Organizational Setting
The Agrifood Economics Division (ESA) conducts economic research and policy analysis to support the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. ESA provides evidence-based support to national, regional and global policy processes and initiatives related to monitoring and analysing food and agricultural policies, agribusiness and value chain development, rural transformation and poverty, food security and nutrition information and analysis, resilience, bioeconomy, and climate-smart agriculture. The division also leads the production of two FAO flagship publications: The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) and The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI).
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is a global, multi-partner innovative initiative to facilitate decision-making with improved food security analysis, through a set of tools and protocols for classifying the severity and nature of food insecurity and implications for response. IPC incorporates a meta-analysis approach, drawing on evidence-based analysis of food security, nutrition and livelihood information through a consensus building approach that includes a broad range of stakeholders.
This global initiative is governed and strategically guided by an IPC Global Steering Committee (GSC), consisting of 15 major food security and nutrition agencies, including: Action Against Hunger, Care International, Comité Permanent Inter-Etats de Lutte contre la Sécheresse dans le Sahel (CILSS), Joint Research Centre of the European Union (JRC), Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), FAO, Food Security Cluster, Global Nutrition Cluster, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Oxfam, Southern African Development Community (SADC), Save the Children, Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA), UNICEF and WFP. The IPC Global Support Unit (GSU), hosted within ESA, is the operational arm of the SC and is responsible for the coordination of IPC normative development, IPC global standards on quality and compliance, as well as the global coordination of capacity building support to IPC activities worldwide.
FAO International Consultants and Call purpose
The Organization frequently engages experts to work on short-term activities and projects as international consultants or under personal service agreements (PSA) at various levels of experience (see minimum requirements below). International consultants or PSAs are engaged by the Organization to provide expertise, skills or knowledge for the performance of a specific task or piece of work, which is short-term by nature. The assignment may involve full-time or part-time functions. The assignment can be from 1 month up to 11 months. The possibility of extension is subject to satisfactory performance and depending on the availability of resources and needs of the Organization.
Individuals meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Call will be included in the ESA Divisional Roster. Experts who are registered in the Roster are available for consideration whenever relevant opportunities arise matching the required profiles. Contracts will be home-based with possible limited travel.
Reporting Lines
Selected applicants will work under the overall guidance of the ESA Division Director and the IPC Global Programme Manager, as well as the direct functional supervision of the IPC Technical Development Team Leader.
Technical Focus
Food Security and Nutrition Analysis in humanitarian and development contexts, capacity and technical development, situation and vulnerability analysis, technical and academic writing.
Tasks and responsibilities
The assigned tasks and responsibilities related to this area of work can include the following:
– Design, implement and write-up research on food security & nutrition and the IPC to academic publication standards
– Develop and apply innovate research methods which further the breath and application of the IPC
– Analyse complex, multisectoral datasets across a range of domains relevant to the IPC
– Prepare and present on technical elements of the IPC for a wide range of public audiences (IPC partners, IPC Technical Advisory Group and Working Groups, academics, national Technical Working Groups, NGOs etc)
– Facilitate training and analysis on various aspects of the IPC
– Support expansion of IPC into other thematic areas, such as potentially: Population in need, Urban analyses, Gender sensitive analyses
– Contribute to IPC’s portfolio of innovation for food security and nutrition analysis, including contributing to the IPC Analysis Platform, Learning site, Community of Practice and other fora.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• University degree or higher education in development, agriculture, public health, nutrition, geography, or a closely related field.
• Relevant experience researching or working on food security and nutrition related issues:
o Level A: at least 12 years for Consultants (15 for PSA) years of experience
o Level B: at least 5 years of experience
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other FAO languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian) for Consultants. Working knowledge of English for PSA.SBS.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Solid working knowledge of IPC analytical approach
• Previous experience/exposure to IPC in both food security and nutrition domains will be considered a substantial advantage. IPC Certification (Level 1, 2, 3) an asset.
• Experience in food security crisis contexts an advantage.
• Interest and commitment in innovative approaches to food security and nutritional analysis, willingness to share and test new ideas.
• Good to exceptional writing skills for technical, academic and general audiences, including proven ability to write complex technical concepts using a simple and understandable language
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills, ability to build and work in multidisciplinary teams
Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
- Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list
- 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 more information, visit the FAO employment website
HOW TO APPLY
• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org
