Innovation Specialist (Grassroots Innovation)

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has over 194 member countries and works in more than 130 countries worldwide. The organization aims 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. FAO's mission is to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, and to make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable. The Office of Innovation (OIN) within FAO plays a crucial role in driving and coordinating innovation across the organization, ensuring that innovative approaches are integrated into FAO's programs and initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Innovation Specialist (Grassroots Innovation) will be a key player in supporting the development, testing, and operationalization of the grassroots component of the Agrifood Systems Technologies and Innovations Outlook (ATIO) Knowledge Base. This position involves working closely with grassroots stakeholders and intermediary organizations to identify, document, and validate farmer-led and community-driven innovations. The role requires a strong focus on participatory processes, ensuring that local actors are engaged in the development of methodologies for grassroots innovation inclusion. The specialist will also contribute to the dissemination of grassroots innovations and support the continuous improvement of the ATIO Knowledge Base, making it a vital resource for agrifood systems innovation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including: supporting the identification, documentation, and validation of grassroots innovations in pilot countries; collaborating with intermediary organizations such as farmers’ organizations and technical partners; co-developing, testing, and refining methodologies for grassroots innovation inclusion; facilitating and documenting co-design and reflection workshops with grassroots stakeholders; organizing and delivering training and peer-learning sessions for intermediary organizations; ensuring the quality assurance of validated grassroots innovations in the ATIO Knowledge Base; preparing reports, training materials, and online tutorials related to grassroots innovation methodologies; and contributing to the monitoring and analysis of grassroots innovation data to support the continuous improvement of the grassroots module and related processes.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements: For Consultants, an advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Development studies, Innovation Management, Behavioural Science, Anthropology, Rural Development, Social Sciences, or related fields is required. Consultants with a Bachelor's degree must have two additional years of relevant professional experience. For PSAs, a university degree from an institution recognized by the IAU/UNESCO in development studies, Agrifood Innovation, Innovation Management, Behavioural Science, Anthropology, Rural Development, Social Sciences, or related fields is necessary. Additionally, candidates should have two years of relevant experience in grassroots processes, innovation management, participatory research, or community engagement.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as Development studies, Innovation Management, Behavioural Science, Anthropology, Rural Development, or Social Sciences. For those applying as PSAs, a university degree in similar fields is acceptable. The emphasis is on obtaining degrees from institutions recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU) or UNESCO, ensuring that candidates have a solid academic foundation to support their work in grassroots innovation.

Experience:
Candidates should possess at least two years of relevant experience in areas such as grassroots processes, innovation management, participatory research, or community engagement. This experience should demonstrate the candidate's ability to work effectively with local communities, farmers’ organizations, or grassroots innovation networks. Experience in facilitating participatory processes and managing partnerships with grassroots stakeholders is highly valued, as is familiarity with participatory methodologies and community-based development initiatives in agrifood systems or rural development contexts.

Languages:
A working knowledge (Level C) of English is mandatory, along with a limited knowledge (Level B) of one of the other FAO official languages, which include French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian. Proficiency in additional languages can be advantageous, particularly in enhancing communication with diverse stakeholders and communities involved in grassroots innovation initiatives.

Additional Notes:
This position may involve a contract duration that is not specified in the job ad. It is important to note that the role is likely to be full-time, and candidates may be recruited internationally or nationally, depending on the organization's needs. Compensation and benefits details are not provided in the job ad, but candidates can expect to receive a competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with their experience and qualifications.