Nutrition and Food Systems Officer (Dietary Data)

Organizational Setting FAO's Food and Nutrition Division (ESN) assists Members to improve diets and raise levels of nutrition, as well as provides support with appropriate policies, strategies and methodologies for improving the efficiency and inclusiveness of their agriculture and food systems. As a knowledge leader, areas addressed include dietary assessment, support on nutrition-sensitive food and agriculture policies and programmes, effective nutrition promotion programmes, food value chains, market linkages, post-harvest handling, food loss and waste reduction and nutrition-sensitive agro-processing. FAO is committed to support Members in their efforts to improve nutritional outcomes as stated in the Rome Declaration on Nutrition (November 2014) and to mainstream nutrition across all of the work of the Organization. The position is located in the Food and Nutrition Division (ESN) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines The Nutrition and Food Systems Officer reports to a senior Nutrition and Food Systems Officer, under the overall guidance of the Director of the Food and Nutrition Division. The incumbent will work in consultation with the Office of Chief Statistician (OCS) and in close collaboration with other divisions, including the Statistics Division (ESS), and Subregional and Country Offices.

Technical Focus To provide technical and scientific support on dietary assessment and especially to activities related to dietary data including the management of the Global Individual Food Consumption Data Tool (FAO/WHO GIFT) and other related FAO data sharing platforms.

Key Results Research and analysis of information, data and statistics, and the maintenance and updating of related tools, methodologies and/or databases to support the delivery of programme products, projects, publications and services.

Key Functions • Researches and analyses agricultural, economic, trade, market, social, environmental, nutrition/food composition and/or gender related data, statistics and information to provide technical, statistical and/or policy related information and analysis to support the delivery of economic and social development programmes work, products, projects, publications and services. • Produces a variety of technical reports and input for technical documents, publications and/or web pages. • Provides technical, statistical, and/or analytical services on various studies, projects and/or assessments and provides technical backstopping to field projects. • Participates in the development of improved/updated technical, statistical and/or analytical tools, methodologies, systems, databases, and/or key social/economic/environmental/nutritional and/or early warning indicators, etc. • Participates in multi-disciplinary teams, collaborates with other units and agencies on work groups and committees and promotes best practices. • Collaborates in capacity development activities involving the planning and organizing of training workshops, seminars and major meetings as well as the preparation of related information, materials, on-line tools and information kits. • Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations. • Participates in resource mobilization activities.

Specific Functions • Provides technical support to FAO's work on dietary data (dietary data collection, collation, harmonization and dissemination) to inform strategic planning and resource mobilization. • Oversees the collation, harmonization and sharing of food consumption data through FAO statistical platforms. • Prepares and finalizes guidelines, protocols and other tools for dietary data collection, harmonization, sharing and analysis. • Provides technical backstopping to the global work related to dietary data within FAO. • Supports the implementation of ESN projects related to dietary data, together with collaborations and agreements requiring dietary data expertise. • Supports countries' needs in terms of capacity development in the area of dietary data. • Ensures efficient collaboration with other divisional teams and with other technical divisions of FAO (in particular the Statistics Division (ESS), and with Decentralized Offices in the collection, compilation, harmonization, analysis, dissemination and use of high quality food consumption data. • Supervises consultants and junior professional staff. • Fosters collaboration with other partners involved in food consumption data collection, harmonization, statistical analysis and use for research and policy purposes. • Supports the organization and delivery of technical webinars and conferences in the field of dietary data. • Performs other duties as required.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in nutrition, food science, food technology, or a closely related subject, or an advanced university degree in statistics or biostatistics with comparable work experience in the area of dietary data or nutrition. • Five years of relevant experience in collection, compilation, analysis, use and dissemination of food consumption data. • Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of one of the other official FAO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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

Technical/Functional Skills • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions. • Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge in the collection, harmonization and dissemination of food consumption data. • Extent and relevance of experience in the statistical analysis of food consumption data. • Extent and relevance of outputs related to food consumption (surveys, analysis, protocols and guidelines). • Extent and relevance of experience of capacity development activities in food consumption. • Extent and relevance of experience in organizing technical meetings, seminars/webinars, training courses and conferences. • Demonstrated results-based management capabilities with ability to design, manage and implement projects in the area of dietary data. • Ability to write clearly and concisely, prepare technical reports, protocols, papers for publication and deliver effective oral presentations.