Partnership Officer – Government Engagement SC 8 at WFP

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).

Purpose of the Role

The Partnerships Officer (SC-8) leads WFP’s engagement with the Government of Tanzania at national level, with a particular focus on ministries, departments, and agencies that align with WFP’s mandate. The role ensures consistent and strategic government relations, provides actionable advice to WFP management on how best to engage government stakeholders, and supports alignment between WFP operations and national priorities.

The incumbent serves as WFP’s government liaison in Dodoma, representing the organization at key government meetings and strengthening institutional partnerships to advance food security, nutrition, social protection, climate resilience, and related national development goals.

Key Duties and Responsibilities (Not all inclusive):

A. Strategic Government Engagement

• Act as the primary focal point for WFP’s engagement with key ministries and national institutions based in Dodoma.
• Provide strategic and timely advice to the Head of Office, Country Director, and senior management on government relations, political dynamics, and appropriate protocols for engagement.
• Monitor and analyse government policy processes, national budget cycles, parliamentary activities, and institutional priorities relevant to WFP’s work.
• Identify opportunities for WFP to support national priorities, including school feeding, agriculture, nutrition, food systems, supply chain and logistics, climate-smart agriculture, emergency preparedness, anticipatory risk reduction (DRR) and social protection.
• Prepare briefing notes, talking points, and background materials to support WFP leadership in government meetings.

B. Partnership Development and Coordination

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with ministries such as Finance, Agriculture, Education, Energy, Prime Minister’s Office, Home Affairs, Community Development, and others connected to WFP interventions.
• Facilitate stronger linkages between Government ministries and International Financial Institutions (World Bank, AfDB, IFAD, IMF), positioning WFP as a trusted partner in national development financing processes.
• Facilitate coordination between government institutions and WFP programme teams to ensure alignment and effective collaboration.
• Support the design and implementation of government-led initiatives where WFP contributes technical or operational support.
• Help identify new government counterparts and emerging engagement opportunities in line with the Country Strategic Plan (CSP).
• Explore critical partnerships within the Government system and secure their alignment and support for the WFP’s programming strategies
• Monitor national financing priorities, loan pipelines, and government–IFI negotiations to identify opportunities where WFP can provide technical assistance, advisory support, or implementation capacity within IFI-funded programmes.

C. Advisory Support to WFP Management

• Provide guidance to WFP leadership on relationship management, diplomatic engagement, and context-appropriate approaches when interfacing with government.
• Advise on risks, sensitivities, and political-economy considerations that may influence programme delivery or institutional cooperation.
• Support WFP’s compliance with national protocols, formal communication channels, and government coordination systems
• Ability to conceptualize and analyze WFP’s development strategies and its applicability in managing and coordinating Government engagement and partnership for development projects design implementation and sustainability.
• Keeps abreast to WFP senior Management of development issues and changes in Government policies and regulations and conceptualizes ideas and approaches WFP might adopt to changes.

D. Positioning, Advocacy & Visibility

• Strengthen WFP’s reputation as a partner of choice for both humanitarian response and development support.
• Contribute to the development of presentations, government-facing documents, and visibility materials that demonstrate WFP’s value and impact in Tanzania.
• Ensure WFP’s contributions are represented in relevant policy platforms, technical working groups, and government events.

E. Representation, Documentation & Knowledge Management

• Represent WFP at government meetings in Dodoma and ensure consistent communication with the Country Office and programme teams.
• Produce summaries, action points, and analytical updates following engagements with government stakeholders.
• Support internal coordination by ensuring relevant units across WFP receive timely information, decisions, and follow-up actions from government counterparts.

3. Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Advanced University Degree in Public Administration, Social science, Political Science, International Relations, Development Studies, Program Management, Public Policy, or related field; OR
• First University Degree with additional relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Minimum five years of progressively responsible experience in government relations, public sector coordination, partnership management, or policy engagement.
• Experience working with national governments, preferably in Tanzania, and familiarity with ministerial structures and public administration systems.
• Experience in international development, humanitarian work, or multilateral institutions such IFIs is an asset.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of Tanzania’s government systems, national development priorities, social, and political-economy context.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, influencing decisions, networking, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prepare high-quality briefs, analyses, and meeting documentation.
• Ability to engage diplomatically and navigate sensitive issues.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple engagements
• High energy, maturity, and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force and to position WFP’s communications and discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels.
• Relationship builder with the flexibility and finesse to ‘manage by influence’
• Team-oriented, collaborative, flexible, adaptable, and comfortable working in an inclusive, low-ego, matrix-management environment

Language

• Fluency in English and Kiswahili (Level C).

4. Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic and analytical thinking
• Political acumen and social-cultural sensitivity
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills
• Effective communication and coordination abilities
• Ability to work under pressure and manage diverse stakeholders

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