The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is hiring a Business Innovation Consultant (VA 174031) for 6-11 months, with the duty station listed as Rome, Italy / Munich, Germany. Applications close on 14 January 2027, and the role asks for at least 2 years in management consulting or innovative finance. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full vacancy and set out every duty, requirement and application rule below.
The Consultancy at a Glance
💼 Job title: Business Innovation Consultant, United Nations World Food Programme
🔢 Vacancy reference: VA 174031
📍 Duty station: Rome, Italy / Munich, Germany
⏱️ Duration: 6-11 months
🧭 Team: Business Innovation Unit (BIU) / UN Advisory Alliance (UNAA), within WFP's Innovation division
🎯 Experience: at least 2 years in management consulting or innovative finance
🗣️ Language: high proficiency in written and spoken English
🛂 Visa: WFP supports visa applications
📄 Documents at application stage: CV and Cover Letter
What WFP Does
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 says that people are 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.
The Five Values WFP Works By
🛡️ Integrity
🤝 Collaboration
🔥 Commitment
🫶 Humanity
🌟 Inclusion
Why WFP Created This Assignment
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 that every available resource is channelled to the people it serves.
Inside the Business Innovation Unit and UN Advisory Alliance
The Business Innovation Unit (BIU) / UN Advisory Alliance (UNAA) was established in 2015 to manage change and to promote innovation as part of WFP's Innovation division.
🏛️ BIU/UNAA acts as the "management consulting arm" of WFP.
🧠 The team is composed of staff with top-tier management consulting backgrounds as well as UN experience.
🗂️ It 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, such as UN Women, UNFPA and the UN Secretariat.
🔄 Its focus is on end-to-end solutions, including problem assessment, data analysis, operational model design, change plan and implementation monitoring.
Your Main Accountabilities
🚀 Execution of Business Innovation projects
📌 Overall BIU/UNAA priorities
➕ Other activities
How Your Project Workstream Is Decided
Depending on the time of joining, your specific experience and current corporate priorities, you will support the delivery of a project workstream under guidance. The deliverables below are examples given by WFP.
WFP and UN System Senior Leadership Support
🏅 Collaborate with senior leadership on prioritization of key organizational initiatives
📊 Provide analytical and project management support
🧩 Coordinate with initiative owners in driving implementation forward
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Supporting UN Reform and UN80
In this workstream, you support UN Reform/UN80 implementation and are part of an inter-agency project team.
🔍 Explore benefits for potential global and local collaboration with sister agencies
📘 Identify Business Operations Strategy best practices for collaboration and support knowledge transfer across Country Offices
📈 Engage in the UN Reform/UN80 initiatives by performing internal analysis on service delivery effectiveness and efficiency
🗺️ Review current service approaches at global and country levels
🧪 Support pilot launches as needed
📣 Contribute to the communication efforts on UN Reform/UN80
Additional Support for the Unit
📚 Support knowledge management reviews and best practices sharing
🛎️ Handle additional support requests, as required
Education and Experience WFP Is Looking For
🎓 Education: preference for a degree in business, economics or engineering.
🧳 General experience: about 2 years of progressively responsible national and/or international experience in a business or international relations related position.
🏆 Required experience: at least 2 years in management consulting or innovative finance.
✨ Desirable: additional work experience.
Knowledge and Skills for the Role
🛠️ Ability to contribute to developing new strategies and innovative projects
📐 Good analytical abilities, both quantitative and qualitative
📑 Ability to perform advanced analysis in Excel and produce high-quality written materials, including PowerPoint presentations as well as text documents
⚙️ Experience with optimization processes, such as optimization of strategic planning, sourcing, logistics, finance processes and performance management
🤲 Collaborative spirit to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures, with credibility and diplomacy
⏰ Time management skills, with an ability to plan ahead, anticipate requirements, problems and obstacles, juggle competing priorities successfully and work 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 and Visa Support
In addition to a high proficiency in written and spoken English, knowledge of a second UN language is a plus.
WFP supports visa applications, and the vacancy states that the position is based in Rome, Italy.
Why Join 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 career path in WFP provides the opportunity to work across country, regional and global offices around the world, with colleagues who work to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
🎁 WFP states that it offers an attractive compensation package and refers candidates to the Terms and Conditions section of the vacancy announcement.
Diversity and Equal Opportunity
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.
WFP's Leadership Framework sets the common standards of behaviour that guide how staff work together to accomplish the organization's mission.
Reasonable Accommodation During Recruitment
WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. A dedicated contact for these requests is included in the final section of this post.
How to Apply
🖥️ 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 completed, apply and submit your application.
📎 At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter.
🪪 Additional documents, such as your passport, certificates or recommendation letters, may be requested later in the process.
📞 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.
🧰 A separate email address exists only for technical issues with an application. Unsolicited applications or documents sent there will not receive a reply.
No Fee at Any Stage
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 solicitation for the payment of a fee, disregard it.
WFP also warns that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced, so applicants are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
Reference Checks and Conduct Standards
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. For this reason, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Who Cannot Be Appointed
No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the following bodies, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service:
🏢 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)
📋 Other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the WFP Business Innovation Consultant based?
The vacancy lists the duty station as Rome, Italy / Munich, Germany. Its visa note states that the position is based in Rome, Italy.
How long is this WFP consultancy?
The assignment runs for 6-11 months. Your specific workstream depends on the time of joining, your experience and current corporate priorities.
How much experience do I need?
WFP asks for about 2 years of progressively responsible national and/or international experience in a business or international relations related position. At least 2 years of experience in management consulting or innovative finance is required, and additional work experience is desirable.
Which degree does WFP prefer for this role?
WFP states a preference for a degree in business, economics or engineering. No other education requirement is listed in the vacancy.
Do I need a second UN language?
No, but it is a plus. High proficiency in written and spoken English is what the vacancy asks for.
Will WFP help with a visa?
Yes. The vacancy states that WFP supports visa applications for this position.
Which documents do I need when I apply?
Only your CV and Cover Letter are required at the application stage. Your passport, certificates, recommendation letters or other documents may be requested later in the process.
Can I send my CV by email?
No. WFP only considers applications submitted through its online recruiting system, and does not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn or any other channel.
Is there a fee to apply to WFP?
No. The United Nations does not charge any fee at any stage of the application or recruitment process, and any request for payment should be disregarded.
Will everyone hear back after applying?
No. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.
Deadline
⏳ 14 January 2027
Links
🔗 Apply on the WFP careers site: https://wd3.myworkdaysite.com/recruiting/wfp/job_openings/job/Rome-Italy/Business-Innovation-Consultant----VA-174031_JR109486-3
🏠 WFP website: https://www.wfp.org
🔧 Technical issues with an application only: global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org
♿ Reasonable accommodation requests: global.inclusion@wfp.org
