Country Engagement Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UN-Nutrition is the United Nations’ platform for collective action on nutrition, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome. Established in 2020, its mission is to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and coherence of nutrition-related work across UN agencies. UN-Nutrition unites various agencies to align efforts, reduce fragmentation, and support both national and global nutrition goals. The organization is governed by a Steering Committee comprising five constituent agencies: FAO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO), along with rotating members such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and CGIAR. UN-Nutrition aims to enable and support UN teams to deliver coordinated assistance that advances national priorities and the right to adequate food and nutrition for all.

Job Overview:
The Country Engagement Specialist will play a crucial role in strategic engagement with countries to enhance UN coordination and collaboration for maximum nutrition impact. This position involves leading and supporting the strategic analysis of UN planning cycles, guiding the mapping and assessment of national nutrition coordination mechanisms, and ensuring that country-level strategies are evidence-driven and context-specific. The specialist will prepare analytical summaries and technical notes for use by Resident Coordinator Offices and UN partners, supporting high-level advocacy and technical positioning. The role also includes conducting capacity assessments of UN Country Teams and national counterparts, co-designing capacity-strengthening plans, and promoting collaboration among UN agencies and national stakeholders. The specialist will facilitate stakeholder engagement, design and deliver capacity-building activities, and ensure the documentation and dissemination of good practices across countries and regions. Additionally, the position involves overseeing the strategic design and management of a catalytic funding mechanism to support country-led nutrition initiatives, ensuring alignment with project objectives and technical standards.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Country Engagement Specialist will be responsible for a wide range of tasks, including:

• Leading and supporting the strategic analysis of UN planning cycles to identify entry points for nutrition integration.
• Guiding the mapping and assessment of national nutrition coordination mechanisms.
• Ensuring the use of data and document analysis to inform strategic decision-making.
• Preparing and reviewing analytical summaries and technical notes for advocacy purposes.
• Conducting strategic capacity assessments of UN Country Teams and national counterparts.
• Overseeing the co-design and implementation of tailored capacity-strengthening plans.
• Championing collaboration among UN agencies and national stakeholders.
• Designing and delivering webinars, workshops, and peer learning exchanges.
• Leading the strategic design and management of the catalytic funding mechanism. 1
• Monitoring implementation progress and ensuring lessons learned are captured and disseminated. 1
• Facilitating coordinated technical support to UNCTs and organizing technical briefings and country dialogues. 1
• Leading the design and implementation of a global stocktaking survey on UN coordination for nutrition. 1
• Overseeing the development of knowledge products and ensuring their dissemination. 1
• Providing strategic oversight and coordination for interns and team members.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in public health, nutrition, food systems, development studies, international relations, or any other relevant discipline. Those with a bachelor's degree must have two additional years of relevant professional experience. For category C, a minimum of 3 years of experience in nutrition-related programming, policy, or coordination at the international or country level is required, while category B requires at least 5 years. A working knowledge of English is mandatory, and proficiency in a second FAO language may be required depending on the assignment.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as public health, nutrition, food systems, development studies, or international relations. Candidates with a bachelor's degree must have additional professional experience to qualify. The degree must be from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 3 years of experience for category C and at least 5 years for category B in nutrition-related programming, policy, or coordination at either the international or country level. Candidates should have proven experience working within or with the UN system, including familiarity with UN development coordination mechanisms and related planning processes.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's qualifications.

Additional Notes:
This position is likely to be full-time and may involve international recruitment. The role may require travel to various locations for stakeholder engagement and capacity-building activities. Compensation and benefits details are not specified in the job ad, but candidates can expect a competitive salary and benefits package typical of UN positions.