WFP Ethics Officer P-3 in Rome, Italy: International Professional Job in Ethics, Compliance and Risk Management

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is inviting applications for an Ethics Officer – P-3 position based at its headquarters in Rome, Italy. This is a full-time International Professional opportunity for an experienced ethics, compliance, legal, risk management or international affairs professional seeking to contribute to ethical governance and accountability within one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations.

The position is located in the WFP Ethics Office and reports to the Senior Ethics Officer. The successful candidate will help strengthen WFP’s ethical framework by advising employees and management, supporting conflict-of-interest disclosure processes, contributing to ethics-related policies, supporting protection against retaliation, developing training programmes, and strengthening relationships across WFP and the wider United Nations system.

The application deadline is 29 September 2026 at 23:59 Central European Time (Rome).

WFP Ethics Officer P-3 Job at a Glance

Opportunity	Details
Job title	Ethics Officer – P-3
Organization	World Food Programme (WFP)
Job type	International Professional
Grade	P-3
Job requisition	JR126545
Location	Rome, Italy
Work arrangement	Fully present/on-site
Working hours	Full time
Contract	Fixed-term, with a one-year probationary period
Application deadline	29 September 2026, 23:59 CET
Nationality	Open to candidates of all nationalities
Education	Advanced university degree in a relevant field
Experience	At least 5 years of relevant progressively responsible experience
Languages	English at C level plus intermediate knowledge of a second official UN language
Application documents	CV and cover letter at the application stage

WFP’s official careers information describes P-3 positions as professional roles involving specialized and analytical responsibilities, with the complexity of responsibilities increasing with grade. International Professional positions generally operate under internationally determined compensation and benefits arrangements.

About the World Food Programme

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization. Its work focuses on saving lives during emergencies while using food assistance to support pathways toward peace, stability and prosperity for people affected by conflict, disasters and climate-related impacts.

WFP operates through a large international workforce and a network of country, regional and headquarters offices. Its careers framework emphasizes meaningful work, continuous professional development and a multicultural working environment.

WFP also places strong emphasis on integrity, collaboration, commitment, humanity and inclusion. These values are particularly relevant to an Ethics Officer because the position contributes directly to maintaining trust, accountability and responsible conduct across the organization.

What Is the WFP Ethics Office?

The Ethics Office plays an important role in helping WFP maintain high standards of integrity and ethical conduct.

According to WFP, the Ethics Office is an independent and formal office that assists the Executive Director in nurturing a culture of ethics throughout the organization. It helps employees think through ethical dilemmas, understand relevant rules and policies, and raise concerns without fear of retaliation.

The office’s work includes several interconnected areas:

• Ethics advice and guidance
• Training, education and outreach
• Protection against retaliation
• Conflicts of interest and financial disclosures
• Ethical standards in policies and organizational practices
• Anti-fraud and anti-corruption principles
• Confidentiality and data protection considerations
• United Nations ethics coordination
• Support for ethical decision-making

The WFP Code of Conduct reflects principles including human rights, social justice, dignity, equal rights, competence, integrity, impartiality and discretion. It also addresses areas such as anti-fraud and anti-corruption and protection against sexual exploitation and abuse.

About the Ethics Officer – P-3 Position

The Ethics Officer will work within the Ethics Office at WFP headquarters in Rome and report to the Senior Ethics Officer.

The central purpose of the position is to support the development and maintenance of a robust ethical framework within WFP.

This means the role is not limited to reviewing rules or responding to individual questions. It combines ethics advisory work, policy analysis, conflict-of-interest management, retaliation protection, training, communication, reporting and stakeholder engagement.

The role therefore requires someone who can combine technical knowledge with strong interpersonal skills, discretion, independence and the ability to communicate sensitive issues clearly.

Key Responsibilities of the Ethics Officer

1. Support the Ethics Office Strategy and Work Plan

The Ethics Officer will provide substantive input into the definition and implementation of the Ethics Office’s strategy and work plan.

This involves helping determine priorities, activities and approaches that strengthen ethical standards across WFP.

