The World Food Programme internship is always looking for talented, motivated and enthusiastic students from around the world. An internship at WFP is a great opportunity to acquire practical work experience while contributing to the goal of reaching Zero Hunger.
The World Food Programme has been awarded with a Gold Standard Internship Host Badge by The University of Oxford for the support and the quality of the internship experience it has provided to their students over the last few years.
The goal of the internship program is to provide students interested in international development with a better understanding of WFP’s work and mission. This program is therefore suitable for those seeking practical experience in issues related to the fight against global hunger, especially in least-developed countries and developing countries.
The mission of the World Food Programme Internship (WFPI) is to fight global hunger by ensuring that those in a most vulnerable condition, especially women and children, have access to quality nutrition. The organization works primarily in countries and regions affected by conflicts or natural disasters, delivering emergency assistance to provide food for victims and strengthen community resilience. Its headquarters are in Rome (Italy), but it operates in dozens of countries. Currently, WFP has more than 14,000 employees worldwide (90% of its staff work in countries served by the organization).
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ToggleDetails Of World Food Programme Internship
Organization’s main focus: To fight hunger and malnutrition on a global scale.
Themes addressed by the program:
- Climate action
- Disaster risk reduction
- Gender equality
- Nutrition
- Smallholder market support
- Social protection and safety nets
- Sustainable livelihoods and ecosystems
Age: Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of enrolment.
Type of Study: Full-time
Country: Italy
Eligible Nationalities: Open to all countries
Fields of study:
This internship program includes students and recent graduates from the most diverse fields of knowledge. The areas of study with the highest demand in this program are:
- Agriculture
- Nutrition
- Civil Engineering
- Economics
- Law
- Social Sciences
- Business Administration
- Human Resources
- International affairs
Duration:
The internship period ranges from at least 2 months to up to 8 months at most.
Internship activities:
The activities performed vary according to the opening and the requirements of the different departments to which interns are allocated. However, generally speaking, the main duties are:
- Support administrative and operational activities;
- Carry out research and collect and analyze data on topics relevant to the agency’s activities;
- Write reports and other types of documents;
- Contribute to the execution of relevant projects;
- Take part in training sessions and events with other staff members.
Competencies:
The main competencies required are:
- Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional team members;
- Strong analytical and communication skills;
- Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and diplomacy;
- Ability to be flexible, multi-task, prioritize, and manage multiple activities simultaneously in a fast-paced, changing environment;
- Strong attention to detail;
- Possess strong business acumen, excellent problem-solving skills.
Apply also: Wilfrid Laurier University Merit Scholarships
Eligibility:
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Currently enrolled in a recognized university or graduated in the last six months
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Completed at least 2 years of undergraduate studies
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Motivated, team player and open to new challenges
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Working knowledge of English (other UN languages are a plus)
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Interested in learning and taking a first step in the humanitarian sector
Requirements
Education:
- Be enrolled in a graduate school program (Master’s or PhD), or;
- Completed at least 2 years of an undergraduate school program (Bachelor’s level or equivalent), and;
- Currently enrolled in a recognized university or graduated in the last six months.
Language:
Applicants must have working knowledge of English. Knowledge of another UN official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) may be an asset in the selection process.
Benefits of World Food Programme Internship
- Creating meaningful and Impactful Career: The day to day work makes a difference in the lives of the people they serve.
- Continuous Learning and Training: They provide learning tools for the staff to continually develop their careers.
- Multicultural and Stimulating Working Environment: They encourage gender and cultural diversity to make the teams stronger.
Recommended: Monash International Merit Scholarships
Deadline:
Requirements:
The application process requires you to submit:
- CV/Résumé;
- Cover Note/Letter;
- Proof of enrollment in university and date of course completion
Evaluation criteria:
You will be evaluated regarding your previous experience, skills and competencies, and educational background.
Costs incurred
The organization offers no financial aid to cover costs related to preparing for or doing the internship. However, you may request financial aid from a sponsoring institution, for example, a university and/or government agency in your country.
Visa:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs and arrangements of obtaining the visa (if needed to do the internship).
Insurance:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs of enrolling in a valid global medical insurance plan.
Accommodation:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for accommodation expenses during the internship period.
Other:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for accommodation expenses during the internship period. However, WFP will reimburse travel tickets for candidates who are nationals of developing countries and are pursuing their studies in their home country.
How To apply:
The internship application process is done via the WFP E-recruitment System, where all openings are published, and comprises the following steps:
- Initial registration;
- Filling out the candidate profile (academic and professional background);
- Search for an opening in your field of interest;
- Submit the application.
Phases of the selection process:
The selection process may vary depending on the department or office to which the intern is applying, but generally comprises the following steps:
- Creating a profile and preparing an application;
- Submitting the application;
- Evaluation of the application;
- Competency-based interview;
- Selection notifications.
Interview:
Usually, only selected applicants will be contacted for the interview, which lasts about 30 minutes and may be done via Skype or phone. The main points covered in the interview vary according to the opening and department chosen. In general, however, the questions address subjective or behavioral aspects, such as your expectations about the job, your interests in the area of expertise you are applying for and your previous experiences
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