Food Security and Nutrition Policy Specialist (FIRST Programme)

Food and Nutrition Security Impact, Resilience, Sustainability and Transformation (FIRST) is a FAO and European Union partnership programme with the purpose of providing a policy assistance mechanism for improved food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture. FIRST is designed to strengthen the enabling environment for food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture in a number of selected priority countries. FIRST is embedded within the FAO’s programme management and coordination structure.

Reporting Lines

The Specialist works under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative, under the overall technical guidance of the FIRST Programme Manager (FAO/Rome), in close collaboration with the EU Delegation, relevant government ministries/institutions, in particular the Ministry of Agriculture. He or she also works in collaboration with key development partners as well as other government line ministries for sustainable agriculture, food and nutrition security and social protection.

Technical Focus

Development and implementation of coherent, integrated and effective policy advice, capacity development and governance for achieving food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and poverty reduction in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework and in response to policy assistance needs and demands at country and sub- regional levels.

1. Design and support the Ministry of Agriculture in implementing an evidence-based and consultative process for developing an Action Plan to guide the implementation of nutrition-sensitive interventions through the ASDP II and NMNAP.
2. Formulate, based on a consultative process, a proposal for strengthening the capacities of institutional mechanisms of the ASDP II and NMNAP to coordinate the implementation of activities related to nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
3. Develop a proposal for updating the monitoring and evaluation frameworks of the ASDP II and NMNAP so that these are better able to capture the contribution of nutrition-sensitive agriculture to improving nutrition.
4. Assess capacities of agricultural extension agents and District Nutrition Officers to design, implement and monitor nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions through the ASDP II and NMNAP and develop a training programme to address capacity gaps.
5. Performs other duties as required.

• Advanced university degree in food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture, or related area.
• Relevant experience in the area of policy analysis and advice related to food and nutrition security and/or sustainable agriculture policy.
• Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement) level B\: at least 7 years of relevant experience
• Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement) level A\: at least 12 years of relevant experience
• Working knowledge of English, and limited knowledge of one of the following\: Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, or Russian. (For PSA only one language is required)

• 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 the field of policy analysis and advice and investment planning, in the areas of food security and nutrition;
• Extent and relevance of experience in facilitating policy dialogue and capacity development around food security and nutrition among a wide variety of stakeholders\:
• Extent and relevance of experience in the region is considered as a strong asset.
• Knowledge of Kiswahili is considered as an asset but not a condition