The role therefore requires an understanding of how ethics functions can be translated into practical organizational systems rather than treated simply as theoretical principles.

2. Provide Ethics Advice and Guidance

A major part of the position involves providing timely advice and guidance to WFP employees and management on ethics and standards of conduct.

The officer will also be responsible for properly tracking and recording ethics-related queries.

This requires the ability to:

• Understand complex ethical situations
• Identify relevant policies and standards
• Provide clear and balanced advice
• Maintain confidentiality
• Exercise independent judgment
• Communicate effectively with different stakeholders
• Document advice and follow-up appropriately

The importance of this function is reflected in the broader work of WFP’s Ethics Office. Its 2025 annual report recorded 890 requests for ethics advice and guidance, with 96 percent of respondents to voluntary satisfaction surveys reporting that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the advice received and its timeliness.

3. Support the Annual Conflict-of-Interest Disclosure Programme

The Ethics Officer will contribute to the management of WFP’s annual disclosure programme.

This includes reviewing disclosed conflicts of interest, providing advice and helping ensure the programme operates smoothly.

Conflict-of-interest management is an important part of organizational integrity because employees may sometimes have private interests or outside activities that could conflict with their official responsibilities.

WFP’s Ethics Office explains that its annual disclosure programme is designed to identify and address such conflicts through disclosures involving assets, liabilities, investments and outside activities for certain categories of employees.

For the Ethics Officer, this means applying ethical judgment to real situations and helping employees and management understand how potential conflicts should be identified and addressed.

4. Develop Ethics Training and Learning Programmes

The successful candidate will help develop and deliver:

• Ethics training programmes
• E-learning modules
• Train-the-trainer programmes
• Sessions on WFP values
• Training on ethical principles
• Training on standards of conduct

This responsibility requires more than technical knowledge.

The Ethics Officer must also be able to explain complex concepts to employees with different professional and cultural backgrounds.

WFP emphasizes training and outreach as important components of building an ethical culture because employees need to understand the values, standards and principles expected of them.

5. Advise on Ethics-Related Policies and Regulations

The Ethics Officer will provide advice and review when WFP develops or updates:

• Policies
• Circulars
• Regulations
• Other organizational documents involving ethical considerations

The officer may also be requested by other departments to provide ethics advice during policy development.

This makes policy analysis an important component of the role.

The successful candidate must therefore be comfortable reading complex institutional documents, identifying ethical implications and communicating recommendations clearly.

6. Support Protection Against Retaliation

Another major responsibility involves supporting the review of requests for protection against retaliation.

The officer may contribute to:

• Reviewing retaliation-protection requests
• Preparing memoranda
• Drafting responses to complainants
• Assessing relevant circumstances
• Applying whistleblower protection policies
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Supporting individuals who raise concerns

WFP states that its Whistleblower Protection Policy is designed to protect employees from retaliation when they engage in protected activities, and that the protection applies to current and former employees regardless of contract type or duration.

This is a particularly sensitive area of the position and requires independence, impartiality, careful listening and sound judgment.

7. Strengthen the Visibility of the Ethics Office

The Ethics Officer will also contribute to enhancing the presence of the Ethics Office through:

• WFP internal websites
• External websites
• Online communication channels
• Relevant publications
• Other communication platforms

This responsibility shows that the role also has a communication component.

Ethics policies are most effective when employees understand them and know where to seek advice. Therefore, communicating the work of the Ethics Office clearly is part of strengthening an organization’s ethical culture.

8. Support Reporting and Analysis

The position will involve preparing analysis, drafting material and supporting reporting on the overall work of the Ethics Office.

The officer may therefore need to translate complex information into:

• Reports
• Briefings
• Memos
• Analytical documents
• Policy notes
• Communication materials

Strong analytical and writing abilities are consequently important.

9. Build Internal and External Relationships

The Ethics Officer will build positive and effective relationships both within WFP and outside the organization.

