Banana Value Chain Specialist - Decent Work and Occupational Health & Safety

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 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. The organization operates in over 130 countries and has a workforce of more than 12,000 employees. FAO's work is guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The organization plays a crucial role in monitoring and analyzing agricultural commodity markets and providing technical support to its member countries.

Job Overview:
The Banana Value Chain Specialist will play a pivotal role in supporting the monitoring, implementation, and reporting of the Banana Occupational Health and Safety Initiative (BOHESI). This position is integral to the broader decent work portfolio of the World Banana Forum’s Working Group 3 on Labour Rights (WG03). The Specialist will be responsible for promoting decent work, gender equality, and freedom of association across global banana supply chains. This includes supporting the implementation of work plans, projects, and activities related to occupational health and safety, as well as conducting research and analysis on relevant policies and best practices. The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including producers, workers, and national institutions, to enhance capacity development and ensure the effective dissemination of occupational health and safety tools and training materials.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Banana Value Chain Specialist include:

• Supporting the operations of the World Banana Forum’s Working Group 3 on Labour Rights (WG03) to promote decent work, gender equality, and freedom of association across global banana supply chains.
• Assisting in the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the Banana Occupational Health and Safety Initiative (BOHESI), including capacity development activities and pilot projects in banana-producing countries.
• Providing technical support for the development and dissemination of occupational health and safety tools, manuals, training materials, and guidance documents, ensuring gender-sensitive approaches are integrated.
• Supporting Training-of-Trainers (ToT) programs and capacity development activities for producers, workers, producer organizations, and national institutions.
• Coordinating and providing technical backstopping for project implementation and field activities related to occupational health and safety, labour rights, and socio-economic sustainability.
• Conducting research and analysis on policies, trends, and best practices related to occupational health and safety, responsible business conduct, due diligence, grievance mechanisms, gender equity, living wages, and living incomes.
• Performing any other technical and organizational tasks required by the WBF Secretariat.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Social Sciences, Occupational Health and Safety, Public Health, Labour Studies, International Relations, Public Policy, or any other relevant discipline. Those with a bachelor's degree must have two additional years of relevant professional experience in related fields. Additionally, candidates should have at least one year of relevant experience in occupational health and safety, labour rights, or capacity development. A working knowledge (Level C) of Spanish is also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in fields such as Social Sciences, Occupational Health and Safety, Public Health, Labour Studies, International Relations, or Public Policy. For candidates with a bachelor's degree, two additional years of relevant professional experience in related fields are necessary to qualify for the position.

Experience:
The position requires at least one year of relevant experience in occupational health and safety, labour rights, or capacity development. Experience in developing and delivering training materials and capacity development activities, including Training-of-Trainers (ToT) programs, is highly valued. Familiarity with international frameworks and standards related to occupational health and safety and labour rights is also essential.

Languages:
A working knowledge of Spanish is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of English is desirable, as it may enhance communication and collaboration with a broader range of stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is remote, allowing for flexibility in work location. The role is expected to involve collaboration with various stakeholders across different regions, particularly in banana-producing countries. The position may require occasional travel for field activities and stakeholder engagement. The FAO offers a competitive compensation package, including benefits that support work-life balance and professional development opportunities.