Food Systems Specialists

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• 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
• 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.

Organizational Setting

Building on the development of a methodology for agri-food systems assessments in partnership with the European Union and CIRAD, the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) is collaborating with European Union Delegations and National Governments under a Trust Fund activity to carry out participatory assessments and stakeholder dialogues in various countries. The work was recently initiated to provide inputs to European Union programming as well as national government dialogues for the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit. It provides a foundation for prioritizing further consultation, in-depth analysis and formulation of programmes, policies and investments to catalyse the sustainable transformation of agri-food systems.

The purpose of this call is to provide CFI with a list of qualified candidates for a number of profiles with different specializations as indicated below, to support assessments and diverse future actions under an emerging agri-food systems programme, policy and investment agenda,

The contract can be home based with required travel for field missions.

Requested Profiles (or Job Titles):

• Agribusiness, Agri-processing and Value Chain Specialist
• Agriculture Specialist
• Capacity Development and Extension Specialist
• Climate Change and Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist
• Credit and Rural Finance Specialist
• Data Analysis Specialist
• Economist – Agricultural Economist
• Food Safety Specialist
• Food Security, Nutrition and Health Specialist
• Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion Specialist
• Institutional Development Specialist
• Natural Resources and Environmental Management Specialist
• Project Management Specialist
• Rural Sociologist and Community-Driven Development

Reporting Lines

The Food Systems Specialist will work under the overall technical supervision of the Service Chief and the direct supervision of a CFI Officer, in close collaboration with the FAO Representation in the relevant country of assignment.

Technical Focus

Provision of technical advice or expertise and capacity development for (i) provision of policy advice to member countries in collaboration with IFI partners; (ii) the design of investment operations, in collaboration with country stakeholders and cooperating partners, to mobilize resources for food security, nutrition, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and climate change adaptation and/or mitigation.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead, or participate in, multidisciplinary teams to assist governments in the conduction of food systems assessments and in the identification, assessment and preparation of investment operations in the fields of food security, nutrition, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and climate change adaptation and/or mitigation, and participate in pre-appraisal and appraisal missions.
• Lead, or participate in, multidisciplinary teams for the implementation support and the preparation of final evaluation of investment operations.
• Advise governments, or provide technical expertise, in the conduction of food systems assessments and in the preparation of food security, nutrition, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and climate change adaptation and/or mitigation studies and strategies.
• Advise on developing, or support the development, of inclusive and sustainable food systems, involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors, civil society organizations and government.
• Lead the formulation, or formulate, and delivers strategies and activities in the areas of food security, nutrition, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and climate change adaptation and/or mitigation, investment support to government staff, and non-state actors and private sector organizations.
• Prepare reports in accordance with government and financing partners’ requirements.
• Promote international cooperation and collaboration leading to new investment opportunities and cooperative agreements, advocates best practices and effective policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international meetings.
• Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in economics, agricultural economics, agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, agribusiness management, natural resource management, social sciences, international relations or a related field as appropriate for the specific profile.
• From one to fifteen years of relevant experience in conducting agricultural/rural sector/subsector analytical studies, and/or in planning, design, supervision of agricultural and rural investment operations, including elaboration of feasibility studies and implementation of agricultural and rural investment operations in developing countries and/or countries in transition.
• Working knowledge of English, and limited knowledge of either French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian. For PSA.SBS only one language might be required.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in leading, or participating in, multidisciplinary teams for the preparation of strategies and sector studies as well as formulation, implementation support or evaluation of food security, nutrition, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and climate change adaptation and/or mitigation investment operations.
• Extent and relevance of experience in food systems, food security, nutrition, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and climate change adaptation and/or mitigation analytical studies and programme evaluation.
• Extent and relevance of experience in investment design, implementation support and evaluation procedures of FAO’s main development partners, in particular the European Union, the World Bank, the International Funds for Agriculture and Development (IFAD), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
• Extent and relevance of experience in capacity development for the design and implementation of food security, nutrition, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and climate change adaptation and/or mitigation investments.
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners and other country level stakeholders;
• Relevance of experience in different geographical areas.

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