National Sanitary and Phytosanitary Expert

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FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.

The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices:

• advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
• provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
• assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
• position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation;
• ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

Nepal is primarily agrarian, with agriculture contributing approximately 24% to the national GDP and providing livelihoods for nearly two-thirds of the population. Despite its diverse agro-climatic conditions and strong potential for high-value agricultural exports, Nepal continues to face significant constraints in accessing international markets due to persistent challenges related to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance.

Recent assessments, including the 2021 SPS study by CABI (commissioned by FAO) and the 2022 Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE), have identified critical gaps in Nepal’s SPS systems. These include weak pest surveillance systems, insufficient pest risk analysis (PRA), a lack of accredited laboratories, and limited traceability mechanisms. These constraints significantly hinder Nepal’s ability to comply with international standards under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

The challenges are particularly evident across key export commodities:

• Citrus: Nepal produces over 300,000 metric tons annually, yet exports remain negligible due to the inability to meet pest-free area requirements, lack of cold treatment facilities, and absence of standardized inspection protocols.
• Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs): Despite strong global demand, exports face rejection or delays due to weak traceability systems, incomplete phytosanitary documentation, and a lack of certified testing facilities.
• Indigenous food products: Products such as millet, buckwheat, and horse gram face market access barriers due to non-compliance with importing country requirements, particularly related to fumigation and labelling standards.

These commodities represent significantly untapped export potential, with estimated annual values reaching tens of millions of US dollars. A recent case further illustrates these systemic challenges: in January 2025, Japan issued a formal notice of non-compliance for a shipment of fresh black mustard (Brassica nigra) from Nepal. The consignment was rejected due to the absence of a laboratory diagnostic report verifying pest freedom, a mandatory requirement under Japan’s import protocols and ISPM 13. This incident underscores Nepal's inadequate diagnostic infrastructure, which hampers the issuance of internationally recognized phytosanitary certificates and restricts market access for high-value exports. At the systems level, Nepal’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) and the Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Centre (PQPMC) face structural constraints, including the absence of a national pest database, limited digitalization, weak inspection systems, and insufficient infrastructure for fumigation and cold treatment. These gaps collectively undermine Nepal’s ability to meet international phytosanitary requirements and fully realize its agricultural export potential.

In response to these challenges, this Project Preparation Grant (PPG) aims to develop a project proposal to strengthen Nepal’s phytosanitary capacity, improve compliance with international standards, and enhance market access for priority agricultural commodities. By addressing key systemic constraints, the project will help unlock export potential for high-value agricultural commodities, improve livelihoods, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

Objective

The objective of this Project Preparation Grant (PPG) is to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based project proposal to enhance Nepal’s phytosanitary system and strengthen its capacity to comply with international standards. Specifically, the PPG will:
• Identify and prioritize key SPS constraints affecting market access for citrus, MAPs, and indigenous food products;
• Design targeted interventions to strengthen pest surveillance, inspection, diagnostic capacity, certification systems, and traceability mechanisms, treatment facilities, and export procedures; and
• Develop a project proposal, including a Theory of Change, logical framework, and results-based monitoring system.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of FAO Representative of Nepal, and the direct supervision of Assistant FAOR (Programme) and Programme Specialist, in close consultation with Project Manager, Lead Technical Officer at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), and the International Consultant, the expert will deliver below duties and responsibilities.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will provide technical support in the formulation of a detailed project proposal aligned with national strategies and compliant with FAO, STDF, or relevant donor formats, ensuring coherence between narrative, budget, and implementation modalities. The role will focus on providing technical input while developing a comprehensive budget and implementation plan, including risk assessment and mitigation measures, and support in securing formal support from key stakeholders to substantiate project relevance and ownership. The incumbent will also produce a concise implementation report detailing activities undertaken under the PPG, including documentation reviewed, stakeholders consulted, and outputs delivered, while ensuring effective coordination and collaboration with the FAO Country Office, the Regional Technical Officer, and the International Consultant.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Conduct desk reviews of national phytosanitary policies, PQPMC systems, value chain reports, and SPS-related projects, and relevant documents to support generating evidence-based project formulation by providing gap analysis and needs assessment related to regulatory frameworks, institutional capacity, training needs, and operational challenges in inspection, certification, and surveillance.
• Provide technical support to the FAO Nepal team in mapping and facilitating engagement with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment (MoAFE), PQPMC, Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC), provincial/local authorities, private sector actors, farmers’ groups, and research institutions, as required for the consultancy assignment.
• Work in close collaboration with the International Consultant and LTO of the project.
• Provide technical support in facilitating stakeholder consultations, including interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and meetings, and contribute to the preparation of related reports, presentations, and technical documentation as required under the assignment.
• Provide technical support during field missions across citrus, medicinal herb, and indigenous food-producing districts, including facilitating meetings, collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, and documenting SPS challenges, findings, recommendations, and priority areas to inform project formulation and related consultancy deliverables.
• Provide technical support to the project proposal development, including objectives, activities, Theory of Change, Logical Framework, and risk mitigation, ensuring feasibility and sustainability.
• Support integration of crosscutting issues such as climate risks, gender considerations, and inclusion of smallholders and marginalized groups.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree (PhD or Master’s) in agriculture, food science, plant protection, phytosanitary systems, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in SPS, phytosanitary systems, or food safety standards.
• Working knowledge of English
• National of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal or resident of the country with a valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Application of logical framework (logframe) and theory of change in project design and results structuring.
• Design and implementation of data collection tools (questionnaires, surveys, interview guides) for multi-stakeholder inputs.
• Conduct of stakeholder consultations and structured interviews for evidence generation.
• Development of monitoring indicators and basic M&E matrices aligned with results-based management.
• Technical understanding of SPS/food safety standards (e.g., Codex, market access compliance requirements).
• Analysis of constraints related to food safety compliance in developing country contexts.
• Familiarity with project design in the agri-food/food safety sector (value chains, regulatory frameworks).
• Analytical writing for technical reports, proposals, and summaries in English.
• Familiarity with STDF project requirements/formats and exposure to UN/government procedures (asset).

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required. Vaccination status will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application

• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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