National Food Systems Expert

Organizational Setting

The European Union (EU) is providing EUR 1.4 million funding support as Technical Assistance (TA), to support the Royal Government of Bhutan's implementation of 'Promoting Inclusive, Sustainable, and Resilient Agri-Food Systems in Bhutan' programme. The programme's aim is to prioritize Renewable Natural Resources encompassing agriculture, forestry, livestock, climate change, food security, biodiversity, natural resource management, agri-value chain, and SMEs, with the overall objective of reducing poverty by supporting the RNR Sector's 12th Five Year Plan (FYP - 2018-2023) and 13th FYP (2023 to 2028). The TA component of the programme is being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and will support the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Royal Government of Bhutan in fostering economic diversification and circularity of the RNR sector, sustainable management and conservation of natural resources, and enhanced food and nutrition security. It will also contribute to the development of a multi-stakeholder sector coordination framework with donors, CSOs, and the private sector. The project will provide TA in three thematic areas: agriculture and livestock development, marketing and value chain development, and agri-food systems policies, governance, and institutional development. The induced outputs include private sector participation in the RNR sector for economic diversification, promotion of disaster-resilient/climate-proof infrastructure, and capacity building for scaling up climate-resilient agro-ecological approaches. The project aligns with the EU Green Deal, EU Farm to Fork, and EU Adaptation strategies, contributing to the progress of several SDGs.

Reporting Lines

The Food Systems Expert will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative and under direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative of CO. The Expert will seek technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officer, as and when required, and closely liaise with the Team Leader/PMU of all deliverables. Further, the expert will liaise with the Policy and Planning Division (PPD), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) in the implementation of the planned activities and for any additional task that the PPD, MoAL will assign. The expert will not communicate and report to the government or any other agencies on behalf of FAO at any point of time without prior written approval.

Technical Focus

Promoting Agri-Food system: The Food Systems Expert (FSE) is a contract position at PMU, CO arranged by FAO. The NPP will be responsible for the implementation of 'Promoting Inclusive, Sustainable, and Resilient Agri-Food Systems in Bhutan.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Food Systems Expert will be responsible for carrying out following tasks: • Conduct technical assessment of productivity, competitiveness, and connectivity of existing food systems in Bhutan. • Identify structural issues, gaps, entry points and solutions on how to close gaps in production, processing, marketing and consumption at national/sub-national levels against the SDGs targets. • Develop/improve policy framework and map key actions that contribute to agri-food systems transformation in Bhutan. • Provide expert advice on formulation and enhancement of policies, strategies and plans related to food systems transformation in Bhutan. • Recommend evidence-based policy adjustments to enhance resilient and sustainable agri-food system. • Assess the impact of current policies on food security, nutrition, and the agri-food system. • Review global agri-food system best practices and lessons for integration into the national plans and programs. • Prepare technical/policy briefings on the best practices for knowledge share in benefit of Bhutanese agri-food systems. • Identify, compile and explore innovative technologies and practices that are sustainable, inclusive and suitable for Bhutan's agricultural food production landscape, value chain and food system. • Provide strategic guidance on the formulation, implementation and monitoring of Five-Year Plans and projects of the Ministry. • Spearhead designing of robust policy monitoring and evaluation framework and assess the impact of implemented policies and interventions. • Establish key performance indicators tailored to Bhutanese agri-food system. • Builds and maintains effective relationships with team, external partners and the donor(s) in regard to mobilizing required resources for the implementation of plans, programs and projects in the Ministry. • Facilitate inclusive, evidence-based dialogues to generate a shared understanding of what sustainable and resilient food systems entail in regional, national and local contexts and identify agreed priority interventions. • Ensure adequate documentation and exchange of information in regard to the progress and situations of agri-food system transformation in the country. • Assist in preparing necessary reports, policy briefs and other essential documents of the Ministry.

Minimum Requirements

• Master's degree in Agricultural Sciences, Food Systems, Agricultural Economics or other related fields • Minimum experience of (at least 10 years) working on agri-food policies, technical or projects related to the agricultural sector or sustainable food systems. • Working knowledge of English • National of Bhutan

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection Criteria

• Proven track record in contributing to the development and enhancement of policies related to food systems or sustainable agriculture. • Extent of relevant technical experience in the areas related. • Excellent communication and presentation abilities • Ability to manage and work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team. • Proven experience in policy, technical, operational and project management in the areas mentioned above. • Strong work ethic, well-organized, result focused, good team player and dynamic personality. • Previous experience of working with MoAL is an asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• 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.