External cooperation may include engagement across:

• The United Nations system
• Other UN entities
• Rome-based UN agencies
• Professional ethics networks
• Relevant institutional partners

WFP’s Ethics Office already works to promote coherence across the United Nations system, including through cooperation with other ethics offices and Rome-based agencies.

The successful candidate will therefore need strong interpersonal and partnership-building abilities.

10. Perform Other Duties as Assigned

The officer may also undertake other responsibilities assigned by the Senior Ethics Officer when necessary to support the mandate of the Ethics Office and strengthen ethics and accountability across WFP.

Minimum Education Requirements

Applicants must have an advanced university degree in one of the following areas or a closely related discipline:

• Law
• Ethics
• Public administration
• International affairs
• Compliance
• Another related field

This educational requirement makes the position particularly relevant to professionals with postgraduate qualifications in legal, governance, ethics, international policy or compliance-related disciplines.

An advanced degree is important because the position requires the ability to interpret policies and regulations, assess ethical risks, advise senior stakeholders and prepare sophisticated written analysis.

Professional Experience Required

Candidates must have at least five years of relevant progressively responsible professional experience.

The experience should be connected to areas such as:

• Legal advice
• Compliance
• Risk assessment
• Ethics
• Related professional fields

The phrase “progressively responsible” is important. The position is not intended primarily for someone who has only completed an academic programme or gained limited entry-level experience.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate increasing responsibility and professional judgment in their previous roles.

Relevant experience could involve advising organizations, reviewing compliance risks, developing policies, supporting investigations or whistleblower systems, providing ethics guidance, drafting legal or policy documents, or managing institutional risk.

Knowledge and Skills Required

The position requires a combination of technical, analytical and interpersonal skills.

Understanding of Ethics, Compliance and Risk

Candidates should have a theoretical understanding of:

• Ethics
• Compliance
• Risk assessment
• Standards of conduct
• Ethical decision-making

The successful candidate must be able to apply this knowledge to practical organizational situations.

Advisory Skills

The Ethics Officer will advise a wide range of stakeholders on different ethical issues.

This means applicants should be comfortable communicating with people at different levels of an international organization.

Whistleblower Protection Knowledge

Candidates must have technical knowledge of whistleblower protection policies.

They should also demonstrate the ability to prepare:

• Legal memoranda
• Notes to file
• Analytical documents
• Written responses

This is particularly relevant to the retaliation-protection component of the position.

Independence and Impartiality

Because the Ethics Office performs an independent and confidential function, the Ethics Officer must act with:

• Integrity
• Independence
• Impartiality
• Professional discretion

The successful candidate must be able to provide objective advice even when dealing with sensitive or difficult situations.

Interpersonal Skills

WFP works with people from diverse professional, national and cultural backgrounds.

The Ethics Officer must therefore be able to establish respectful working relationships and communicate effectively with colleagues from different backgrounds.

Training and Facilitation Skills

Applicants should demonstrate the ability to deliver training to small and medium-sized audiences.

This is important because the role includes developing and facilitating ethics learning programmes.

Active Listening

The position specifically requires the ability to listen attentively to people seeking advice or protection from retaliation.

This is particularly important because ethics-related cases may involve sensitive professional circumstances.

Language Requirements

The position requires:

English: Fluency at Level C.

In addition, candidates need intermediate knowledge at Level B of a second official United Nations language.

The listed languages include:

• Arabic
• Chinese
• French
• Russian
• Spanish
• Portuguese

This language requirement is particularly relevant to the international nature of the role.

Candidates should therefore carefully assess their language proficiency before applying.

Who Can Apply?

The position is classified as an International Professional role and is open to candidates of all nationalities.

This is an important distinction because the position is not restricted to Italian citizens or citizens of a particular region.

Qualified professionals can therefore come from any country or continent, provided they meet the professional, academic and language requirements.

WFP also explicitly states that it is committed to equal employment opportunity and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of:

• Race
• Colour
• National origin
• Ethnic background
• Social background
• Genetic information
• Gender
• Gender identity or expression
• Sexual orientation
• Religion or belief
• HIV status
• Disability

Therefore, there is no race or ethnicity restriction attached to the position.

