Innovation Specialist (Grassroots Innovation)

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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 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

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Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the 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.

The Office of Innovation (OIN) is an important instrument within FAO to provide strategic direction and help drive and coordinate innovation across the work of the Organization i.e. to consolidate and strengthen FAOs innovative spirit including innovation of approaches and cooperation models. The Office identifies strengthens and complements priority areas for collective action ensures that FAO mainstreams innovation in its programmes facilitates cross-collaboration between the various FAO units and supports the development of transformative partnerships. OINs ATIO unit is responsible for leading the ATIO initiative.

The Office of Innovation is responsible for the delivery of the Agrifood Systems Technologies and Innovations Outlook (ATIO) a high-level initiative delivering a biennial global report and a federated Knowledge Base on agrifood technologies and innovations.

The ATIO Knowledge Base (KB) includes a dedicated grassroots innovation module to identify document and scale farmer-led and community-driven innovations. The Innovation Specialist (Grassroots Innovation) will support the development testing and operationalization of the grassroots component of the ATIO Knowledge Base and contribute to the co-development of methodologies for grassroots innovation identification and documentation.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent reports directly to the lead and co-lead of ATIO Initiative and Technical Officer dealing with the grassroots component.

Technical Focus

Support the development and operationalization of the grassroots innovation component of the Agrifood Systems Technologies and Innovations Outlook (ATIO) Knowledge Base including the identification documentation and validation of farmer-led and community-driven innovations. This includes supporting participatory processes with grassroots stakeholders and intermediary organizations contributing to the co-development of methodologies for grassroots innovation inclusion and strengthening the documentation analysis and dissemination of grassroots innovations within the ATIO Knowledge Base.

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will:

Support the identification documentation and validation of grassroots innovations in pilot countries in close collaboration with intermediary organizations (e.g. farmers organizations and technical partners).
Assist in the co-development testing and refinement of methodologies and mechanisms for the inclusion of grassroots innovations in the ATIO Knowledge Base ensuring participatory engagement of local actors and attention to gender youth women and Indigenous Peoples knowledge systems.
Facilitate and document co-design and reflection workshops with grassroots stakeholders and partner organizations.
Contribute to the organization and delivery of training and peer-learning sessions for intermediary organizations on grassroots innovation identification and use of the ATIO Knowledge Base.
Support the upload review and quality assurance of validated grassroots innovations in the ATIO Knowledge Base using the dedicated grassroots module.
Assist in the preparation of reports training materials and online tutorials related to grassroots innovation methodologies and operational guidance.
Contribute to the monitoring and analysis of grassroots innovation data and support the continuous improvement of the grassroots module and related processes.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

For Consultants: Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Development studies Innovation Management Behavioural Science Anthropology Rural Development Social Sciences or related fields. Consultants with a Bachelors degree require two additional years of relevant professional experience.
For PSAs: University degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in development studies Agrifood Innovation Innovation Management Behavioural Science Anthropology Rural Development Social Sciences or related fields.
Two (2) years of relevant experience in grassroots processes innovation management/processes participatory research or community engagement.
Working knowledge (Level C) of English and limited knowledge (Level B) of one of the other FAO official languages (French Spanish Arabic Chinese or Russian) is desired.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

Experience facilitating participatory processes managing partnerships with grassroots stakeholders and supporting community engagement initiatives.
Experience documenting and validating grassroots innovation processes and local knowledge systems.
Ability to facilitate participatory workshops training sessions and stakeholder dialogues.
Familiarity with participatory methodologies such as co-design human-centred approaches and agile capacity development approaches.
Ability to contextualize and adapt information tools and processes for diverse local contexts.
Familiarity with digital knowledge platforms innovation databases or knowledge management systems is an asset.
Experience working in international or multi-cultural environments is an advantage.

Selection Criteria

Extent and relevance of experience working with local communities farmers organizations or grassroots innovation networks.
Demonstrated experience supporting participatory workshops training activities or peer-learning initiatives.
Experience contributing to the documentation analysis or dissemination of grassroots innovations or local knowledge.
Experience working with innovation knowledge management or community-based development initiatives in agrifood systems or rural development contexts.

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.

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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