National Nutrition Facilitator

Organizational Setting

This position is located in FAO Representation to Lesotho, based in Maseru. The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural , fisheries and forestry sectors and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Reporting Lines

The National Facilitator will work under the supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative for program. He/she will be housed in the Resident Coordinator’s office. For day-to-day support, the Facilitator will liaise with the UN nutrition focal points. The national Facilitator will also work in close liaison with the UN Nutrition Secretariat.

Technical Focus

FAO Lesotho seeks the services of a national-level Facilitator to support UN Nutrition activities in 2022. The Facilitator will be hosted by FAO and will work closely with the UN agencies and the national and subnational government and other stakeholders with nutrition governance responsibilities. The facilitator will provide oversight to the implementation of the UN Nutrition country support workplan (UNN workplan) and will liaise with the national stakeholders including, UN network, donor communities to advocate for investments in nutrition, integrate nutrition across multiple sectors and strengthen governance and accountability for nutrition within the country.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead completion of multi-sectoral nutrition analyses (including, country multi-sectoral nutrition overview, stakeholder and action mapping) and ensure relevant national and sub-national counterparts are able to utilise the UN Nutrition-REACH tools and other UN tools.
• Working with key stakeholders, facilitate building of consensus on country core nutrition actions to be scaled up.
• Identify and facilitate linkages and leverage with other in-country initiatives and processes to avoid duplication and to ensure alignment where necessary.
• Working closely with key stakeholders and the UN Nutrition Network, support and facilitate the review of the national nutrition policy and the development of a costed national multi-sectoral nutrition plan to scale-up nutrition actions, with a clear M&E framework.
• Working closely with key stakeholders and the UN Nutrition Network, advocate for the establishment of multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms and structures including roles and responsibilities.
• Support the establishment of stakeholder networks –Business, Academia and Donors for more effective engagement in the MSP.
• Support the FNC to strengthen the multi-sectoral/multi-stakeholder co-ordination at national level through co-ordinated engagement of multiple sectors and stakeholders including the various SUN country networks (key line ministries, UN agencies, CSOs, business and donor partners) to address key nutrition issues and/or nutrition related challenges outlined above.
• Support the UN Network and national nutrition coordination units within country advocacy messages including the development of a national advocacy and communications strategy.
• Facilitate and document the experience-sharing of good practises and lessons learnt through case-studies and regular updates.
• Facilitate synergized/integrated effort of UN system for coordinated support to government. (Joint programmes in support of Cooperation Framework outcomes, are increased and in line with national needs and priorities.)
• Support completion of UN inventory on nutrition actions.
• Support UNRC and the UNCT and Un agencies for nutrition in the process of the UNSCDF for mainstreaming and integration of nutrition in the UNSDCF cycle.
• Food systems summit – Support the UNRC with the coordination of the UN efforts on the recommendations on the food systems summit with the government as lead convener
• Support in preparations for CoP 27 - Climate Action ( engagements with youth, government and key stakeholders) and integration of nutrition themes in COP 27 agenda
• Coordinate work and mission of UN Nutrition team in-country.
• Work with the UN finance officer to monitor UN Nutrition/REACH financial resources in-country.
• Prepare regular progress and donor reports in close liaison with the UN Network nutrition focal points.
• Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in public policy or administration, management, public health, nutrition, agriculture, or related field.
• At least 7 years of professional experience in managing nutrition, food security, public health programs, policy processes;
• Working knowledge of English.
• National of Lesotho or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in managing multi-stakeholder working groups;
• Experience in institutional capacity building at the national level;
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation mechanisms;
• Experience in the Lesotho Country context is highly preferred;
• Previous working experience with governments, donors and civil society organizations is an asset;
• Experience in decentralization processes is desirable.
• Proven ability to strengthen capacity of national counterparts and partners to sustain activities and decentralised processes;
• Strong skills in facilitation, project management, team-building, and conflict resolution or mediation;
• Ability to manage and conduct large and complex analyses, including collating and presenting multi-source data; monitoring and evaluation and progress reporting;
• Strong action management and teamwork skills: ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan and those relevant to the team and partners; ability to follow up deadlines; accuracy and attention to details and high quality deliverables; and
• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills; ability to influence and interact with senior level decision-makers across different organizations and cultures; to act with credibility, tact and diplomacy on sensitive issues and discussions