However, being eligible to apply does not mean that an applicant will automatically be selected. Candidates must still meet the position’s education, experience, skills and language requirements and successfully complete WFP’s recruitment process.

Location: Rome, Italy

The position is based at WFP headquarters in Rome, Italy, within the Ethics Office.

The vacancy is classified as fully present, meaning the selected candidate is expected to work from the designated workplace rather than remotely.

The selected candidate will be required to relocate to Rome to take up the assignment.

This is therefore an important consideration for candidates currently living outside Italy.

Contract and International Professional Status

The position is a fixed-term International Professional appointment with a one-year probationary period.

The position is classified as non-rotational.

This means that, under the conditions stated in the vacancy announcement, the incumbent is not subject to WFP’s regular reassignment process unless the position is later reclassified as rotational.

WFP explains that International Professional positions generally involve specialized and analytical work, with compensation and benefits determined according to applicable international civil service arrangements.

Salary and Benefits

The vacancy announcement describes an attractive compensation and benefits package in line with International Civil Service Commission standards.

The listed benefits include:

• Basic salary
• Post adjustment
• Relocation entitlement
• Visa support
• Travel allowances
• Shipment allowances
• 30 days of annual leave
• Home leave
• Education grant for dependent children
• Pension plan
• Medical insurance

These benefits are particularly relevant to international candidates who may need to relocate to Italy for the assignment.

Applicants should note that the precise compensation package depends on the applicable terms and conditions of the appointment.

Why Work for WFP?

WFP presents several reasons why professionals may want to build their careers with the organization.

Meaningful humanitarian work

WFP’s work directly supports people affected by emergencies, conflict, disasters and climate-related challenges.

International working environment

WFP operates with a highly multicultural workforce, creating opportunities to work alongside professionals from different countries and backgrounds.

Professional development

WFP invests in employee development through training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship and internal mobility opportunities.

International career opportunities

A career with WFP can potentially provide opportunities to work across country, regional and global offices.

Nobel Peace Prize recognition

WFP was awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing its contribution to efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and to peacebuilding efforts in conflict-affected areas.

Why the Ethics Officer Role Matters to WFP

Ethics may sometimes be viewed as an administrative function, but within a large humanitarian organization, it is closely connected to institutional credibility and operational effectiveness.

WFP works in complex environments and handles significant responsibilities involving humanitarian assistance, partnerships, resources and people.

Maintaining public and internal trust therefore requires strong standards of conduct and accountability.

WFP’s 2025 Ethics Office annual report notes that the organization operates in high-risk environments with a diverse and evolving workforce across more than 120 countries and territories. The report emphasizes the importance of safeguarding WFP’s reputation and credibility and describes the Ethics Office as playing a vital role in providing timely guidance and supporting risk management.

The Ethics Officer therefore contributes to an important institutional function: helping employees make sound ethical decisions and helping WFP maintain confidence in its operations.

Examples of Ethics Work at WFP

The broader work of the Ethics Office provides useful context for understanding this position.

Ethics advice and guidance

Employees can seek confidential advice when facing ethical questions or risks.

Conflict-of-interest management

The Ethics Office helps identify and address potential conflicts between private interests and official duties.

Protection from retaliation

The office supports mechanisms designed to protect employees who raise concerns about misconduct or wrongdoing.

Training and awareness

The Ethics Office conducts training and outreach to help employees understand expected standards.

Policy and standards

The office contributes to incorporating ethical considerations into organizational policies and practices.

United Nations coherence

The office works with other UN ethics bodies and Rome-based agencies to promote greater consistency and exchange of good practices.

These functions closely correspond to the responsibilities outlined for the Ethics Officer position.

Learn More HERE

Application Deadline

The deadline for the WFP Ethics Officer – P-3 position is:

29 September 2026 at 23:59 Central European Time (CET), Rome.

Applicants should not wait until the final hours to submit their applications because the vacancy requires completion through WFP’s online recruitment system.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted exclusively through WFP’s online recruitment system.

