Nutrition Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations leads international efforts to defeat hunger and to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With over 194 member states, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. We believe that everyone can play a part in ending hunger.

One of the strategic focus for FAO Sub-regional Office of Southern Africa (SFS) is working broadly to achieve healthy diets and improved nutrition through agriculture and food systems within 16 member countries in the sub region and SADC. In addition, the unit supports development of policies, strategies and methodologies for nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems including work on value chains, market linkages, post-harvest handling and agro-processing.

FAO SFS works with stakeholders including the SADC secretariat, Government departments within the region (especially Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Education, Gender, Trade, Finance), local and international NGOs, Academic and research institutions, private sector and other UN agencies.

The purpose of this call is to attract global talents who are strongly motivated to contribute to the FAO’s mandate through their technical expertise and knowledge. Consultants with expertise ranging from Nutrition, Food security, Nutrition sensitive Agriculture Food systems, Food Science, Social and Behaviour Change Communication related to nutrition, are encouraged to apply to be included on the FAO SFS roaster.

The consultancy/PSA positions will range from a few days up to 11 months. The contract - is home based with a possibility of travel for short term field missions to various countries in Southern Africa (where possible given the Covid 19 situation.

Reporting Lines

The consultants will work under the overall supervision of the FAO-Sub-regional Coordinator for Southern Africa. The consultant will work under direct technical supervision and guidance of the SFS Nutrition Officer and working in collaboration with other technical units in FAO SFS, the Regional Office and Headquarters.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Provide support to the development and implementation of Food Based Dietary Guidelines.. • Conduct situational analysis on food consumption patterns, nutrition and health diet relationships and other factors that affects nutrition outcomes. • Prepare and implementation of School Nutrition and school feeding guidelines. • Design/update country-based Food composition tables to determine nutrient content of foods. • Institutionalization of Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) and Children (MDD-C) in national surveys. • Alignment of global, continental and regional standards or frameworks for food and nutrition including SDGs, CAADP, SADC FNS strategy and WHA targets indicators. • Generate evidence on efficacy and effectiveness of nutrition sensitive agriculture food systems on dietary diversity and nutrition outcomes. • Capacity building on SDG indicators related to Food and Nutrition under FAO custodianship and for MDD-W. • Mainstream nutrition in Agriculture and Food Systems policies including Agricultural Investment Plans. • Capacity building of FAO technical teams and relevant national government staff in nutrition, food security, nutrition sensitive agriculture and food Systems. • Guide the creation of relevant partnerships at national/regional level on agro-diversity and transformed sensitive food systems to enhance nutrition outcomes. • Mainstream nutrition in agriculture production/extension, food systems and value chains using FAO-supported projects as a delivery mechanism. • Assist the design of country/regional-based nutrition projects using agriculture production and value chains as a delivery mechanism.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Nutrition, Food and Nutrition Security, Public health, Social and behaviour change, Food Science, and other related fields. • At least five years relevant working experience in Food and nutrition sector, Nutrition sensitive agriculture, food security, food systems and nutrition information systems. • Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish ( for consultant a second working language is required while PSA only English language might be sufficient).

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in one or more of the technical fields:, Nutrition, School Nutrition, food and nutrition policy and guideline development, Food and nutrition policy assessment and analysis, Food security and social protection. • Demonstrable expertise in: document, program wreview and analysis. • Expertise in designing methodology, and undertaking systematic qualitative and quantitative analyses and assessments. • Extensive knowledge in in food-based dietary guidelines development and implementation; • Experience in supporting technical programmes or multistakeholder initiatives related to nutrition • Previous working experience in the in the SADC region, or in low- and middle-income countries. • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well within multi-sector and multi-agency environments. • Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset; • Proven record of publications and writing technical documents. • Proficient in computer skills including Microsoft office.

Selection Criteria

• Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise and a technical / competency-based interview.