Job Vacancy @ Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: National Project Personnel – Nutrition Facilitator
Organizational Setting
Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) is a multi-stakeholder movement to reduce hunger and under-nutrition and contribute to the realization of all the Sustainable Development Goals, with a specific focus on the importance of first 1,000 days of life to prevent malnutrition. The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement focuses on promoting the implementation of evidenced-based nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions, integrating nutrition goals into broader efforts by bringing together other sectors and multiple actors to scale-up nutrition actions.
Building on the successes of the REACH (Renewed Efforts Against Child Hunger and undernutrition) approach, UN Nutrition, through its UN member agencies will support ten (10) national and subnational governments, including four ongoing Irish Aid funded REACH countries, Lesotho, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe by strengthening national capacities for nutrition governance, for effective engagement in multi-stakeholder processes and platforms and for joint planning and programming for nutrition. To this end, relevant tools and services from the REACH portfolio, such as multi-sectoral nutrition analyses and multi-agency and multi-sectoral facilitation for nutrition can be made available to ten (10) countries. Additionally, key tools including standards, norms, guidelines and other knowledge products from UN agencies will be identified and made available to country stakeholders. Gender equality will be part of the multi-sectoral nutrition analyses to challenge harmful social norms that affect the potential contribution of women and girls to achieve better nutritional outcomes. Planned capacity development activities will include training on gender mainstreaming in nutrition, and country reports and Knowledge Management (KM) products will help identify and disseminate gender-responsive good practices for nutrition. In short: Coordination for joint positions and multi-sectoral processes for nutrition to support governments to scale up joint actions for nutrition. Countries targeted for the Irish Aid-UN Nutrition support will be selected based on specific country needs and requests from stakeholders and in discussion with Irish Aid and national stakeholders. The UN Nutrition’s country specific approach and Theory of Change will be further elaborated during the lifespan of the project, based on its findings and learnings.
The UN seeks the services of a national-level Facilitator to support REACH activities in 2018-19. The Facilitator will be hosted by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and will work closely with the SUN Focal Point and other staff with nutrition governance responsibilities. The facilitator will provide oversight to the implementation of the UN Nutrition country support work plan (UNN work plan) and will liaise with the government, civil societies, UN network, donor communities and other stakeholders to advocate for investments in nutrition, integrate nutrition across multiple sectors and strengthen governance and accountability for nutrition within the country.
Reporting Lines :
The overall supervision will be under the Assistant FAOR (Programme). For technical assignments, the National Facilitator will work under the supervision of the Chair of the UN Network. For day-to-day support, the Facilitator will work (60% of his/her time) with the SUNFP UN nutrition focal points and (40% of his/her time) with the National Coordinator of the SUN Secretariat. He/she will also work in close liaison with the REACH Regional Facilitator, UN Nutrition Secretariat.
Technical Focus :
With this project, and in conformity with its functions, UN Nutrition expects to generate the following outcomes:
Outcome 1: Knowledge and learnings from ongoing (and exiting) REACH countries on how to achieve sustained nutrition governance at national and subnational level captured and shared.
Outcome 2: Enhanced government capacity for nutrition planning and programming in the ten (10) target countries
Outcome 3: Joint and aligned planning of UN agencies in the ten (10) target countries in support to governments and other stakeholders.
Tasks and responsibilities:
• Lead completion of multi-sectoral nutrition analyses (including, country multi-sectoral nutrition overview, stakeholder and action mapping) and ensure relevant national and sub-national counterparts are able to utilize the REACH tools and other UN tools.
• Work with key stakeholders, facilitate building of consensus on country core nutrition actions to be scaled up.
• Identify and facilitate linkages and leverage with other in-country initiatives and processes to avoid duplication and to ensure alignment where necessary.
• Work closely with key stakeholders and the UN Nutrition Network, support and facilitate the review of the national nutrition policy and the development of a costed national multi-sectoral nutrition plan to scale-up nutrition actions, with a clear M&E framework.
• Work closely with key stakeholders and the UN Nutrition Network, advocate for the establishment of multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms and structures including roles and responsibilities.
• Support the establishment of stakeholder networks –Business, Academia and Donors for more effective engagement in the MSP.
• Support the SUN Focal Point to strengthen the multi-sectoral/multi-stakeholder co-ordination at national level through coordinated engagement of multiple sectors and stakeholders including the various SUN country networks (key line ministries, UN agencies, CSOs, business and donor partners) to address key nutrition issues and/or nutrition related challenges outlined above.
• Support the UN Network and SUN Focal Point within country advocacy messages including the development of a national advocacy and communications strategy.
• Facilitate and document the experience sharing of good practices and lessons learnt through case studies and regular updates.
• Facilitate synergized/integrated effort of UN system for coordinated support to government.
• Support completion of UN inventory on nutrition actions.
• Support UNCT and Un agencies for nutrition in the process of the UNSCDF
• Coordinate work and mission of UN Nutrition team in country.
• Supervise short-term consultants – as required.
• Work with the UN finance officer to monitor UN Nutrition/REACH financial resources in country.
• Prepare regular progress and donor reports in close liaison with the UN Network nutrition focal points.
• Perform other related duties as required. Support UN leadership to engage with Government to finalize the SUN Focal Point in Vice President’s office or with Minister of Finance and Development Planning.
Minimum Requirements
• A degree in Nutrition or other closely related field or any other related field, related master’s degree will be an added advantage
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in Nutrition and Facilitation
• Excellent working knowledge of English (level C).
• National of Sierra Leone
FAO Core Competencies:
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills:
• Ability to Supervise, manage and support to field activities of the project.
• Ability to manage trainings and capacity building Programme of the project.
• Relevant experience/ exposure, skills and knowledge in results-based approach/management.
• Strong experience on coordination and stakeholder engagement
• Good experience with the food and nutrition security sector in the country
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing) Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected] Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted 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 additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
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