Nutrition and Food Systems Officer (Policy, Resilience and Agrifood Systems)

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is a specialized agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition. Established in 1945, FAO has a mission to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition. The organization operates in over 130 countries and has a workforce of more than 12,000 employees. FAO's Food and Nutrition Division (ESN) focuses on improving diets and nutrition levels globally, providing support for policies and strategies that enhance agricultural and food systems efficiency and inclusiveness.

Job Overview:
The Nutrition and Food Systems Officer position is situated within the Food and Nutrition Division (ESN) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This role is pivotal in providing technical expertise to enhance agrifood systems, particularly at the intersection of humanitarian and development programming. The officer will work to improve nutrition, resilience, and the quality of diets for vulnerable populations, especially women and children. The position requires a comprehensive understanding of dietary assessments, nutrition-sensitive policies, and effective nutrition promotion programs. The officer will be responsible for developing specialized tools and methodologies that support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of various programs and projects aimed at improving nutrition outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The officer will plan and lead components of multidisciplinary teams and short-term work groups, participating in divisional teams and Organization-wide committees. Key responsibilities include developing technical, statistical, and analytical frameworks to support program planning and monitoring, conducting research and data collection, and providing technical/policy advice to regional and country offices. The officer will also collaborate in capacity development activities, participate in resource mobilization efforts, and contribute to the development of evidence-informed strategies and tools for agrifood systems policy. Additionally, the officer will support FAO Country Offices in implementing and evaluating nutrition programs, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected situations, and will lead the development of learning and knowledge products related to nutrition and agrifood systems.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in nutrition, nutrition policies, or a related field. A minimum of seven years of relevant experience is required, particularly in integrating nutrition into agrifood policies and programs in fragile and conflict settings. Candidates should have experience working in low- or middle-income countries and must demonstrate proficiency in English, along with intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree, specifically a Master’s degree or equivalent, in fields related to nutrition or nutrition policies. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of nutrition and its integration into agrifood systems.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of relevant experience, particularly in contexts that involve integrating nutrition into agrifood policies and programs. Candidates should have experience in emergency programming and resilience building, as well as familiarity with working in low- or middle-income countries. Experience in humanitarian contexts and the ability to manage multidisciplinary teams are also important.

Languages:
Candidates must have a working knowledge of English at proficiency level C and intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) at level B. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Rome, Italy, at FAO headquarters. While the job ad does not specify a deadline for applications, it is important for candidates to apply promptly. The role is full-time and may involve international collaboration and travel. The FAO offers a competitive compensation package, including benefits related to health, retirement, and professional development.