Food Security Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO Afghanistan is investing, across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2022-2023, FAO will, under the life-saving assistance Outcome (1) of the UN Transitional Engagement Framework (TEF), focus on the following four priority actions: (i) Safeguarding Wheat Seed Security, (ii) Enhancing Local Production of Nutritious Food, (iii) Livestock Protection and Dairy Sector Support, and (iv) Restoring Irrigation Structures to Boost Cash Incomes. Additionally, FAO will contribute towards resilience building activities under Outcome 2 of the TEF.

The Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC) with the support of the IPC Technical Working Group (TWG) provides evidence-based support to the response strategy development, by estimating the caseload. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is used as one of the major tools to describe the key drivers of food insecurity, phase classification of different provinces according to the food security situation or status, number of food insecure people in need and provides key recommendations to address the food insecurity faced by vulnerable men, women and children. The IPC Acute Analyses are key inputs in the development of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs Overview and Humanitarian Response Plan figures on the number of people in need and overall targets.

Reporting Lines

The Food Security Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative and the direct supervision of the FSAC Coordinator.

Technical Focus

The incumbent is responsible for supporting the coordinating mechanism of FSAC in Afghanistan.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Support the linkages between national FSAC and coordination structures at sub-national level; including providing support to FSAC co-leads and co-chairs at the regional level to enhance food security and agriculture humanitarian response;
• Support appropriate coordination with national authorities at a sub-national and provincial level; including liaising and working with relevant government counterparts to support or complement existing coordination mechanisms;
• Collate and disseminate information on food security and agriculture humanitarian response from sub-national level to national FSAC and from national FSAC to sub-national level;
• With the FSAC coordination team, support the development and implementation of the FSAC work-plan and related food security and agriculture tools (assessments, beneficiary selection criteria guidelines, IPC, HEAT, SFSA etc.);
• Support the development of FSAC Consolidated Appeal and other joint initiatives at national and sub-national level;
• Assist in the training and mentoring of FSAC partners at a national and sub-national level, as per training needs identified by FSAC partners;
• Support the integration of cross-cutting issues (gender, HIV, environment, age, protection) in the FSA response;
• Communicate food security issues effectively within the humanitarian community, government and the public domain;
• Support the assessment working group and early warning information working group at national level to collect and disseminate relevant information to partners and regional networks.
• Ensure emergency food security and livelihoods programme is linked with existing and future development programme for better linkages to avoid gaps and maximize impact.
• Participate in and, when requested, assist in organizing FSAC workshops and meetings at national and regional level;
• Contribute to the production of FSAC documents (policies, strategies, work plans, advocacy briefs, monthly report, newsletter);
• Conduct regular field missions to all regions and facilitate conducting regional FSAC meetings;
• Contribute to FSAC monitoring and reporting to FSAC stakeholders; and
• Undertake other activities as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced (Master’s) degree or University (Bachelor’s) degree in development studies, agriculture, agriculture economics, food security, nutrition or closely related field;
• For advanced degree at least five (5) years of professional experience in humanitarian and food security assessment, early warning systems, data analysis and humanitarian response, or other related disciplines;
• For university degree at least seven (7) years of professional experience in humanitarian and food security assessment, early warning systems, data analysis and humanitarian response, or other related disciplines;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and the local languages (Pashto and/or Dari);
• National of Afghanistan.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in project design, management and implementation;
• Excellent interpersonal communications and coordination skills, and proven ability to work constructively with a variety of stake holders to achieve common goals;
• Excellent report writing skills;
• Previous work experience with UN is an advantage;
• Good computer skills with extensive experience in word processing, spreadsheets, and other software application;
• Good knowledge of protocol, good judgment and initiative;
• Good knowledge of corporate information systems.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• 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 http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.