DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS14 June 2025-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)
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 worldโs 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:
Gender Equality Officer (Emergencies)
TYPE OF CONTRACT:
Consultant Regular
UNIT/DIVISION:
Gender, Protection and Inclusion Service
DUTY STATION (City, Country):
Rome, Italy
DURATION:
Until December 31st 2025
I.BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
WFPโs ability to achieve its Strategic Objectives and reach a World with zero hunger depends on its capacity to deliver food assistance in a way that considers the different needs and priorities of all the people whom it serves. The 2022 WFP Gender Policy adopts a transformative approach based on a twin-track strategy of mainstreaming gender into all food assistance normative frameworks, programmes, systems and procedures and targeted actions when required. Gender equality and womenโs empowerment (GEWE) are everybodyโs business. WFP has been updated its Gender Policy and the associated implementation plan which lays out the key priority areas and actions for the organization.
In 2024-25, the Gender, protection and inclusion service has focused on better understanding and addressing gender in emergencies and gender-based violence. This has included undertaking a study which examined the gendered barriers to accessing WFP assistance as well as expanding our internal expertise and capacity in gender-based violence. Expanding our advocacy, collaboration and coordination with other relevant teams across WFP is important for ensuring effective gender mainstreaming throughout WFPโs emergency response and preparedness efforts.
II.ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The purpose of this assignment is to seek support and expertise to leverage WFPs experience, alongside new sresearch, on strengthening and systematizing a gender lens approach to the design and implementation of emergency response and preparedness programming.
Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Team lead โ Gender equality and the direct supervision of the Programme and Policy Officer (Gender) in Pillar 2: Field Support and Operational Partnerships, the consultant will be required to support the development and implementation of a gender in emergencies workplan and strategy. This will involve collaboration across different WFP work units to identify the most practical results-based approach for mainstreaming gender in emergencies and will include the development of new guidance and tools, including a mapping of existing best practices. This will involve, but not be limited to:
supporting the development and implementation of position papers, tools and other documents that form the basis of a strategy to support a practical approach for WFP to apply a gender lens to emergency preparedness and response programming;
liaising extensively with country offices, other units (within Global HQ) to learn how gender is mainstreamed and integrated into humanitarian operations, including assessing and documenting the real or perceived barriers to integrating gender equality measures/actions and proposing practical solutions to overcome these.
The Consultant will be an integral member of the Gender equality team and be expected to support senior staff, among others, to advance the overall strategy and priorities of the Service.
Core tasks:
- Support the development of a gender in emergencies strategy
- Validate the proposed guidance document(s) and tools to support the workplan and strategy, including their socialization at different levels, and during meetings and exposure to external stakeholders.
- Consult and communicate regularly with Country Offices, to tailor the strategy and tools to their needs.
- Support with the development and maintenance of knowledge management platforms and tools.
- Provide technical support to the field as needed, including through on-site visits, if possible.
- Ensure strong coordination and collaboration with the Gender Based Violence colleagues.
- Ensure coordination, collaboration and alignment with other colleagues in the Gender, protection and inclusion service as appropriate/when needed.
- Support the Gender, protection and inclusion service and Country Offices in other aspects of implementing the Gender Policy as it relates to this assignment
- Support the Gender, protection and inclusion service with any other related duties as required.
III.DELIVERABLES
A practical strategy for guiding WFP to apply a gender mainstreaming approach to emergency response and preparedness programming (in alignment with the Gender Policy 2022)
An annex to the strategy providing an overview of the outreach and collaboration undertaken with HQ and COs, and any other partners to inform the development of the strategy, including reflections on the extent to which these dialogues informed the final approach.
Guidance document(s) and tools identified to support the implementation of the above strategy.
IV.QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
- Masterโs Degree or equivalent in Gender, Development Studies, Economics, Political Science, Conflict Studies, Anthropology or any other relevant Social Science discipline;
Experience:
- 3-5 years field-based experience related to gender equality and/or social inclusion in emergency contexts, or relevant field.
- Additional experience in humanitarian and development assistance context (programming, operational or policy) highly desirable.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Strong knowledge of WFPโs mandate and work;
- Strong knowledge of gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in emergency contexts;
- Good knowledge of humanitarian contexts;
- Highly competent research and analysis skills;
- A good understanding of gender mainstreaming in the UN system;
- Proven effective communications skills and capacity to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary settings;
Languages:
- Written and spoken proficiency in English (Level C) with a second language highly desirable;
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
We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
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.
- Written and spoken proficiency in English (Level C) with a second language highly desirable;
- Masterโs Degree or equivalent in Gender, Development Studies, Economics, Political Science, Conflict Studies, Anthropology or any other relevant Social Science discipline;