WFP states that applications or CVs sent through email, LinkedIn or other channels will not be considered.

Apply for the WFP Ethics Officer – P-3 position

At the application stage, the required documents are:

1. CV
2. Cover letter

Additional documentation, such as a passport, certificates or recommendation letters, may be requested later in the recruitment process.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Because this is a P-3 International Professional position, applicants should make their application highly relevant to the responsibilities of the Ethics Office.

1. Tailor your CV

Your CV should clearly demonstrate relevant professional experience rather than simply listing every position you have held.

Emphasize experience involving:

• Ethics
• Legal advisory work
• Compliance
• Risk assessment
• Whistleblower protection
• Policy development
• Governance
• Organizational accountability
• Training
• Investigations or related advisory functions
• International organizations
• Public administration

2. Demonstrate progressively responsible experience

The vacancy requires five years of relevant progressively responsible experience.

Applicants should show how their responsibilities have developed over time.

For example, demonstrate progression from analytical or advisory responsibilities to roles involving greater independence, stakeholder engagement, policy responsibility or organizational decision-making.

3. Highlight confidential and sensitive work

If you have handled confidential information, sensitive complaints, ethics cases, compliance matters, legal advice or retaliation concerns, make the relevance clear while respecting confidentiality.

4. Show policy-writing ability

The role involves reviewing policies, circulars and regulations.

Your application should therefore demonstrate experience in drafting or reviewing:

• Policies
• Legal memoranda
• Regulatory documents
• Internal guidance
• Advisory notes
• Risk assessments
• Compliance documents

5. Demonstrate training experience

If you have delivered professional training, workshops, seminars or awareness sessions, highlight this clearly.

The role requires the ability to train small and medium-sized audiences.

6. Demonstrate interpersonal judgment

The Ethics Officer will interact with people seeking advice and potentially individuals raising sensitive concerns.

Your application should therefore communicate your ability to listen, maintain confidentiality, remain impartial and communicate difficult issues professionally.

7. Clearly demonstrate language skills

Because the position requires English at Level C and intermediate knowledge of another official UN language, applicants should accurately present their language abilities.

Do not overstate proficiency.

8. Explain your interest in WFP

A strong cover letter should demonstrate an understanding of WFP’s humanitarian mission and explain why your professional background makes you suitable for contributing to its Ethics Office.

APPLY HERE

Important Application Reminders

WFP provides several important instructions for candidates.

Apply only through the official recruitment system

Do not send your application to individual WFP employees, LinkedIn accounts or unofficial recruitment addresses.

Complete your Workday profile

WFP strongly recommends ensuring that the Workday profile is accurate and complete, including:

• Employment history
• Academic qualifications
• Language skills
• UN grade, where applicable

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Candidates should understand that submitting an application does not guarantee an interview.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage.

Be alert to recruitment fraud

WFP warns candidates about fraudulent job offers.

The United Nations does not charge application, processing, training, interviewing or testing fees as part of its recruitment process.

Applicants should therefore be cautious of anyone requesting money or sensitive banking information in exchange for employment.

Reasonable Accommodation

WFP is committed to supporting candidates with disabilities during the recruitment process.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation can contact WFP’s designated inclusion/recruitment support channel identified in the vacancy announcement.

This reflects WFP’s broader commitment to an inclusive workplace and equal employment opportunity.

AI and the WFP Recruitment Process

WFP also provides guidance concerning the responsible use of artificial intelligence in recruitment.

Applicants should review WFP’s official guidance before using AI tools during the application process and ensure that all submitted information accurately represents their qualifications, experience and professional background.

For a senior professional role involving ethics and confidentiality, authenticity and professional integrity are particularly important.

What Kind of Candidate Is Best Suited to This Role?

The strongest potential candidate is likely to be an experienced professional who combines technical knowledge with sound judgment.

