Young Professional Officer (Community-driven Innovation)

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (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 approximately 12,000 employees. FAO's work encompasses a wide range of areas including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and rural development, with a strong emphasis on innovation and sustainability.

Job Overview:
The Young Professional Officer (Community-driven Innovation) position is situated within the Office of Innovation (OIN) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This role is pivotal in supporting the integration of innovation into FAO's programs, particularly focusing on community-driven and grassroots innovation in agrifood systems. The officer will work closely with the Innovation Officer (Farmer Field Schools) and collaborate with various teams across FAO to facilitate the development and implementation of innovative approaches that enhance agrifood systems transformation. The position emphasizes the importance of co-creation processes, multi-actor learning, and the generation of evidence and knowledge to support sustainable agricultural practices, particularly through agroecology. The officer will be responsible for conducting research, providing analysis" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">technical analysis, and supporting project delivery, ensuring that innovation is effectively mainstreamed into FAO's initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Young Professional Officer will undertake a variety of duties and responsibilities, including but not limited to: conducting analyses of relevant technical, social, economic, environmental, and technological information to inform various documents; maintaining records and updating databases and web pages; providing technical support to various projects; collaborating in the development of training tools and materials; organizing workshops and seminars; participating in meetings, consultations, and conferences; and producing required materials and providing information and assistance to partners. Specific functions include supporting the identification, documentation, and analysis of grassroots innovations and community-driven innovation processes, particularly in agroecology; designing and implementing community-driven innovation activities; providing support to the Global Farmer Field School Platform; contributing to multi-actor learning and innovation processes; generating evidence and knowledge products; and analyzing challenges in grassroots innovation.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in agricultural innovation, systems agronomy, agricultural economics, or a related field. Additionally, candidates should have at least one year of relevant experience in international development, focusing on agrifood systems, rural development, and innovation. A working knowledge of English (proficiency - level C) and intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish - level B) is also required.

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 agricultural innovation, systems agronomy, agricultural economics, or similar disciplines. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of agrifood systems and the innovative approaches necessary for their transformation.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have at least one year of relevant experience in international development, particularly with a focus on agrifood systems, rural development, and innovation. Experience in field positions and working in multiple locations or areas is desirable, as it enhances the candidate's understanding of diverse agricultural contexts and challenges.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, with a requirement for candidates to have a working knowledge (level C) of the language. Additionally, candidates must possess intermediate knowledge (level B) of another FAO official language, which could include Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish. This multilingual capability is essential for effective communication within the international context of FAO's operations.

Additional Notes:
Candidates applying for this position should be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application. The Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is specifically designed to recruit talented and qualified professionals, with a focus on nationals from non- and under-represented countries. Priority will be given to candidates from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and other developing nations. This initiative aims to foster a diverse and inclusive workforce within FAO, providing opportunities for young professionals to start their careers as international civil servants.