Nutrition Officer

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsApply by 10 October 2014

Applications for this position must be completed on the recruiting organization's website.

Organizational Setting

FAO’s Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing subregional food, agriculture and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). It assists the FAO Representations (FAORs) in the subregion with addressing subregional food security, agriculture and rural development issues at country level. The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO’s Regional Office for Africa (RAF).

Reporting Lines

The Nutrition Officer reports tothe Subregional Coordinator and works under the functional guidanceof the Director, Nutrition Division (ESN).

Technical Focus

Contribute to the implementation of FAO’s Nutrition Strategy, in particular by contributing to the development of normative tools and guidelines in line with FAO’s strategic objectives, supporting capacity development activities, contributing to strategic planning and support to country programme development, as well as providing direct support to country-led policy making and programme implementation. This work will be undertaken in close collaboration with government counterparts, UN agencies and other development partners from public, research, civil society and private sectors.

Key Results

Comprehensive technical, statistical, analytical and/or policy analysis services and the development of specialized tools, methodologies, systems and/or databases to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of the programme of work and related products, projects, publications, and services

Key Functions

Plans and leads components of multi-disciplinary teams and short term work groups, leads and/or participates ininternal committees, project teams, and working groups and provides specialized expertise to international technical networks and technical policy and standard setting bodies.Develops technical, statistical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and related tools, methodologies, systems and databases etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of FAO’s programmes of work, products, projects, and services.Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative tools and methodologies, flagship publications/technical reports and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical specialist and/or policy advice and expertise.Responds to requests and provides technical/policy advice, assistance and solutions to Regional, Sub-Regional, and Country Offices and provides technical backstopping to field projects.Promotes international cooperation and collaboration, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international meetings and conferences.Supports capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within member countries, through policy support, organizational development and individual learning and by the development of learning materials and related on-line tools.Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the Organization’s overall approaches to resource mobilisation at global, regional, subregional and country levels.

Specific Functions

Supports the overall implementation of FAO’s Nutrition Strategy, in particular:Provides technical advice to governments, regional organizations and development partners on nutrition, especially on nutrition-enhancing food and agricultural policies, strategies and programmes;Advocatesthe mainstreaming of nutrition in FAO’s Regional initiatives and Country Programming Frameworks, as well as relevant regional and national programmes;Liaises with international organizations, relevant national bodies and networks (for example, SUN platforms and REACH), public and private sectors the donor community and NGOs in promoting nutrition-sensitive strategies and food-based approaches in national nutrition programmes;Promotes visibility of FAO’s nutrition work by participating and acting as a resource person in regional and national meetings and workshops;Performs an active role in FAO’s nutrition network, in particular, through bringing in relevant subregional and country perspectives.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree in nutrition, economics, agriculture or a related fieldSeven years of relevant experience working with developing countries in integrating nutrition objectives into food and agricultural policies and programmesWorking knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian

Competencies

Results FocusTeamworkCommunicationBuilding Effective RelationshipsKnowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable Extent and relevance of academic qualificationsExtent and relevance of experience in integrating nutrition into agricultural policies and programmes in developing countriesDemonstrated experience and knowledge in producing capacity development modules and/or information products for the promotion and mainstreaming nutrition in food and agricultural policies and programmes at regional and country levelsDemonstrated ability to mobilize resources for nutrition related activitiesFamiliarity with FAO and FAO partner institutions would be an asset

An intergovernmental organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has 194 Member Nations, two associate members and one member organization, the European Union. Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts - to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy.

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