National Food Security and Nutrition Specialist

Organizational Setting:

For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

Main Purpose

The main purpose of this Call for Expressions of Interest is to build up a local roster of qualified applicants for the position of National Food Security and Nutrition Specialist to be assigned in the FAO Representation Office or in FAO project offices in the Philippines.

Reporting Lines:

The National Food Security and Nutrition Specialist reports directly to the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme).

Technical Focus:

The work of FAO in the Philippines is guided by its Country Programming Framework (CPF). This supports the government in addressing challenges in improving food security and nutrition, enhancing agricultural production and productivity, sustainable management of natural resources and improving agricultural adaptation from Climate Change and Disaster Risks.

CPF supports the objectives and strategies of the new government for the Agriculture sector, as laid out in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022, specifically:

Chapter 8 - Expanding Economic Opportunities in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Chapter 10 - Accelerating Human Capital Development Chapter 11 - Reducing Vulnerability of Individuals and Families Chapter 14 - Vigorously Advancing Science, Technology and Innovation Chapter 17 - Attaining Just and Lasting Peace Chapter 20 -Ensuring Ecological Integrity, Clean and Healthy Environment

The three integrated PDP Country Outcomes which will be given utmost consideration in all facets of FAO interventions, are (1) Improved nutrition for all; (2) Expanded economic opportunities in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry (AFF) and ensured ecological integrity, clean and healthy environment and (3) Reduced vulnerabilities among individuals and families and just and lasting peace achieved.

Tasks and responsibilities

A. Coordination and Management of FSN initiatives

• In collaboration with national and local government partners, parliamentarians, technical officers in the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) and Headquarters (HQ), provide technical advice and backstopping support to initiatives and partners in the field of food security and nutrition as part of development and humanitarian work, including in a conflict-setting; • Provide strategic advice and recommendations on key issues and trends related to food security and nutrition; • Develop terms of references for project consultants and letters of agreements for service providers for food security and nutrition related activities, as required by the projects and other initiatives; • Provide coordination support to ensure that consultants will submit inputs and deliverables are in line with the projects’ timeline and requirements; • In collaboration with national and local government partners, technical officers in RAP and HQ, in accordance with the project agreement, consultant will be responsible for the annual planning, annual budgeting, implementation, and day-to-day monitoring of activities of projects; • Monitor project expenditures to ensure they are in accordance with the project plan and approved budget; • Prepare progress, semi-annual and annual reports and report(s) to donors, funding proposals, and other project-related documents, as required; • Prepare related technical briefers, reports and other reference materials; • Organize and facilitates trainings, workshops, seminars, conferences as part of the projects’ activities;

B. Project Development and Resource Mobilization for upcoming projects

• Develop proposals, concept notes, technical briefs/working papers on food security and nutrition in coordination with relevant technical officers in the FAO RAP and Headquarters and relevant national and local government partners; • Provide technical inputs and leading project development tasks related to the topics of food security and nutrition, in collaboration with other FAOPH Programme Unit Teams.

C. Strategic and Technical support to the Representation Office and Others

• Actively engage in inter-agency committees/working groups/task force related to food security and nutrition; • Represent the country office in different fora on food security and nutrition and undertake field activities as necessary; • Provide technical inputs to country office corporate documents, reports, publications and other communications/visibility materials and activities; and • Carry out any other relevant duties within her technical competence as may be requested by the FAO Representative.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• The candidate must have a University degree (Master degree preferred) in the field of in nutrition, food security, food science, agro-food engineering or a related field • At least 7 years professional and practical experience in the planning and implementation of rural development programmes/projects at the field level • A national of Philippines or with a regular working permit in the Philippines

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• General knowledge and skills in the use of standard office software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point). • Language requirement: Excellent written and oral communication skills in English