Food Systems Specialists

Organizational Setting

The UN Food Systems Summit (hereinafter UNFSS), held during the 2021 UN General Assembly, set the stage for global food systems transformation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Under the leadership of the Secretary-General, the FSS made it clear that transformative action in food systems is fundamental to achieving the SDGs. As a follow up to the Summit, the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) has committed the UN system to establish a UN Food Systems Coordination Hub (hereafter the Hub) to support countries implementing food system transformation pathways towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. The Hub is hosted by FAO in Rome on behalf of the UN System.

The Hub has a coordinating and connector role drawing on the capacities of the UN system and leveraging on the advice and expertise from a wider ecosystem of support, serving countries, by incentivizing existing institutions to deliver on their mandates in a systemic way. Based on this background, the Biennial Work Plan 2024-2026 of the Hub is structured along an evolving version of the six key functions adopted for the 2022-2023 Work Plan recomposed into five coordination clusters, which are:

• Landing the Vision - Overarching Cluster

• Policy and Governance Cluster

• Science and Knowledge Cluster

• Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration Cluster

• Finance and Investment Cluster

In line with its mandate, the Hub coordinates country-level initiatives to support the implementation of National Pathways. In close collaboration with UN Resident Coordinator Offices and UN Country Teams, the Hub facilitates through a range of flagship programmes technical support to advance the implementation of National Food Systems Transformation Pathways, and strengthen the capacity of National Convenors. The Joint SDG Fund Food Systems Window focuses on the delivery of National Pathway priorities through integrated UN programing, catalyzing innovative solutions, and unlocking larger scale financing and private sector investments, and strengthening the enabling environment (policies, institutions and capacities).

Another initiative is the project \"Accelerating Food Systems Transformation through a Scalable Success Model\" (SSM), financed by the European Union, which strengthens the capacity of national institutions and structures that are driving national food systems transformation processes, contributing to the operationalization and implementation of food systems transformation agendas, as outlined in national pathways or corresponding national strategies and policies.

The purpose of this call is to provide the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub with a list of qualified candidates for a number of profiles with different technical specializations as indicated below. The contract can be home based with required travel for field missions.

Reporting Lines

The Food Systems Specialists will report to the Senior Programme Policy Officer, Programme Officer, Policy Officer (Food Systems Transformation Strategy), Technical Officer (Science for Food Systems) of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub.

Technical Focus

The assignments will support the Hub in delivering its overall workplan with specific focus on updating, operationalizing, integrating, implementing and localizing the National Pathways for food systems transformation), while ensuring effective programme reporting and operations management in coordination with other Hub team members and FAO respective divisions.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Food Systems specialists will assist in day-to-day coordination of the Hub initiatives, contributing to the coordination of key workplan deliverables under the relevant supervision of Hub officers. In particular, the Food Systems Specialists will perform the following tasks:

Accompany project implementation in countries, leveraging relevant partnerships

• Schedule, participate and take notes in regular meetings with UNCTs in the countries participating at Hub-led initiatives.

• Design, populate and maintain project database/databases with key country focal points contact details, track country project updates, country report submissions and key issues for follow

• Track and keep record of country-level progress and deliverables.

• Assist in design of project reporting templates

• Assist the technical review of project deliverables from countries.

• Assist the Regional Advisor for Africa in the implementation of activities that the Hub is designing in partnership with AUDA-NEPAD.

• Assist in organizing and archiving knowledge products and outputs in the Hub internal database.

• Contribute to reviewing and expanding the publication Implementing National Food Systems Pathways: Emerging Practices, with new country cases.

• Support the preparation of donor reports by compiling data and country updates for accurate and timely submissions.

Contribute to creating synergies with Hub flagships and other Programme, Reporting and Operational Management

• Design and organize multi-stakeholder dialogues, roundtables, and webinars in collaboration with the Hub, the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), and national partners to strengthen country-level science–policy interfaces and promote co-creation.

• Conduct research and analysis on science, innovation, and systems-based approaches to food systems transformation, identifying key knowledge gaps and opportunities for actionable data use at national and regional levels.

• Support capacity-building initiatives by providing technical and coordination support to the Young Leadership Programme (YLP), including the integration of a gender-transformative approaches and engagement of youth as policy co-creators with national convenors, researchers, and civil society.

Support Programme Management

• Prepare, review, and consolidate project-related documentation, including concept notes, technical briefs, progress reports, presentations, and donor submissions

• Provide operational and logistical support for project implementation, in line with approved workplans and budgets, including follow-up on deliverables and timelines

• Liaise with relevant FAO units to facilitate timely processing of requests and smooth project operations

• Support resource planning exercises by consolidating financial and operational inputs from team members and partners.

• Preparation and monitor contractual arrangements with partners, ensuring compliance with FAO procedures and timely delivery of outputs.

• Carry out budget monitoring, data management, and transaction processing, including the review and preparation of Field Budget Authorizations (FBAs), and assist in reconciling and adjusting accounting entries as needed

• Coordinate activities related to project budget and funding management (preparation and submissions, financial statements, progress reports, etc.).

• Maintain an organized filing and archiving system for all project and countries documentation

Track country progress and support project reporting

• Support the analysis of country progress reports and other key documents issuing from the implementation of key initiatives from the Hub.

• Consolidate country-level project data into Hub dashboards and internal databases for streamlined tracking and oversight.

• Assist in design of project reporting templates

• Assist the technical review of project deliverables from countries

• Support the preparation of donor reports by compiling data and country updates for accurate and timely submissions.

Advocacy, communication and resource mobilisation

• Support Hub advocacy efforts (bilateral engagements, participation in global and regional event, etc)

• Support the drafting, reviewing and expanding of communication materials for the Hub website and other channels to disseminate success stories and best practices in consultation with Hub Communication Team.

• In collaboration with the RBAs/UNTF, prepare Rome-based donor briefing (drawing on workshop outputs and/or analysis), and support regular bilateral donor engagement on progress.

• Perform any other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in economics, sustainable development, environmental science, international relations, social studies, agriculture or any other closely directly related field. Consultants with bachelor`s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience

• At least five years of relevant experience in at least one of the following areas: programme management, programme development, reporting, policy support, partnerships, finance, in the area of sustainable development policy and planning.

• Working knowledge (level C) of English

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience working on integrated food systems programming at country, regional or global level

• Experience working on resource mobilization strategies, tactics and donor relations.

• Negotiation skills, with the ability to influence senior levels

• Experience developing strategic relationships and advocacy positions in various contexts including in fragility settings and middle-income country contexts.

• Expertise in science-policy research and practice

• Expertise with innovative finance mechanisms

• Two years of field experience in Africa, LAC or Southeast Asia/Pacific Islands

• Knowledge about FAO’s project cycle management and FAO systems such as FPMIS, IMIS and etc

• At least limited knowledge of another official language of the Organization (Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian).

• Familiarity with the work of FAO or other multilateral organizations

• Knowledge of the content of UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and SDG Agenda

• Good writing skills as can be proved by relevant publications record