The World Food Programme (WFP) is looking for an Innovative Finance Manager in its Change Management and Business Innovation Unit (BIU), a 6-month consultant assignment with the duty station listed as Rome, Italy or Remote. The role designs and implements financing instruments that unlock new funding flows beyond traditional Official Development Assistance, and requires at least 7 years of relevant experience. Applications close on 15 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy and covered every part of it below.
About the World Food Programme
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 extreme weather shocks.
WFP puts people at the heart of everything it does. Its vision of the future workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.
WFP's Five Values
🧭 Integrity
🤝 Collaboration
💪 Commitment
❤️ Humanity
🫶 Inclusion
Why Work at WFP?
🏅 WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
🎨 It offers a highly inclusive, diverse and multicultural working environment.
📚 It invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship and other programs, as well as internal mobility opportunities.
✈️ A WFP career is an opportunity to work across country, regional and global offices around the world, with passionate colleagues who work to ensure effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
💼 WFP mentions an attractive compensation package, described in the Terms and Conditions section of its vacancy announcement.
Assignment Details
📌 Job title: Change Management and Business Innovation - Innovative Finance Manager
📍 Duty station: Rome, Italy or Remote
⏱️ Duration: 6 months
🎚️ Level: Consultant
Why This Assignment Exists
Over the past years WFP has responded to an unprecedented level of emergencies while maintaining ongoing operations. This increased demand stretches the organization, which means WFP has to find new approaches and ways of working to ensure every available resource is channelled to the people it serves.
Inside the Change Management and Business Innovation Unit
The Change Management and Business Innovation Unit (BIU) was established in 2015 to manage change and promote innovation as part of WFP's Innovation division.
🗝️ BIU acts as the "advisory arm" of WFP.
🎓 BIU is composed of staff with top-tier management consulting backgrounds as well as UN experience.
🏛️ The unit executes projects on behalf of Executive Directors, Assistant Secretary Generals and Directors across the UN system.
🌐 It has become a trusted advisor to WFP and other entities, for example UN Women, UNFPA and Business Innovation Group.
🔄 Its focus is on end-to-end solutions, including problem assessment, data analysis, operational model design, change plan and implementation monitoring.
The Push for Innovative Financing
United Nations entities are scaling up their efforts to mobilize innovative financing solutions to meet growing humanitarian and development needs. Within BIU, this consultancy focuses on designing and implementing cutting-edge financing instruments that can unlock new funding flows, alternative to traditional Official Development Assistance (ODA), for WFP's partners.
Main Accountabilities
1️⃣ Execution of Business Innovation projects in Innovative Finance.
2️⃣ Additional activities and needs.
What You Will Deliver
Depending on the time of joining, your specific experience and current corporate priorities, you will be responsible for the full delivery of a project work stream. Such a workstream could be part of initiatives aimed at the definition of innovative financing strategies, or at the design and launch of instruments such as:
🧪 Blended finance instruments.
🌱 Impact investment funds.
📲 Fundraising platforms.
🎯 Results-based financing.
➕ Other similar initiatives.
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Business Innovation Projects in Innovative Finance
🏗️ As part of a BIU team, support the design and structuring of innovative financing mechanisms aligned with partners' strategic priorities.
🗺️ Support the development of innovative financing strategies.
🔭 Conduct landscape reviews of existing and emerging financing models across the UN system and development finance ecosystem.
📈 Develop investment theses, business cases and financial models for new instruments.
🫱 Engage with donors, investors and implementing partners to co-develop and validate financing structures.
⚙️ Support the operationalization of selected mechanisms, including legal, governance and risk frameworks.
🧠 Provide strategic advisory support to senior leadership on financing innovation.
🖥️ Prepare high-quality reports, presentations and briefing materials for internal and external stakeholders.
Additional Activities
🏫 Contribute to internal capacity-building efforts on innovative finance.
🗃️ Support knowledge management reviews and best practices sharing.
🪜 Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries.
📦 Provide additional project support based on the pipeline and new projects contracted during the contract, as required.
Education
WFP has a preference for a degree in finance, economics, business administration, public policy or a related field.
Experience Required
🗓️ At least 7 years of relevant work experience in innovative finance, impact investing, development finance, investment banking or related fields.
🏦 Experience in a top tier management consulting firm or investment bank.
