields.
• Having demonstrated ability in supply chain and logistics performance analysis is an advantage.
• You have good research and analytical skills;
• You are able to meet deadlines and work under pressure as part of a team.

Language

• You are fluent in oral and written English and have technical writing skills;
• Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, French, Chinese, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages) is desirable.

Supervision (Level/Methods of Supervision)

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Field Support 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 Director of Logistics 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 a basic understanding of WFP.
• Have a basic understanding of humanitarian supply chain.
• Have an understanding the dynamics of supply chain coordination and response to an emergency/crisis.

Information on the Country of Assignment

• Living conditions in Rome, Italy

(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: 161139

Closing Date: 24 April 2022

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 recognized 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