NATIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS EXPERTS
Organizational Setting
The development of sustainable and inclusive food systems is emerging as one of the most effective areas for transformative change leading to sustainable development. As a multi-dimensional, and multi-sectoral approach, it requires integrated policy, and innovative institutional and governance arrangements, with the engagement of different institutional and non-governmental actors, and the mobilization of knowledge and resources.
Inspired by the Norwegian government’s action plan for sustainable food systems, the Governance Innovations for Sustainable Development of Food Systems Programme seeks to develop innovative approaches for better integrated governance and policy support. Specifically, the programme is designed to enable more comprehensive and scalable multi-sectoral actions across three main pillars of food systems: sustainable food production, value creation and markets, and improved nutrition and diets – all within a comprehensive governance framework. The programme will focus on three countries, notably Indonesia, Tanzania and Uganda, and will build on on-going FAO and partner methodologies, initiatives, knowledge and competencies, including innovative agroecological, climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive practices and technologies.
The Programme will adopt an open and transparent approach that utilizes multi-dimensional data to generate evidence-based analysis of crucial intersectoral nexuses and trade-offs and enable more effective dialogue and collaboration among partners, contributing at the same time to global reflections on how to enable and support food systems transformation.
Within FAO, the Programme is coordinated by the Governance and Policy Support (GaPS) team, reporting to the Chief Economist, and working in close consultation with the Food Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF) and the FAO Country office. The Food Systems expert will provide support to the development of country-based processes for replicable and scalable food systems governance programmes in other countries, and will seek to position the participating countries as exemplars providing experiences and lessons that can be presented for the UN Food System Summit to be held in 2021.
FAO National Experts in Indonesia
The Organization frequently engages experts to work on specific programme as to coordinate support to selected countries. The National Food System Experts will be located within the key Government agencies that are being supported, and they are expected to work very closely with the Government institutions to which they are assigned. They will need to demonstrate a results-orientation and capacity for analysing complex issues, directing expert seminars or capacity development activities, preparing high-level documents for conferences and meetings, or writing reports on matters within the area of programme focus. The assignment is foreseen for 11 months and will involve full time functions. The possibility of renewal is subject to satisfactory performance and conditional on the availability of the resources and needs of the Organization.
The purpose of this vacancy is to attract qualified Indonesian national candidates in the area of Food Systems Governance to support the implementation of the 3 years Flexible Multi-partner Mechanism (FMM) project .
Reporting Lines
The National Food System Experts will report to the FAO Representative in the country of assignment and to the Global Project Coordinator, under the overall guidance of the Senior Coordinator, Governance and Policy, in close coordination with Food System and Food Safety Division (ESF).
Tasks and responsibilities
· Leads in applying methods, data and analysis to identify food systems and governance issues, including through the design and implementation of national and/or sub-national level assessments involving desk reviews, primary and secondary data collection and analysis, and develop options to address them.
· In consultation with the FAOR and the Programme Coordination team in HQ, facilitates and participates in consultation with the Government institutions and relevant stakeholders to identify opportunities, challenges and trade-offs related to sustainable development of national and subnational food systems, as well as possible evidence-based solutions;
· Provides direct support to Government institutions to strengthen coordination of the governance of sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems, as foreseen within the framework of the FMM project;
· Provides technical and policy advice and/or support to the Government and relevant stakeholders in the identification and implementation of innovative and integrated policies and programmes to promote sustainable development of resilient and inclusive food systems;
· Facilitates strategic synergies among relevant existing programmes and initiatives to maximize impact and upscale results that foster sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems, with a particular focus on small-scale family farmers and rural MSMEs, female headed farmer households, improved food security, nutrition, and access to markets.
· Advocates strategic partnerships, best practices, and policy dialogue in support of integrated action, enhanced policies and governance arrangements for sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems; promotes and support establishment of partnerships and alliances in support to the project, and facilitates engagement of civil societies, NGOs, private sectors, academia, and other relevant actors;
· Facilitate dialogue between and synergy among the UN food and development agencies, government institutions and all the relevant actors.
· Plans, supports the organization of, and participates in meetings, capacity development activities and training workshops, including around institutional and human capacities to strengthen integrated approaches to food systems governance, and oversees the development of related materials and reports;
· Prepares reports to FAO, the donor and the National Government on progress achievement and issues related to project implementation;
· Ensure continuous communication and information flow between national stakeholders and HQ project coordinator and technical task force.
· Performs any other required duty related to project implementation.
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in political sciences, political economy, development economics, food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture and natural resources management, social sciences, and related field or proven relevant experience in the above fields;
• Seven years of relevant experience in policy, analysis and programming relating to food security, nutrition, agriculture and rural development, and food system governance and political economy;
• Fully fluent in the language of the duty station and excellent knowledge of written and oral English
Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Extent and relevance of experience in strengthening inclusive local and national food supply, in particular market and value chain development is essential.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable;
• Extent and relevance of experience in political economy, governance, policy analysis and advise related to sustainable food systems, food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture and rural development;
• Extent and relevance of experience in working with intergovernmental bodies, multi-stakeholder alliances, and multidisciplinary teams.
General Note to All Applicants :
Interested candidates should submit a CV and a covering letter ( In English) clearly stating their relevant skills, experience and email to : FAO-ID@fao.org, Submission deadline : 14th August 2020. All candidates should possess computer/word processing skills. FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment at a lower grade or to make an appointment with a modified job description. FAO regrets to inform applicants that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