A particularly relevant profile could include someone who has:

• An advanced degree in law, ethics, public administration, international affairs, compliance or a related field
• At least five years of relevant professional experience
• Experience providing legal, ethics, compliance or risk advice
• Knowledge of whistleblower protection
• Strong policy-analysis and drafting abilities
• Experience developing or delivering training
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• The ability to handle confidential information
• Independence and impartiality
• Fluency in English
• Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language
• Willingness to relocate to Rome

This does not mean every successful applicant must have worked for the United Nations previously. The vacancy specifically describes the required experience in terms of relevant professional expertise rather than requiring prior WFP employment.

Is This Job Open to Applicants From Africa?

Yes.

The position is an International Professional role and is open to candidates of all nationalities.

Therefore, qualified applicants from African countries can apply, just as qualified applicants from Europe, Asia, the Americas, Oceania and other regions can.

The key consideration is not the applicant’s continent or race but whether they meet the stated requirements for education, experience, skills and language.

An applicant from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania or another African country, for example, can apply if they satisfy the requirements. However, successful international candidates will need to relocate to Rome.

Is the Position Open to Women and Underrepresented Groups?

Yes.

WFP explicitly states that it encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, disability and other listed characteristics.

Therefore, there is no race-based restriction on eligibility.

WFP also emphasizes diversity and inclusion as part of its workforce approach. Its careers information highlights the importance of gender and cultural diversity in strengthening its teams.

Is This a Remote Job?

No.

The position is classified as Fully Present and is based at WFP headquarters in Rome.

The selected candidate will be required to relocate to Rome, Italy.

This makes the opportunity particularly suitable for professionals who are prepared to work in an international headquarters environment and relocate if selected.

Is Previous UN Experience Required?

The vacancy information provided does not state that previous United Nations employment is mandatory.

Instead, it requires:

• An advanced university degree in a relevant discipline
• Five years of relevant progressively responsible experience
• Relevant technical knowledge
• Strong advisory, analytical and interpersonal skills
• Required language proficiency

Candidates with experience outside the UN system may therefore be considered if their professional background demonstrates the required competencies.

Why This Could Be a Significant Career Opportunity

The WFP Ethics Officer position offers more than a conventional compliance role.

The successful candidate would work at the intersection of:

• Ethics
• Governance
• Compliance
• Legal analysis
• Risk management
• Human resources
• Organizational policy
• Whistleblower protection
• International affairs
• Humanitarian operations
• United Nations standards

The position could therefore be particularly valuable for an experienced professional seeking to build or deepen a career in international ethics, compliance, accountability, governance or United Nations administration.

The role also provides exposure to a global organization whose operations span complex humanitarian environments.

Visit HERE to learn more about the WFP Ethics Officer P-3 in Rome, Italy.

Conclusion

The WFP Ethics Officer – P-3 position is a significant international career opportunity for experienced professionals specializing in ethics, legal advisory work, compliance, risk assessment, public administration, international affairs or related fields.

Based at WFP headquarters in Rome, Italy, the role combines ethics advisory work with conflict-of-interest management, retaliation protection, policy review, training, reporting, communication and international stakeholder engagement.

The successful candidate will need an advanced university degree, at least five years of relevant progressively responsible experience, strong knowledge of ethics and compliance, experience with whistleblower protection and the ability to advise stakeholders with independence, integrity and confidentiality. Fluency in English and intermediate knowledge of another official UN language are also required.

Importantly, the position is open to candidates of all nationalities. Qualified professionals from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania and other parts of the world can apply, regardless of race or ethnic background. However, the selected candidate must relocate to Rome and work on-site.

The application deadline is 29 September 2026 at 23:59 CET (Rome time). Applicants should submit their CV and cover letter exclusively through the official WFP recruitment system and should ensure that their Workday profile accurately reflects their education, professional experience and language skills.

For professionals with the right combination of ethics, compliance, legal, risk and international experience, this position offers the opportunity to contribute directly to strengthening integrity and accountability within a major humanitarian organization. WFP’s Ethics Office plays an important role in helping employees navigate ethical challenges, preventing risks, protecting individuals from retaliation and embedding ethical standards into organizational policies and practices.

Application deadline: 29 September 2026, 23:59 CET.

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