Regional Food and Nutrition Security Specialist

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: 2501742 Regional Food and Nutrition Security Specialist 

Job Posting

: 22/Jul/2025

Closure Date

: 05/Aug/2025, 9:59:00 PMOrganizational Unit: RAF - Regional Office for Africa (Accra)

Job Type

: Non-staff opportunitiesType of Requisition: ConsultantGrade Level: N/A

Primary Location

: Ghana-AccraDuration: 11 months (with possibility of extension)Post Number: N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

 

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

 

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. 

The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It oversees the network of Country Offices and the Subregional Office(s) for Africa. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region, and, in collaboration with Divisions, Offices and Centres at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities and the implementation of the Organization’s strategies through programmes and projects across the region.

RAF supports the formulation and implementation of the Country Programmes and Projects, including Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs), and their contribution to the FAO Strategic Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) at the country level, advising Decentralized Offices on corporate priorities such as the Strategic Framework and on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget. RAF leads, formulates, implements, monitors and reports on the Organization’s programmes and budget in the region and draws management attention to problems, deficiencies and risks. It also leads the preparation of the Regional Conferences and the Statutory Bodies in the region. RAF develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions, including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs), and participates in the United Nations Regional Architecture, such as UN Regional Forums on Sustainable Development and UN Regional Collaborative Platforms and related mechanisms. RAF also delivers an improved, integrated and collaborative business model to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, consistency, innovation, agility and responsiveness in logistical, operational, financial and other support services at all levels to accelerate the achievement of the Organization’s programme in the region and ensure compliance with the Internal Control Framework.

RAF’s emergency and resilience portfolio focuses on technical and implementation support to countries; specifically, the RAF Resilience Team plays a key role in strengthening emergency and resilience programming in the region, supporting countries with technical backstopping, programmatic and operational support, and the implementation of integrated approaches. 

Reporting Lines

The Food and Nutrition Security Specialist reports to the Senior Regional Resilience Officer (Team Leader), under the overall guidance of the Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative for Africa and the Regional Programme Leader, and the functional guidance of the Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) as the Programme Priorities teams in RAF, in consultation with the relevant technical officers in the regional level.

Technical Focus 

The Food and Nutrition Security Specialist is responsible for providing high-level technical guidance on the development, implementation, and sustainability of food and nutrition security analysis activities, coordinate with government institutions, UN agencies, donors, and other stakeholders, timely analysis of data and supporting all food security related activities in the RAF Region. He/She will play a crucial role in strengthening data-driven approaches within FAO's technical and policy processes, ensuring high-quality analysis to inform humanitarian and development interventions. 

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Provide strategic technical guidance on food and nutrition security analyses to inform national, sub-regional and regional food security and nutrition policies and planning.
•    Coordinate with government institutions, UN agencies, donors, and other stakeholders to harmonize food and nutrition security analysis efforts and ensure coherence with national and international frameworks.
•    Manage research agendas and commission external studies on key food and nutrition security topics, monitoring and analyzing food and nutrition security trends and vulnerabilities, identifying key drivers of food insecurity and supporting early warning mechanisms using advanced data analytics and forecasting tools. 
•    Lead capacity-building initiatives by training and mentoring national, sub-regional and regional partners in food and nutrition security data collection, analysis and monitoring tools. 
•    Share analysis results through briefs, policy dialogues, and presentations to ensure findings reach relevant stakeholders (government, humanitarian partners, policymakers, and development partners) . 
•    Identify funding opportunities and contribute to project proposals that integrate food and nutrition security analysis at country, sub-regional and regional levels.
•    Design and coordinate surveys and assessments using standard tools and methodologies to support early warning and resilience efforts
•    Ensure data is available and integrated into key analytical processes, such as the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC), Harmonized Framework, Anticipatory Action scenario building, and Humanitarian Needs Overviews, actively participating in these processes to enhance early warning and anticipatory action efforts in the region.
•    Document lessons learned and best practices in food and nutrition security data collection, analysis and use to support methodological improvements and promote knowledge exchange/capacity-building initiatives within FAO and with external partners.
•    Promote and ensure adherence to data management standards, including ethical data collection, protection, storage, and archiving, ensuring compliance with FAO and international best practices. 
•    Carry out additional duties as needed, including emergency response support and participation in technical working groups. 

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in economics, agriculture economics, statistics and social sciences or another field related to the FAO mandate. A University degree combined with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an Advanced university.
•    5 years of relevant professional experience in food security and resilience analysis, agricultural statistics, data collection, and assessment methodologies.
•    Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English. 

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work 
•    Familiarity with UN administrative, operational and financial procedures is an asset
•    Strong expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, including survey design, sampling techniques, and statistical analysis.
•    Proficiency in statistical software such as SPSS, STATA, R, or Python for data analysis.
•    Familiarity with GIS tools, remote sensing applications, and data visualization techniques.
•    Ability to develop analytical products such as food security reports, situation analyses, policy briefs, and dashboards.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project formulation, analysis, planning and implementation
•    Extent of experience in formulation, implementation and monitoring of projects
•    Ability to develop plans for the implementation and coordination of project operations in developing countries, in partnership with UN agencies and other concerned stakeholders and/or partners

Selection Criteria

•    Knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) will be considered an asset.

 

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
• Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/ 
• For more information, visit the FAO employment website
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

 

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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