Youth Volunteer (Innovation Unit)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

31 July 2026-23:59-GMT+03:00 East Africa Time (Dar es Salaam)

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.

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.
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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).

Title: Youth Volunteer

Duty Station: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Unit: Innovation Unit

Organization: World Food Programme

Duration: 12 months

Supervisor: Head of Innovation Unit

Background

The World Food Programme (WFP) Tanzania is advancing an innovation agenda to strengthen the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of its programmes under the Country Strategic Plan. The Innovation Unit works across programme areas to identify, test, and scale new solutions that address food security, nutrition, climate resilience, and livelihoods challenges.

Through partnerships with government institutions, academia, startups, and the private sector, the Innovation Unit supports the development of innovative approaches that improve service delivery and reach vulnerable populations more effectively.

As part of WFP Tanzania’s commitment to youth engagement and learning, the Country Office is offering an opportunity for a motivated Youth Volunteer to join the Innovation Unit. The volunteer will contribute to the design, coordination, and documentation of innovation initiatives while gaining hands-on experience in humanitarian innovation and development programming.

Purpose of the Assignment

The Youth Volunteer will support the Innovation Unit in exploring, documenting, and coordinating innovative solutions that strengthen programme impact. The volunteer will assist in research, ecosystem engagement, programme coordination, and knowledge management related to innovation initiatives implemented by the Country Office.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of innovation, partnerships, and programme design, while contributing to initiatives that address real-world development challenges.

Key Responsibilities

a) Innovation Programme Coordination

• Support the planning and coordination of innovation initiatives within the Country Office.
• Assist in organizing workshops, innovation clinics, and learning events that bring together partners from government, private sector, academia and the innovation ecosystem.
• Contribute to the preparation of innovation project documents, and presentations.

b) Innovation Research and Scouting

• With support and guidance from the team, conduct research on emerging innovations relevant to WFP operations such as climate-smart agriculture, digital finance, clean energy, and circular economy solutions among others.
• Prepare short research briefs to inform innovation programming.

c) Knowledge Management and Learning

• Support documentation of innovation initiatives, lessons learned, and best practices.
• Assist in preparing case studies, briefing notes, and innovation reports.
• Support updating of innovation knowledge repositories and documentation platforms.

Expected Deliverables

During the assignment, the Youth Volunteer is expected to contribute to the following outputs:

• Documentation and briefing notes on innovation initiatives
• Reports for research and innovation events
• Updated innovation knowledge management platforms

Required Qualifications

University degree (or currently completing) in one of the following fields:

• Innovation / Entrepreneurship
• Business Administration
• Agricultural Economics
• Environmental Studies
• Development Studies
• International Development
• or related fields

Desired Skills and Competencies

• Strong research and analytical skills
• Interest in innovation, entrepreneurship, and development solutions
• Ability to coordinate tasks and support project implementation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools
• Interest in working in a multicultural and international environment

Learning Opportunities for the Volunteer

The Youth Volunteer will gain exposure to:

• Innovation programme design and implementation
• Partnerships with government, academia, and private sector actors
• Innovation ecosystem engagement and startup collaboration
• Monitoring, learning, and documentation of innovation pilots
• Humanitarian and development programming within WFP operations

Supervision

The volunteer will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Innovation Unit and will collaborate with programme teams across the Country Office.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: global.inclusion@wfp.org

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. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.
• We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
• If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.
• 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.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed 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 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. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be 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 other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.