Nutrition Programme Lead

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Position Title: Nutrition Programme Lead
Location: Maseru
Country: Lesotho
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

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 support the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems, contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Job Overview:
The Nutrition Programme Lead will be responsible for leading nutrition programming within the FAO country office in Lesotho. This role involves providing nutrition advisory services to various projects, including the ROLL (Regeneration of Landscapes and Livelihoods) project. The incumbent will work closely with government ministries and departments to implement nutrition-sensitive agriculture initiatives and ensure that nutrition is integrated into major projects and programs. The position requires a strong focus on community nutrition, nutrition education, and the development of training materials and guidelines to enhance the capacity of local stakeholders in nutrition-related activities. The goal is to improve food security and nutrition outcomes in Lesotho, addressing the critical need for expertise in this area.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will undertake a variety of tasks, including leading nutrition programming for the FAO country office, providing technical support to government nutrition units, ensuring the quality of training materials, designing training packages on nutrition education for farmers, participating in training programs, conducting supervision and monitoring of training events, supporting government capacity enhancement training, leading advocacy efforts for nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and collaborating with other FAO program team members to integrate nutrition into agriculture and natural resource management projects. This role is pivotal in ensuring that nutrition is effectively mainstreamed into FAO's initiatives in Lesotho.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Nutrition, Food Security, Food Science, or related fields. Additionally, a minimum of 10 years of professional work experience in food-based nutrition projects is required. A working knowledge of English is essential, and candidates must be nationals of the Kingdom of Lesotho. The FAO core competencies include a focus on results, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing. Technical and functional skills in the areas of nutrition policy and programming are also necessary.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree in Nutrition, Food Security, Food Science, or a related field. Candidates must have their qualifications recognized by the World Higher Education Database (WHED), ensuring that their educational background meets international standards.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 10 years of professional experience working on food-based nutrition projects. This experience should include managing community nutrition projects and a strong understanding of nutrition policy and programming. The ability to plan and implement programs related to nutrition and food security is crucial, as is experience in writing project proposals and mobilizing resources.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
FAO does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates must be medically fit for appointment and meet any residency or visa requirements. Security clearances will also be necessary. For more information on employment opportunities, candidates can visit the FAO employment website.