DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

10 December 2025-23:59-GMT+02:00 Central Africa Time (Blantyre)

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 world’s 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).

The Partnerships, Reports and Communications (PRC) unit plays a central role in delivering on WFP Malawi’s Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2024–2028. The CSP positions WFP to address urgent humanitarian needs while strengthening national systems for long-term resilience, food security, and social protection. To succeed, the Country Office must maintain a strong and diversified resource base, forge strategic partnerships, and shape public and policy narratives that reinforce the value of WFP’s work.

The PRC unit leads WFP’s positioning and engagement with donors, host governments, multilateral institutions, the UN system, the private sector, academia, and the media. It ensures timely and compelling reporting to donors, drives public advocacy efforts, and develops strategies to influence and expand strategic partnerships.

The consultant will lead the PRC unit, advising senior leadership on high-level engagement, setting team priorities, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality products that support fundraising, visibility, and programme impact. The incumbent will report directly to the Country Director and be a member of the senior management team. They will supervise a team of national and international staff and consultants and work closely with programme and field teams across the Country Office.

The consultant will provide high-level strategic, managerial, and technical leadership to the PRC unit. Responsibilities include:

Strategic leadership and unit management

• Provide vision and strategic direction for WFP Malawi’s partnerships, donor relations, reporting, and external communications, aligned with the CSP 2024–2028.
• Lead and manage a multi-functional team of national and international staff; ensure clarity of roles, quality deliverables, and completion of annual performance evaluations (PACE).
• Promote collaboration across units and ensure the PRC team adds value across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus.
• Represent the PRC function at senior management and UN inter-agency fora, supporting joint advocacy, donor harmonisation, and visibility efforts.
• Identify gaps and opportunities in staffing, systems, and strategy, and provide forward-looking recommendations to the Country Director.

Donor relations and resource mobilisation

• Lead the design and implementation of WFP Malawi’s resource mobilisation strategy, ensuring proactive engagement with existing and prospective donors.
• Prepare high-level funding proposals, donor pitches, briefings, and talking points, ensuring alignment with donor priorities and country needs.
• Cultivate relationships with non-traditional donors, including private foundations, IFIs, and regional partners, and guide innovative financing initiatives.
• Oversee the preparation of timely, accurate, and results-based donor reports in coordination with programme, M&E, and finance teams.
• Ensure compliance with donor visibility and communication requirements, working closely with HQ and Regional Office focal points.

Public advocacy and strategic communications

• Lead the design and execution of a strategic communications plan to increase awareness of WFP’s work in Malawi among donors, government counterparts, UN partners, and the public.
• Oversee the production of multimedia content and advocacy campaigns that showcase WFP’s impact, with a focus on resilience, school meals, nutrition, social protection, and anticipatory action.
• Act as final editor for external materials (e.g. press releases, social media content, stories, speeches, and fact sheets), ensuring consistency and professionalism in tone and messaging.
• Strengthen relationships with local, regional, and international media outlets and ensure WFP is positioned as a credible voice on food security in Malawi.

Capacity strengthening and systems development

• Build internal capacity in donor engagement, storytelling, and strategic communication, including through structured trainings and mentoring.
• Guide the use of digital tools (e.g. WFPGo, Salesforce, SharePoint, Canva, Trello) to streamline reporting, communications planning, and knowledge management.
• Foster a culture of creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement across the PRC unit.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in International Development, Political Science, Communications, Public Policy, or a related field;
• Or a first-level university degree with additional years of relevant professional experience in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:

• 5–10 years of progressively responsible experience in partnerships, donor relations, communications, or resource mobilisation in international development or humanitarian contexts.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams, influencing senior stakeholders, and coordinating high-level donor relations.
• Proven ability to translate complex programmatic concepts into compelling proposals and advocacy narratives.
• Previous experience working with the UN system or WFP highly desirable.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Good interpersonal skills, teamwork spirit and ability to work in multicultural settings.
• Strong writing and editing abilities for diverse audiences.
• Strong interpersonal, diplomatic and negotiation skills.

Knowledge of WFP operations, donor landscape, and partnership systems (e.g. WINGS, WFPGo, Salesforce) an asset.

Languages:

• International Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language, Proficiency in another UN language an asset.

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.