🌏 Experience working with multilateral organizations, development banks or philanthropic investors is highly desirable.
Knowledge and Skills
💡 Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing innovative financing instruments such as blended finance mechanisms, results-based financing, social impact bonds, impact investment funds and digital fundraising platforms in the development or humanitarian context.
🧮 Strong financial modeling and structuring capabilities, with the ability to develop investment theses, business cases and risk-return frameworks for such instruments.
📥 Deep understanding of resource mobilization tools and strategies.
👥 Ability and experience leading and overseeing a team of more junior resources (for example consultants) to deliver complex projects, analytical workstreams and financial transactions end to end.
📊 Good quantitative and qualitative analytical abilities, including the ability to produce high-quality written materials such as PowerPoint presentations and text documents.
🗣️ Good stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
🌉 A collaborative spirit to engage effectively with internal teams and external partners across diverse cultural and institutional settings.
⏰ Time management skills: planning ahead, anticipating requirements, problems and obstacles, juggling competing priorities and working on tight deadlines.
🚀 Self-motivated and able to work with a certain degree of autonomy and/or in a team.
🎗️ Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme.
Languages
🇬🇧 High proficiency in written and spoken English.
🗨️ Knowledge of a second UN language is a plus.
Visa Support
WFP supports visa applications, and the position is based in Rome, Italy.
WFP Leadership Framework
The WFP Leadership Framework sets the common standards of behavior that guide how WFP staff work together to accomplish the organization's mission.
Diversity and Reasonable Accommodation
WFP celebrates and embraces diversity and is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees. Qualified candidates are encouraged 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.
WFP also supports individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. The contact address for accommodation requests is listed in the Links section.
How to Apply
🕛 The deadline for applications is 23:59 Central European Time (Rome, GMT+01:00) on 15 November 2026.
🖱️ All applications must be submitted exclusively through WFP's online recruiting system. CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn or any other channel are not considered.
👤 WFP strongly recommends that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, with all sections filled in, including employment history, academic qualifications, language skills and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is complete, apply and submit your application.
📎 At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.
🆘 If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, a dedicated support address is available. It is only for technical issues: unsolicited applications or documents sent there will not receive a reply.
Shortlisting and Background Checks
📬 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to the next stage of the recruitment process.
⚖️ All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit and individual qualifications.
🛡️ WFP is committed to an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority, so all selected candidates undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
🚫 No appointment under any kind of contract is 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 similar UN oversight bodies, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.
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. If you receive a request for payment of a fee, disregard it. Emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced, so take particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can the WFP Innovative Finance Manager work remotely?
The duty station is listed as Rome, Italy or Remote. WFP also states that it supports visa applications and that the position is based in Rome.
How long is the consultancy?
The assignment lasts 6 months at Consultant level. It sits within the Change Management and Business Innovation Unit (BIU).
What kind of financing instruments will I work on?
Workstreams could include innovative financing strategies and instruments such as blended finance, impact investment funds, fundraising platforms and results-based financing. The aim is to unlock funding flows alternative to traditional Official Development Assistance.
What is BIU?
BIU is WFP's Change Management and Business Innovation Unit, established in 2015 as part of the Innovation division. It acts as the advisory arm of WFP and has advised other UN entities such as UN Women and UNFPA.
How much experience do I need?
You need at least 7 years of relevant work experience in innovative finance, impact investing, development finance, investment banking or related fields. Experience in a top tier management consulting firm or investment bank is also listed.
Will I manage other people?
Yes. The role includes guiding and supervising more junior staff, and WFP asks for experience leading teams of more junior resources such as consultants.
Which languages are required?
High proficiency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of a second UN language is a plus.
What documents do I need to apply?
Only your CV and Cover Letter are required at the application stage. Applications must be submitted through WFP's online recruiting system.
Does WFP charge any fee during recruitment?
No. The United Nations does not charge any fee at any stage of the application or recruitment process, and any such request should be disregarded.
Deadline
⏳ 15 November 2026
Links
🔗 Apply on the WFP online recruiting system: https://wd3.myworkdaysite.com/recruiting/wfp/job_openings/job/Rome-Italy/Innovative-Finance-Manager_JR120704-1
🏠 WFP website: https://www.wfp.org
♿ Reasonable accommodation requests: global.inclusion@wfp.org
🛠️ Technical issues with an application: global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org
