NUTRITION AND FOODSYSTEMS SPECIALIST

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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 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

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning, and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with the Offices, Centres and Divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. RAP also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RAP develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs) such as ASEAN, SAARC and SPC. The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

Safe and nutritious food is fundamental for achieving SDG2, which in turn is critical to achieve all the SDGs. The Asia-Pacific region is home to the largest proportion of the world’s undernourished (more than 424 million according to the State of Food Security and Nutrition 2022) and this number was steadily increasing even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the food and fuel price crisis in 2022. Paradoxically, countries in the Asia and Pacific region have been among the fastest growing economies over the last few decades pulling up millions of people out of poverty. Many of them also are counted among the largest producers in the world of several agricultural commodities and major exporters of agricultural produce. Yet, this prosperity has not translated into availability or equitable access to healthy diets which now cost more than USD 3.7 per day per person and cannot be afforded by nearly 40% of the population or 1.9 billion people. Overweight and obesity are also rising in the region along with micronutrient deficiency signalling the urgent need to transform existing agrifood systems and ensure the availability of healthy diets to all. FAO’s new strategic framework aims to directly contribute to the achievement of a number of SDGs organized around FAO’s four aspirations (Better Production, Better Nutrition, A Better Environment, and a Better Life). Better Nutrition aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition in all its forms, including promoting nutritious food and increasing access to healthy diets through five Programme Priority Areas (PPAs. These are BN1: Healthy diets for all; BN2: Nutrition for the most vulnerable; BN3: Safe food for everyone; BN4: Reducing food loss and waste; and BN5: Transparent markets and trade. In the Asia-Pacific region, FAO is working with countries to detail their food system transformation pathways and assist them to meet commitments made at the UN Food Systems Summit and the Nutrition for Growth Summit in 2021.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will report to Senior Food Safety and Nutrition Officer of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Technical Focus

Provision of strategic advice for developing nutrition sensitive agrifood systems, resource mobilization, project and programme development on technical and institutional capacity strengthening; policy, scientific and evidence-based analysis related to nutrition and food systems; support for achieving national and international goals on nutrition and food systems; coordination with development and implementation partners and networks.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical and policy advice to countries, inter-ministerial food and nutrition security teams, and representatives of civil society and the private sector
• Contribute to the detailing and stock take of national food systems transformation pathways in the Asia-Pacific Region
• Review existing reports and documents from countries in the Asia Pacific region on nutrition and food systems;
• Identify entry points that are within FAO’s scope and comparative advantage and prioritize key elements of agrifood systems for developing interventions in the region;
• Participate in resource mobilization activities and project/programme development
• Consult with FAO Representatives and RAP teams on national and regional priorities;
• Develop a regional strategy document with concrete project concepts that could be funded by donors and is linked with sectoral policy frameworks and investment plans, food security and nutrition programs, and nutrition sensitive, food-based interventions;
• Liaise with the Food and Nutrition Division and other technical divisions at HQ as well as UN co-ordination committee on nutrition, SUN and other relevant networks;
• Contribute technical inputs to RAP’s ongoing regional programs and projects and provide technical support where necessary;
• Support increased awareness and outreach (web, social media) on RAP Nutrition and related projects and activities
• Promote international cooperation, advocate for good practices, increased policy dialogue and provide technical expertise at international and intergovernmental meetings.
• Perform other related duties, as requested.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in nutrition, nutrition policy, public health, or a related field;
• At least, five years of relevant experience in providing policy guidance and technical support for designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating nutrition policy and programme initiatives in coordination with multi-stakeholders;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other official FAO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) for COF. For PSA, working knowledge of English is 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 in the Region or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable;
• Extent and relevance of experience in formulation, implementation, monitoring and management of nutrition and related programmes
• Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset;
• Experience in working with regional platforms like ASEAN and SAARC
• Level of experience in collaborating with counterparts from the Ministries for public health, nutrition, agriculture and education
• Extent and relevance of experience in liaison with partners and institutional contexts
• Demonstrated experience or knowledge of design and implementation of guidelines, methodologies, instruments and/or tools for nutrition-related policies, programmes and investment plans;
• Demonstrated experience in provision of policy and strategic advice; and
• Skills in advocacy, tact and versatility and a high degree of discretion and integrity.

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