Food System Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has a mission to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members, including 194 countries and the European Union, FAO operates in over 130 countries worldwide. In India, FAO focuses on supporting the Government of India to improve the livelihoods of farmers, promote agrifood systems transformation, and respond to challenges such as climate change and environmental degradation. FAO India implements various projects aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing the capacities of stakeholders, particularly small and marginalized farmers. Some key projects include the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Project, which aims to enhance India's capacity to develop climate finance investment programs linked to adaptation and resilience priorities for the agriculture sector.

Job Overview:
The Food System Specialist position at FAO India is crucial for providing technical oversight on Climate Resilient Agriculture Investment Plans (CRAIP) and ensuring alignment with project outputs and overarching goals of climate resilience and adaptation. The specialist will work under the supervision of the FAO Representative in India and collaborate with various project managers and technical officers. The role involves conducting comprehensive diagnostics of food systems and climate risks, contributing to the design and implementation of a CRAIP investment prioritization framework, and supporting stakeholder engagement processes at both state and national levels. The specialist will also assist in consolidating technical assessments into investment-ready narratives and contribute to the preparation of GCF Concept Notes, ensuring coherence with India’s Country Programme and international financing requirements. This position is integral to the successful implementation of FAO's projects aimed at transforming agrifood systems in India.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Food System Specialist include:

• Assisting in comprehensive diagnostics of food systems and climate risks to identify priority vulnerabilities and transformation pathways across crops, regions, and value chains.
• Contributing to the design and implementation of a CRAIP investment prioritization framework to evaluate climate-resilient agricultural options.
• Participating in integrated analyses of climate, livelihood, and nutrition dynamics within food systems.
• Supporting stakeholder engagement processes by preparing analytical inputs and facilitating frameworks.
• Assisting in consolidating technical assessments into investment-ready narratives, including risk analyses and monitoring indicators.
• Contributing to the preparation of GCF Concept Notes, focusing on priority agricultural sub-sectors.
• Assisting in developing technical components of Concept Notes, including investment design and risk assessments.
• Supporting coordination of stakeholder inputs and ensuring alignment with international financing requirements.
• Collaborating with the FAO Country Office and other National Experts as required. 1
• Performing any other duties assigned by FAO leadership.

Required Qualifications:
The minimum requirements for the Food System Specialist position include:

• An advanced degree in agriculture, rural development, ecology, social sciences, or related fields.
• At least 7 years of working experience in sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, capacity building, research, policy analysis, and development.
• A working knowledge (level C) of English is essential.
• Candidates must be nationals of India or residents with a valid work permit. Additionally, experience working with government agencies on development projects is desirable, as well as proficiency in Hindi and extensive experience in managing capacity building resources and delivering training events.

Educational Background:
Candidates for the Food System Specialist position are required to have an advanced degree in agriculture, rural development, ecology, social sciences, or related subjects. This educational background is essential to ensure that the specialist possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively contribute to the goals of FAO in India, particularly in the areas of sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.

Experience:
The position requires at least 7 years of working experience in relevant fields such as sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, capacity building, research, policy analysis, and development. This level of experience is crucial for the specialist to effectively manage and implement the various projects and initiatives undertaken by FAO in India, particularly those related to climate-resilient agriculture and food systems transformation.

Languages:
A working knowledge (level C) of English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, proficiency in Hindi is desirable, as it will facilitate communication and engagement with local stakeholders and partners in India. Having knowledge of other languages may also be beneficial, but English and Hindi are the primary languages required for this role.

Additional Notes:
The Food System Specialist position is based at the FAO Country Office in New Delhi, India. The role is full-time and involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and local communities. The position may require travel within India to engage with stakeholders and support project implementation. Compensation and benefits will be in accordance with FAO's policies and guidelines.