Nutrition and Resilient Food Systems Technical Adviser

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FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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Application deadline 3 years ago: Thursday 22 Oct 2020 at 21:59 UTC

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Organizational Setting

The Ministry of Agriculture of the State of Eritrea and FAO are jointly implementing two Technical Cooperation Programs namely TCP/ERI/3704 – Improving Nutrition in Eritrea: agro-diversity nourishing communities to enhance the nutritional impact of MIHAP in beneficiary communities and TCP/ERI/3705: Improving Grain Post-Harvest Handling and Storage for Smallholder Farmers in Eritrea. TCP/ERI/3704 aims to improve Food and nutrition Security in targeted communities through enhanced nutrition knowledge and skills, healthy complementary feeding, availability and access of diversified nutrient dense foods, good health and sanitation/hygiene practices coupled with rural women’s empowerment and national stakeholders capacity strengthening. The objectives of the TCP/ERI/3705 is to improve household food security / nutrition and promote marketable surplus through reduction of post-harvest losses of selected cereals and pulses. It is also expected that both projects will galvanize multi-stakeholder dialogue around food and nutrition security governance and post-harvest reduction in Eritrea while identifying and utilizing opportunities for improved livelihood resilience. Value chains that can contribute to more resilient food systems resulting in improved food and nutrition security. Currently Desert Locust infestation is becoming a national threat in terms of food security and vulnerability that need greater attention in ensuring resilient food systems are functional and livelihoods are restored following the devastating effects of the locust infestation.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Eritrea and direct technical guidance of the Nutrition Officer, Agri-business Officer and the RTEA Team Leader, FAO SFE, the consultant will work, in close collaboration with FAO Staff in Eritrea, the MIHAP team in the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Technical Committee (NTC) and in consultation with the Ministry of health other relevant ministries of interest for the smooth implementation of the projects and other international and national actors (e.g. UN agencies, Civil Society, Donors, International NGOs, etc.)

Technical Focus

FAO Eritrea is seeking the services of an international consultant to support the implementation of the above projects while providing technical assistance to Eritrea country office on resilient food systems matters as well as the Food and nutrition security National Technical Committee as needed.

Tasks and responsibilities

  • Provide technical support for the implementation of the TCP/ERI/3704: Improving Nutrition in Eritrea: agro-diversity nourishing communities & TCP/ERI/3705: Improving Grain Post-Harvest Handling and Storage for Smallholder Farmers in Eritrea and the ongoing desert locust projects.
  • Provide strategic orientation and guidance to FAO Eritrea for its engagement with national stakeholders on nutrition sensitive agriculture and food systems, post-harvest loss reduction, resilience programming and emergency issues;
  • Closely interact with national consultants and experts for expediting the implementation of ongoing projects particularly, nutrition, post-harvest and related projects.
  • Provide support to FAO Eritrea COVID-19 response plans and related issues.
  • Facilitate the preparation and delivery of policy dialogues, forums and trainings/workshops on PHM, nutrition and resilience in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture.
  • Provide technical assistance and capacity development support for mainstreaming of nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems considerations in existing policies, strategies and flagship programme for all ministries of interests.
  • Facilitate information-sharing of relevant evidence and successful practices on agriculture and nutrition linkages, postharvest management and resilience to inform strategic planning processes.
  • Work closely with the RTEA to coordinate the resilience baseline in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture
  • Provide support to FAO Eritrea in fundraising initiatives through provision of technical inputs during proposal development.
  • Support the RTEA team and the Ministry of Agriculture to develop a national resilience strategy for Eritrea
  • Co-ordinate and link with stakeholders on resilience activities
  • Assist the TA in day-to-day projects implementation, review of achievements as planned and advises on appropriate corrective or preventive actions in case of deviations from original or approved plans;
  • Contribute to the development of work plans and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) as projects progresses;
  • Contribute to the organization of capacity building workshops for IPs as required;
  • Support the establishment and maintenance of effective links with the national project steering committees and national counterparts at all levels involved in the formulation and implementation and ensures synergies with other similar ongoing activities (FAO and other organizations);
  • Facilitate multistakeholder dialogues and partnerships among public and private food systems actors and institutions, including relevant line ministries and research organizations, to increase the resilience of farmers and communities in Eritrea through integrated food systems policy and action;
  • Provide technical support in the development of technical guidelines, training tools and accompanying handouts, including conduct trainings at all levels to increase the food system resilience capacity of women and youth at household and community levels (nutrition-sensitive interventions) and sustainable and inclusive value chain development/upgrading;
  • Document lessons learned and good practices on resilient food systems and nutrition-sensitive policy and action, including preparation of case studies, factsheet and other materials, including supporting its dissemination;
  • Support the Min. of Agriculture in the coordination and policy dialogue/exchange on food systems resilience in Eritrea as may be required with global networks like the Global Network Against Food Crisis, the Action Against Desertification/Great Green Wall and relevant FAO regional and subregional offices and headquarters;
  • Collaborate with the Communication officer to deliver the country project communication plan with timely technical information.
  • Elaborate an end of assignment report acceptable to FAO.
  • Perform other related duties as required.
  • Research and analyse [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;
  • Produce a variety of technical reports and input for technical documents, and web pages;
  • Provides technical, statistical, and/or analytical services on various studies, projects, and/or assessments and provides technical backstopping to field projects;
  • Participate 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.
  • Participate in multidisciplinary teams, collaborates with other stakeholders and UN agencies on working groups and committees and promotes best practices;
  • Collaborate in capacity development activities involving the planning and organizing of training workshops, seminars, and major meetings and the preparation of related information, materials, online tools and information kits;
  • Promote knowledge sharing and best practices at national and international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations;
  • Participate in resource mobilization activities

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

  • Advanced university degree in agricultural development and/or policy, nutrition, food science or a related field or a related field;
  • Five years of relevant experience in integrated analysis of food systems and livelihoods and programme implementation;
  • Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

FAO Core 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 is desirable;
  • Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge of nutrition policy and programme initiatives;
  • Extent and relevance of experience in nutrition and knowledge of resilient food systems policy and programming and multistakeholder processes;
  • Extent and relevance of experience in the analysis and formulation of food security and nutrition policies and programmes for sustainability improvement in agricultural sector;
  • Analytical skills and ability to prepare publications, technical reports and other relevant materials;
  • Depth of familiarity with FAO's partner institutions (Relevant line Ministries, UN, donors) is considered an asset;
  • Ability to analyse complex nutrition-sensitive food system issues.
Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: fao.org