Partnerships Officer Innovative Financing Specialist

World Food Programme•Panama City, FL

About The Position

The World Food Programme is committed to transforming its approach to partnerships through innovative financing models, amongst other models. As part of this effort, WFP’s Global Partnership Strategy aims to protect, grow, and diversify its partnership portfolio by: (i) strengthening existing high-impact partnerships, (ii) forging new partnerships and innovations, and (iii) expanding its funding sources. These goals are essential in ensuring WFP’s continued ability to deliver on its mission, particularly in addressing the increasing complexity of global food security challenges. Recognizing the risks of its dependency on a small number of resource partners and reliance on traditional fundraising models, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to diversify its funding while protecting and enhancing its current partnerships and reputation as a partner of choice. Tapping into the wider global financing landscape with new and different partnering modalities requires a concerted cross-functional approach with a strong emphasis on the field and recognition of the importance of strategic and targeted communications in underpinning the process. A new Corporate Critical Initiative (CCI) supports Regional Bureaus and Country Offices (COs) efforts to diversify funding by increasing and supplementing capacities in the field for identifying new and different partnerships and pursuing new partners and types of partnership. Direct support needs to be provided to COs for the development of well-informed resourcing plans and the definition of high-quality value propositions for partner engagement. In alignment with this global strategy, the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (RBP) has developed a Regional Partnership Strategy (2025-2028) that emphasizes leveraging strategic partnerships and market trends to unlock new funding opportunities. This includes incubating innovative ideas, scaling successful initiatives, and leveraging partnerships to unlock new funding opportunities, such as public-private partnerships, mobilizing additional resources and creating sustainable solutions. Innovative finance plays a key role in these efforts and is increasingly recognized as vital tools for addressing complex humanitarian and development challenges in the region, and WFP is committed to harnessing their potential. Through this consultancy, WFP aims to bolster its capacity to attract and mobilize additional resources, diversify funding sources, and leverage innovative financial tools that will drive meaningful change in the region. This role will focus on connecting various channels of funding, including public and private sector partners, as well as International Financial Institutions (IFIs), to explore and unlock new opportunities for financing. The expert will be responsible for identifying, exploring and testing innovative financing mechanisms, including blended finance, impact investment, capital market solutions that support Governments in raising development funding from local and international markets, and other emerging financing models, to mobilize additional resources in support of programme country government’s efforts to achieve Zero Hunger and for WFP’s work in Latin America and the Caribbean. The consultant will report to the Regional Head of Partnerships and work in close coordination with Country Offices, HQ and other relevant stakeholders.

Requirements

Advanced University degree in social sciences or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses
5 years or more of relevant progressive work experience in partnerships, financing for development, blended financing, impact investment and other innovative funding mechanisms.
Has a deep understanding of the Latin America and Caribbean context, including market trends and key stakeholders that support innovative financing.
Has led or developed innovative financing mechanisms, including blended financing, impact investments, bonds or other tools to bring resources to the SDGs through new fundraising models.
Has a basic understanding of government priorities and experience in developing multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Has explored new partnership opportunities, provided inputs into developing solutions with prospective partners and explored new areas to scale-up existing activities.
Has designed and managed all resource mobilization processes and resource strategies, negotiated contract terms and provided resourcing advice to seniors.
Has gained experience in using technology and digital tools for data collection, analysis and shared data-based insights to add value to all partnerships.
Has supported creation of external communications and briefing materials.
Fluency in English language and Spanish.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a work plan to enable WFP to identify, develop and strengthen innovative financing partnerships (blended finance, impact investment, debt swaps, etc.) in support of WFP strategic objectives.
Proactively contribute to a partnerships portfolio, including partners mapping (including through the use of the new Funding Initiatives and Resources Mapping (FIRM) tool, with the aim to maximize resources and leverage policy and technical support for WFP’s work; Ensure partner visibility and that partner conditions are met.
Scope, secure and connect various partners and channels of funding, including public and private sector partners, as well as International Financial Institutions (IFIs), to unlock new partnership models for financing.
Use data to drive business development and structure partnership models with new and existing partners, guided by programmatic assessment and context-specific analysis, with the aim to enhance the impact of WFP’s work and diversify the resource base.
Gather and share partner intelligence (including forecasting), using key information systems (e.g. Salesforce, WINGS, WFPGo).
Coordinate and solicit inputs from other functional entities, RBs and COs on WFP’s programmatic offering that can gain traction with partner audiences; Conduct analysis and draft quality briefs in support of outreach opportunities.
Coordinate and communicate with Multilateral and Programme Country Partnerships Division (MPC) and RBP IFI focal point for stronger support to COs in their efforts to engage programme country governments and IFIs.
Provide inputs to partnerships strategies, including the development of Partnering and Resourcing Strategy; Draw up quality proposals and reports.
Facilitate corporate dialogue with partners through networking and information sharing; Proactively highlight strategic issues to senior managers and propose options for the best course of action to nurture trust and partnership growth.
Support the development of a strategy for RB’s main diversification areas, outlining major diversification opportunities within the region and pathways to move towards diversification.
Contribute to HQ-led cross-fertilization between RBs by sharing best practices, lessons learned, and areas for improvement.
Actively support HQ-led Knowledge Management and Learning (KM&L) activities by using existing knowledge tools, supporting the development and dissemination of new knowledge products, participating in global KM&L initiatives, and ensuring alignment with HQ strategies.
Contribute to quarterly progress reports on the implementation of the CCI.
Other as required.