Markets for Nutrition and Value Chains Specialist

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 agricultural 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 agro-processing. FAO is committed to support Members in their efforts to improve nutritional outcomes as stated in the Rome Declaration on Nutrition (November 2014) and to mainstream nutrition across all of the work of the Organization.

Reporting Lines

The Consultant/ PSA will report to the direct supervision of the Senior Officer, ESN, and work under the overall guidance of the Director, ESN.

Technical Focus
The assignment will focus on technical, economic and policy analysis of markets and value chains development for improving healthy food consumption and nutritional outcomes.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Consultant/ PSA will provide technical support to FAO’s work on markets and value chains development for improved nutrition, including, among others, territorial markets, food retail environment, value chains analysis, voluntary standards, food systems, small and medium enterprises and nutrition policies.

Specifically, the incumbent will:
• Assist Members with policy, economic and technical analysis of food systems and food environments, including food retail environment, market systems, small and medium enterprises and value chains for identifying entry points for increasing their efficiency, inclusiveness and nutrition outcomes.
• Assist in the development of integrated school food and nutrition programmes and other public procurement programmes including home-grown school meals and other social transfers and social protection programmes.
• Undertake desk-review, data collection and information gathering and analysis of relevant evidence, lessons and good practices on technical approaches and policies.
• Perform and support activities of capacity development (e.g. organizing trainings, workshops, field missions, etc.), project design, implementation and project cycle management (e.g. work planning, budget, contracts, technical backstopping, etc.).
• Assist in supporting resource mobilisation for country, regional and global level work.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• University degree in economics, agronomics, food sciences, food technology, nutrition, natural sciences, comparative law, development and social sciences or related fields;
• A minimum of one (Level C) or five years (Level B) of relevant work experience in research, policy analysis and mainstreaming nutrition in food systems, food processing, food markets, value chains analysis, food security and nutrition, voluntary standards, market systems, institutional procurement or other agri-food development approaches;
• Working knowledge of English, and limited knowledge of French or Spanish or Arabic, Chinese, Russian (for PSA only one language may be required).

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

Technical/Functional Skills
• Work experience in more than one country or areas of work mentioned above.
• Extent of technical knowledge in the area of market-based programmes and initiatives in low- or middle-income countries.
• Capacity of engaging and coordinating with different partners’ organizations, country offices and stakeholders.
• Experience in working within multi-disciplinary teams in the area of work mentioned above.
• Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset.
• Familiarity with food systems science and considerations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION