Nutrition and Food Systems Specialist

HOW TO APPLY

To apply visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate complete and includes your employment records academic qualifications and language skills
Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
Once your profile is completed please apply and submit your application

Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED) a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.

Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work character education military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
Incomplete applications will not be considered
Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAOs behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications assessment tests background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time by withdrawing your application in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries please create a one-time registration with FAOs client support team for further assistance: IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

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

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient inclusive resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production better nutrition a better environment and a better life leaving no one behind.

FAOs 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 agriculture 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 achieving better nutrition aligned with FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 and with the Vision and Approach for FAOs Work in Nutrition 2025-2031 (VAN).

Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the overall guidance of the Director Food and Nutrition Division and direct supervision of a Nutrition Officer.

Technical Focus

The technical focus of the work is utilizing the incumbents expertise in healthy diets and good nutrition to facilitate and support the processes for mainstreaming nutrition across FAOs Programme of Work and Budget aligned with FAOs Strategic Framework 2022-2031 and Vision and Approach to Nutrition 2025-2031. This includes consolidating and mobilizing data and evidence for provision of technical assistance across food and agricultural projects for greater impact on nutrition implementation of capacity strengthening initiatives for increasing nutrition impact of food and agricultural programming measuring results of such actions and development and implementation of global public goods such as guidance guidelines and standards for nutrition-sensitive food and agriculture policies programmes and investments.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Consultant will provide support to FAOs work on evidence-based policies and programmes on efficient inclusive resilient and sustainable agrifood systems to enable access to and consumption of healthy diets for all. Tasks and responsibilities will include any combination of the following:

Provide specialized expertise in nutrition and healthy diets in the context of actions across subsectors of agrifood systems such as agriculture fisheries and forestry.
Provide specialized expertise for the development of evidence-informed global/regional strategies and tools for use by FAO Members and partners in the areas of nutrition-sensitive food and agriculture policies and programmes and/or effective nutrition education and promotion of healthy dietary patterns.
Assist with developing global public goods such as guidance or resources in support of FAOs contributions to strengthening nutrition through food-based approaches.
Compile evidence lessons learnt and good practices in nutrition-sensitive policies programmes and investments across agrifood systems from ecosystems through production value chains and consumption.
Assist FAO and FAO Members to increase their capacities in the design and implementation of nutrition-sensitive policies programming and investments across a variety of sectors.
Provide nutrition expertise and technical assistance to FAO Members in food and nutrition-relevant policy and programme design and implementation including nutrition integration into policies across multiple sectors and subsectors of agriculture climate environment
Prepare evidence-based content that may contribute to global nutrition and food systems governance mechanisms and global policy dialogue on nutrition and food systems
Provide expertise in the monitoring and/or evaluation of policies and programmes designed to integrate nutrition into agriculture climate and other sector programmes including development of evidence based theories of change results frameworks selection of indicators methods and related activities
Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in nutrition nutritional epidemiology other field related to food security and nutrition or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization;
A minimum of one (Level C) or five years (Level B) or ten years (Level A) of relevant professional experience in nutrition and/or food systems for nutrition;
Working knowledge of English French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic Chinese Russian.

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;
Experience in providing expert advise technical assistance for nutrition-sensitive programming in agrifood sectors;
Experience in developing or managing nutrition initiatives;
Experience in capacity strengthening efforts for nutrition sensitive policy and programme;
Familiarity with advocacy at high level with policy makers and technical experts;
Track record of quality technical writing in at least one of the areas listed above;
Familiarity with the institutional frameworks and international governance mechanisms for food security and nutrition (e.g. UN General Assembly UNSCN CFS SUN N4G etc.) an asset.

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 FAOs 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

FAOs commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.