Internship - Business Innovation and Change Unit, Innovation Division

Job Description

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).

Over the past years, the United Nations World Food Programme (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 we are channelling every available resource to the people we serve.

The Business Innovation and Change Unit (BIU) was established in 2015 to manage change and to promote innovation as part of WFP’s Innovation division: BIU acts as the “management consulting arm” of WFP BIU is composed of staff with top-tier management consulting backgrounds (e.g. Bain, BCG, McKinsey, …) as well as Un experience. BIU executes projects on behalf of Executive Directors, Assistant Secretary Generals, and Directors across the UN system, and has become a trusted advisor to WFP and other UN System Organisations (e.g. UN Women, UNFPA, Business Innovation Group). BIU’s focus is on end-to-end solutions, including problem assessment, strategy development, advanced data analysis, operational model design, change plan, and implementation monitoring.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Type of assignment: Internship, Business Innovation and Change
• Number of available positions: 6
• Country of assignment: Italy
• City of assignment: Rome
• Hiring Unit: Business Innovation and Change Unit
• Supervisor: Innovation Manager
• Working arrangement: In-person internship
• Duration of assignment: 6 months
• Expected Starting Date: 15 September 2025

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the INN Manager, the candidate will perform the following duties:

• Support the assigned workstream/project with data analysis and preparation of presentations.
• Helping the team create key documents for executive management.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate programme (for example, Bachelor’s degree) from a recognized university and have completed at least two years of the programme; OR
• Be currently enrolled in a graduate programme (for example, Master degree); OR
• Be a recent graduate from an undergraduate or graduate programme (within six months prior to the application to the internship programme); AND
• Classes attendance in the last 12 months of enrolment in a recognized university.
• Excellent written and spoken English is required (proficiency/level C). Working knowledge of another official UN language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian plus Portuguese) is an asset.

SUPERVISION

Under the direct supervision of an INK Manager, the incumbent will be provided with close mentoring, guidance and technical supervision. Performance planning and reviews as well as learning and development discussions will be elemental part of the supervision. The Chief of BIU will be the second level supervisor. With the support of a comprehensive induction package and assignment of a buddy/mentor, the intern will rapidly become a productive member of the team.

TRAINING COMPONENTS

Throughout their assignment WFP interns have access to an industry leading learning platform, weLearn. Depending on opportunities and availability of funds, he/she may participate in WFP workshops or seminars, as appropriate.

LEARNING ELEMENTS

At the end of the assignment, the Intern should have learned how to:

Support the assigned workstream/project with data analysis and preparation of presentations:

• Edit workstream data for analysis and carry out first analysis;
• Obtain and clear data from different sources and departments;
• Clean data in excel and prepare for pivoting and other excel operations;
• Run first analysis to determine possible fi elds of interest;
• Suggest and inform the team on possible analysis approaches and outcomes;
• Suggest and create slides showing results of analysis;
• Support workstream in creation of necessary slides;
• Suggest interesting new slides based on insight gained in discussions and data analysis;
• Participate in team discussions/meetings wherever possible;
• Participate in meetings, as required by the project;

Help the team to create key documents for executive management;

Assist the Director of Innovation as well as the Project Manager and Consultant with other activities as required.

INTERNSHIP TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Interns receive a monthly stipend from WFP up to the maximum amount of US$1,000 per month depending on the duty station of assignment.
• WFP is not responsible for living expenses, arrangements for accommodation, VISA requests and related costs.
• WFP will reimburse travel ticket for candidates who are nationals of developing countries and are pursuing their studies in their home country.
• WFP will recognize candidates’ educational credentials from recognised institutions that have been certified by competent international or national authorities such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or Ministries of Education.
• Sons, daughters, brothers, or sisters of current WFP employees are not eligible to apply.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

9 August 2025-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)