Nutritionist - Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC)

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FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

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Organizational Setting

FAO's office for Yemen is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing strategies for addressing countrywide food, agriculture and rural development priorities in Yemen. It develops and maintains relations with the relevant Ministries at country level. FAO country offices assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

This position will be based in Amman, Jordan with frequent missions to Sana’a, Yemen whenever needed. An alternative work modality may be possible (including working remotely) until when the COVID -19 situation allows for return to normalcy.

Reporting Lines

The Nutritionist reports to the Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC) Coordinator. S/he will work impartially with all members of the cluster and will serve and represent the group as a whole.

Technical Focus

Support FSAC partners in nutrition sensitive food security programming with a particular focus on the development of a nutritionally adequate Minimum Food Basket (MFB).

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and technical expertise for the development of a nutritionally adequate and acceptable minimum food basket with the participation of all stakeholders, including the facilitation of a workshop to discuss and endorse the MFB;

• Develop a guiding strategy and methodology for the adoption, monitoring and undertaking any required revisions of the nutritionally adequate MFB;

• Provide leadership and technical expertise for the establishment of a minimum set of qualitative and quantitative indicators to measure the nutritional impact of food security programs;

• Train and build the capacity of FSAC partners at national and subnational level on how to measure the key indicators for assessing the nutritional impact of food security programs;

• Provide support in undertaking food security and nutrition assessments (concept note production, team selection, team training, data collection, data cleaning, data analysis, report production);

• Participate as a core member in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Acute Food Insecurity (IPC AFI) and Acute Malnutrition (IPC AMN) analyses.

• Lead and fast track the process of assessing the nutritional adequacy of the existing MFB and propose adjustments based on the following main considerations;

• Micronutrient requirements, potential deficiencies and the need for provision of fortified blended foods as part of general ration/ blanket or supplementary
• Special nutritional requirements for vulnerable segments of the population e.g. under-five children, pregnant and lactating women, and older persons
• Use of exceptional commodities e.g. Immediate Response Rations, Ready to Eat Foods (RTEFs), emergency rations, high-energy biscuits
• Underlying social and cultural issues affecting food use and food preparation in Yemen
• Costs, logistics and food-management practicalities
• Appropriateness and feasibility of additional interventions such as home gardens, health promotion and deworming programmes

• Undertake a methodological approach to ensure this process is well sensitized, coordinated, collaborative and subsequently endorsed by all stakeholders (FSAC partners, donors, authorities, and beneficiaries) to ensure feasibility and effectiveness;

• Undertake a rapid review of a list of locally available foods that are nutritionally adequate, health promoting, culturally acceptable and affordable for vulnerable Yemeni families;
• Represent FSAC in nutrition related coordination forums, working groups, technical meetings and training activities;
• Contribute to food and nutrition security related studies to enrich knowledge in key areas that would ultimately enhance FSAC partners contribution to ending hunger;
• Assist in the measurement of the nutritional impact of food security programs, and in the generation of analytical reports.

Specific Functions

• Lead the development of improved/updated technical, statistical and/or analytical tools, methodologies, systems, databases related to nutrition sensitive food security programming;
• Lead the design, implementation and analysis of the nutritional impact of FSAC partners food security programs;
• Provide evidence-based analysis and technical advice to FSAC partners on nutrition-enhancing food security activities and programmes;
• Facilitate knowledge sharing, best practises, and dissemination of nutrition sensitive food security programming within FSAC and other relevant fora;
• Plan, organize and participate in technical meetings and workshops for assisting the transfer of knowledge and information on nutrition in food security;
• Oversee the design, implementation and analysis of household food security and nutrition assessments and surveys in collaboration with FAO, WFP, UNICEF and FSAC partners;
• Work with FSAC partners, the MFB technical Working Group, and the Livelihoods Technical working group on the establishment of a minimum set of qualitative and quantitative indicators to measure nutritional impact of food security programs;
• Train FSAC partners on developing indicators, conducting food and nutrition surveys, and how to process and analyse the survey information;
• Based on the results of the assessment for the nutritionally adequate MFB, and in collaboration with key FSAC partners, develop and supervise the implementation of food security interventions (including micro-gardens, backyard poultry and vegetable production, and other income generating activities) necessary to overcome the identified nutrition-related development problems;
• Develop guidelines on community-level interventions for improving integration of food security and nutrition programs;
• Provide technical, statistical, and/or analytical services on food and nutrition studies, projects, and/or assessments and provides technical backstopping to FSAC partners field projects;
• Participate in the strategic and technical review of FSAC partners proposals submitted under the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF) to ensure that nutrition is integrated into the food security activities;
• Support in the development of the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and the preparation of the cluster work plans, budget, proposal writing, and reports to donors and others as needed;
• Act as the Cluster Coordinator in the absence of the Cluster Coordinator or Alternate Cluster coordinator;
• Assist with the development of food security bulletins, technical briefs, and discussion papers;
• Support FSAC partners in the development of coherent policies and strategies for integrating nutrition in food security activities;
• Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in nutrition, nutrition policy, public health, dietetics, food studies, food science, food technology, food engineering or other relevant fields;
• At least seven years of relevant experience with the UN and/or INGOs in working with developing countries to integrate nutrition into food security policies and programmes;
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

FAO Core 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 essential;
• Extent and relevance of experience in and ability to negotiate with a diverse group of stakeholders and develop consensus and joint working in a politically and culturally sensitive environment;
• Extent and relevance of experience in humanitarian response at a mid or senior level including in emergency response programming, nutrition, and food security sectors;
• Extent and relevance of experience of high-level coordination and networking;
• Formal training in cluster coordination or previous cluster experience.

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

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