Nutrition And Food Systems Officer (Policy, Resilience and Agrifood Systems)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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• 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 persons 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
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

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

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through 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.

Organizational Setting

FAO's Food and Nutrition Division (ESN) assists Members to improve diets and raise levels of nutrition, as well as provides support with appropriate policies, strategies and methodologies for improving the efficiency and inclusiveness of their agriculture and food systems. As a knowledge leader, areas addressed include dietary assessment, support on nutrition-sensitive food and agriculture policies and programmes, effective nutrition promotion programmes, food value chains, market linkages, post-harvest handling, food loss and waste reduction and nutrition-sensitive agroprocessing. FAO is committed to support Members in their efforts to improve achieving better nutrition, aligned with FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031, and with the Vision and Approach for FAO's Work in Nutrition 2025-2031 (VAN).

The position is in the Food and Nutrition Division (ESN), at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Nutrition and Food Systems Officer (Policy, Resilience and Agrifood Systems) reports to the Senior Nutrition and Food Systems Officer, under the overall guidance of the Director of the Food and Nutrition Division (ESN).

Technical Focus

Technical expertise to strengthen agrifood systems actions at the intersection of humanitarian and development programming to improve nutrition, resilience, and the quality of diets of those vulnerable to malnutrition, particularly women and children.

Key Results
Comprehensive technical, statistical, analytical and/or policy analysis services and the development of specialized tools, methodologies, systems and/or databases to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of the programme of work and related products, projects, publications and services.

Key Functions

• Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams and short-term work groups; leads and/or participates in divisional teams; participates in Organization-wide committees, project teams and working groups and provides specialized expertise on international technical networks and/or technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Develops technical, statistical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks and related tools, methodologies, systems and databases, etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of the programmes of work, products, projects and services.
• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative tools and methodologies, flagship publications/technical reports and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical specialist and/or policy advice and expertise.
• Responds to requests and provides technical/policy advice, assistance and solutions to Regional, Subregional and Country Offices and provides technical backstopping to field projects; promotes international cooperation and collaboration, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international meetings and conferences.
• Collaborates in capacity development activities involving knowledge sharing, the organization of training workshops, seminars and meetings as well as the development of related materials, on-line tools and information kits.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the Strategic Framework and divisional plans.

Specific Functions

• Contributes to, consolidates and facilitates access to the latest data and evidence relevant for agrifood systems policy and programming in fragile and conflict affected situations, emergency operations and resilience building.
• Provides specialized expertise for the development of evidence-informed global/regional strategies and tools for use by Members and partners.
• Technically supports FAO Country Offices in developing programmes to enhance nutrition and healthy diets as part of agrifood policy and programming, especially in fragile and conflict affected situations, emergency operations and resilience building, including working on prevention strategies for child acute malnutrition.
• Technically supports FAO Country Offices in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of such programmes upon request.
• Provides technical expertise in healthy diets from sustainable agrifood systems in fragile and conflict affected situations in support to FAO's role in global advocacy, engagement and governance through platforms and partnerships such as the Global Nutrition Cluster, the Inter-Cluster Nutrition Working Group, the Food Security Cluster, the Global Action Plan on Child Wasting, etc.
• In collaboration with FAO dietary and nutrition data experts, provides technical advice and support in nutrition to normative work and global public goods such as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) multi-stakeholder global initiative, the Global Report on Food Crises, etc.
• Leads the development of learning and knowledge products related to these areas of work.
• Performs other duties as required.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in nutrition, nutrition policies, or a related field is essential.
• Seven years of relevant experience in integrating nutrition into agrifood policies and programmes in fragile and conflict setting, emergency programming and/or resilience building, as well as experience working in low- or middle-income countries.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in generating, interpreting, and communicating data and evidence for decision-making for nutrition policy and programming, particularly in fragile and conflict affected settings and situations with limited data availability.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the integration of nutrition into agrifood policies and programmes with a focus on fragile and conflict affected settings, emergency programming and/or resilience building.
• Extent and relevance of experience in developing countries in humanitarian context.
• Familiarity with FAO's partner institutions (United Nations, non-governmental organizations, donors) is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a multidisciplinary team including home-based and office-based colleagues.
• Demonstrated ability to support resource mobilization.

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FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: https://commonsystem.org/cp/default.asp
Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:
• Dependency allowances
• Rental subsidy
• Education grant for children
• Home leave travel
• 30 working days of annual leave per year
• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
• International health insurance; optional life insurance
• Disability protection

FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:
• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct.
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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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