PD Internship Programme 2021 – Innovation Accelerator Intern

WFP Innovation Accelerator, Munich, Germany

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 motivated and qualified candidates to fill positions of the 2021 Policy and Programme Department (PD) Internship Programme.

The position will either be based in the Innovation Accelerator (INKA), based in Munich, Germany, or home-based, depending on the pandemic-caused restrictions. The internship will be for a period of 6 to 8 months starting from June or July 2021.

Brief description of WFP Innovation Accelerator:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency fighting hunger. WFP reaches more than 100 million people every day - delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with smallholder farmers, communities, and governments to improve nutrition and build resilience.

The WFP Innovation Accelerator was named by Fast Company as Most Innovative Non-Profit Organization 2021 for its work in identifying, nurturing, and scaling disruptive start-ups and innovations to end global hunger. Based in Munich, Germany, the Innovation Accelerator provides WFP employees, entrepreneurs and start-ups with funding, hands-on support, and access to WFP’s global operations. Through the Innovation Accelerator, WFP is leveraging unprecedented advances in digital innovation - such as mobile technology, artificial intelligence and blockchain - and new business models to transform the way it serves vulnerable communities across the world. In 2020, Accelerator supported innovations that positively impacted the lives of 3.7 million people globally. Most recently, the Accelerator runs programmes for external partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others.

For more information, please visit the following websites: http://innovation.wfp.org and https://youtu.be/OnKkQlRdh2c.

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General Information:

• ****Title of Post:**** PD Internship_Innnovation Accelerator, Innovation
• ****Supervisor:**** Head of Team
• ****Unit:**** Innovation Accelerator, Innovation and Knowledge Management Division (INKA)
• Country: Germany
• Duty Station: Munich
• Initial contract duration: 6 - 8 months
• Expected Start Date: June/July 2021

Duties and responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the relevant Head of Team at the WFP Innovation Accelerator, the candidate will perform the following duties:

• Support innovation projects which take part of the Innovation Accelerator
• Assist in documenting and flowcharting of business processes
• Assist in the organisation and preparation of materials for events, meetings, innovation boot-camps and workshops (in person and virtual)
• Assist in drafting and writing documents and communication materials
• Conduct research regarding technology trends and innovations in the humanitarian sector
• Assist in communication activities in English (and if applicable, German)
• Support any other activities related to innovation and zero hunger as required.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Currently enrolled in a graduate programme and have attended classes in the past 12 months, or a recent graduate from a graduate programme (within six months prior to the application to the internship programme). Areas of studies in the field of Business, Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Nutrition, International Development or other relevant are preferred.
• Excellent command of English; Working knowledge of a second UN language would be an asset.
• Proficiency in modern office tools (Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Suite).
• Entrepreneurial and innovative mindset, demonstrating through extracurricular activities.
• Technical or design skills are a plus.

Required soft skills/WFP Competencies:

• Collaborative spirit able to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures and to act with credibility and diplomacy.
• Capacity to work within procedural and process specifications.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Strong time management skills with an ability to plan ahead, anticipate requirements, problems and obstacles, and an ability to juggle competing priorities successfully, and to work to tight deadlines.
• Self-motivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy.
• Strong analytical abilities, both quantitative and qualitative.
• Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme.

Language requirements:

Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) is required Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages) or German is a plus.

Supervision (Level/Methods of Supervision)

The incumbent will be provided with mentoring and guidance. Through a short onboarding, 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.

Learning Elements

At the end of the assignment, the Intern should possess:

• A basic understanding of WFP’s approach to innovation
• Exposure to practical use of innovation methodologies such as Human Centered Design and Lean Startup
• First-hand exposure to WFP innovation
• General understanding of WFP overall operations.

VA Reference no: 141753

Closing Date: 2 May 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