Food Security and Nutrition Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that works towards achieving sustainable agricultural development, food security, and nutrition globally. In Lebanon, FAO plays a crucial role in addressing the unique food security and nutrition challenges faced by the country. With its presence and operations in Lebanon, FAO in Lebanon aims at strengthening the agricultural sector, improving food security, and enhancing the nutritional well-being of vulnerable populations. The aim is to address the challenges and promote sustainable solutions to ensure food security, improve nutrition outcomes, and enhance the resilience of food systems. As such, FAO collaborates closely with the government, especially the National Food Systems Convenor, to support the development of resilient and sustainable food systems.

As the custodian organization for 21 SDG indicators and a contributing agency to another five indicators, one of FAO’s top priorities is to improve the capacity of Member countries to measure the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and monitor the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

With less than ten years left until 2030, measuring the SDG indicators under FAO custodianship not only allows monitoring countries’ progress in the achievement of the SDGs and preparing credible voluntary national reviews, but also supports evidence-based decision-making for sustainable investments and the needed transformation of the food and agricultural sector. Measuring SDG indicators is also essential to raise awareness on the challenges faced in the food and agriculture sector, inform flagship publications (including the “State of the World” collection) and monitor progress in the implementation of other regional and international agendas such as the Malabo Declaration, the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Agenda and the regional initiatives. Moreover, in the context of the UN reform and FAO’s new strategic framework, SDG indicators are at the centre of the performance and impact measurement of UN Development agencies.

Engagement of Lebanon in the UN Food Systems Summit has been dormant since 2020 but is on track to be revitalized by the new National Convenor. In order to overcome the challenges the country is facing, FAOLB in collaboration with other UN Agencies, is aiming to support Lebanon to ensure that high quality and comparable data for the SDGs are produced and used in support to decision-making and SDG national, regional and global monitoring. In particular, it will promote the production of the indicators at national level, identify country’s capacity development needs, as well as raise awareness and advocate for capacity development initiatives, opportunities for resource mobilization and partnerships for supporting SDG monitoring.

The Food Security and Nutrition Specialist position is crucial to support FAO Lebanon in achieving its goals.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Lebanon, the direct supervision of the Liaison and Resilience Officer, and in close collaboration with the International Senior Food Systems, Food Security and Nutrition Consultant, and the FAO Programme Team.

Technical Focus

Food security and Nutrition

Tasks and responsibilities

• Assist in the provision of technical support to the National Food Systems Convenor through production of relevant documents and organisation of different fora. • Assist in the development of an evidence-based strategies and action plans to address the identified challenges, incorporating a holistic and sustainable approach. • Assist in the establishment of a monitoring and evaluation framework related to FAO Lebanon projects and programmes to mainstream the food system approach a track progress, identify bottlenecks, and recommend adaptive strategies. • Analyse the drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition, including socioeconomic factors, climate change impacts and policy gaps. • Assist in the organisation of the Food Security and Agriculture Working Group meetings, as part of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan 2022-2023. • Support the design and implementation of interventions that promote sustainable agriculture, enhance access to nutritious food, and strengthen social safety nets. • Assist in the provision of technical guidance to stakeholders on nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices, food value chain development, and food safety measures.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced degree in the field of agronomy, agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, nutrition, food systems, food science and technology or other related discipline or equivalent; • At least ten years (10) of relevant experience in one or more of the following areas: food systems, nutrition, agribusiness development, agro-food industry, agricultural marketing; • An excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and working knowledge of Arabic or French; • National of Lebanon or a legal resident in the country.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; • Demonstrated organization skills and ability to meet tight deadlines; • Ability to prioritize tasks; • Communication skills; • Ability to work in a harmonious and effective way in a multicultural team; • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective working relationships with supervisors and colleagues; • Solid experience in developing upgrading strategies, investment plans and project proposals; • Demonstrated understanding of the food systems and nutrition in Lebanon with particular experiences in working with government institutions and private sector; • Demonstrable experience in different methodologies for data collections and analysis of the nutrition and food systems and related sub-sectors is highly desirable; • Experience working in UN agencies is desired and experience in the private sector working at different stages of the food systems and nutrition is a plus.