Application Guide
How to Apply for Proposal Development Manager
at Welthungerhilfe
🏢 About Welthungerhilfe
Welthungerhilfe is one of Germany's largest private aid agencies, founded in 1962 as the German section of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, and works in over 30 countries on food security, nutrition, and humanitarian response. It is known for its strong partnership-based approach and for combining emergency relief with long-term development. Working there means contributing to a globally respected organization with a clear mandate to fight hunger and poverty, while being part of a flexible team that supports country offices worldwide.
About This Role
As Proposal Development Manager, you will be part of the Flexible Management Support (FMS) team, which deploys short-term expertise to country offices on demand. Your core job is to coordinate and write high-quality concept notes and full proposals for strategic, high-value donor opportunities, often under tight deadlines. This role is fully home-based and involves close collaboration with country teams, partners, and donors to ensure proposals are compliant, competitive, and aligned with Welthungerhilfe's strategy.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with a coordination call with a country office in Africa or Asia to discuss a forthcoming EU call, followed by drafting sections of a concept note and incorporating feedback from technical advisors. You might also review donor guidelines, liaise with partners, and ensure all compliance checks are met before submission. The pace can be intense near deadlines, but the work is varied and directly contributes to funding life-saving programs.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Welthungerhilfe Is Looking For
- At least 3–5 years of experience in proposal development for international NGOs, with a proven track record of securing funding from institutional donors such as the EU, UN agencies, or the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO).
- Strong understanding of project cycle management, needs assessments, and impact-oriented design, ideally with field experience in humanitarian or development contexts.
- Excellent writing and editing skills in English; proficiency in German or French is a strong asset, as Welthungerhilfe works in both languages.
- Ability to quickly integrate into remote teams, manage multiple deadlines, and adapt to different country contexts and donor requirements on short notice.
📝 Tips for Applying to Welthungerhilfe
Highlight specific proposals you have developed and their outcomes (e.g., 'secured €2M from EU DEVCO for a food security project in Sahel') rather than generic descriptions of your duties.
Demonstrate familiarity with Welthungerhilfe's strategy and key donors—mention their focus on the humanitarian-development nexus and their major donors like BMZ, GFFO, EU, and UN agencies.
Emphasize your ability to work remotely and asynchronously with country offices across time zones, as the FMS team deploys support on short notice.
Show your experience with multi-country, multi-partner proposals, since Welthungerhilfe often works through local partners and consortiums.
If you have German language skills, explicitly state your proficiency level, as it can be a differentiator for internal coordination and donor communication.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
Focus on your hands-on experience in writing winning proposals for institutional donors, especially those relevant to Welthungerhilfe (EU, UN, BMZ, GFFO). Highlight your ability to quickly grasp complex contexts and coordinate inputs from diverse stakeholders. Emphasize your flexibility and remote work ethic, as the role is home-based and supports country offices on demand. Finally, express a clear motivation to contribute to Welthungerhilfe's mission and its partnership-based approach.
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Study Welthungerhilfe's current strategy, especially their focus on the humanitarian-development nexus and their 'Vision 2030' or similar strategic frameworks.
- → Review the FMS team's role and how it supports country offices—look for any public reports or articles about this flexible support mechanism.
- → Identify Welthungerhilfe's main donors and their proposal requirements (e.g., EU's PRAG, BMZ's guidelines, UN agencies' calls).
- → Explore Welthungerhilfe's country programs and recent projects to understand the contexts you might support, such as in Africa, Asia, or the Middle East.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic cover letter that does not mention Welthungerhilfe's specific mission, donors, or the FMS team's role.
- Failing to provide concrete examples of successful proposals you have written, including donor names and funding amounts.
- Underestimating the remote and flexible nature of the role—avoid implying you need a fixed office or cannot adapt to short-notice assignments.
📅 Application Timeline
⏰ Deadline: October 15, 2026
We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Welthungerhilfe!