Organizational Setting
The Division of Agrifood Systems and Food Safety (ESF) at FAO provides strategic leadership to drive agrifood system transformation by supporting FAO headquarters, decentralized offices, Members and partners in taking a systems approach to policy, programmes and projects, including through normative products, methods and tools; documentation and collective learning of systems approaches; and support for implementation at national and subnational levels. It also works to deliver on the FAO Strategic Priorities for Food Safety within the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031, including through the Joint FAO/WHO Scientific Advice Programme and support to the strengthening of national food control systems.
The position is located in the Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division, ESF at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
Reporting Lines
The Senior Agrifood Systems Officer reports to Director, ESF.
Technical Focus
Lead, innovate, facilitate the design, and implementation of systems approaches to agrifood systems transformation with a focus on country level engagement and the systematic implementation of systems-based practices to enable agrifood system transformation to deliver food security and nutrition.
Key Results
Provide leadership, technical expertise in policy and practice as well as capacity development for (i) the design of operations with an integrated systems approach to agrifood systems transformation, in collaboration with country stakeholders and cooperating partners, and (ii) facilitate the implementation and monitoring, evaluation and adaptive learning from systems approaches, in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.
Key Functions
Plans, manages, or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams; leads, coordinates, and/or participates in Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams, and working groups; and/or provides technical leadership or secretariat services in technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard-setting bodies.
Analyses global and country-specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework, programme of work, work plans, and supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.
Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of approaches, evidence-based strategies, and related tools, methodologies, and supporting systems/databases, including monitoring and reporting frameworks.
Conducts, designs, and oversees research and analysis activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications, and/or ongoing programme development, as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services.
Provides technical and policy advice to Members and technical support to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of their programmes.
Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to, and ensures the quality and effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge-sharing activities with Members, such as policy support, organizational development, and individual learning events, including the preparation of related information and online tools.
Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences; identifies and implements strategic partnerships; advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue; and develops and negotiates effective working relationships, consensus, and agreements with international and national stakeholders.
Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.
Specific Functions
Leads the delivery of the Agrifood System Transformation Unit programme of work on the implementation of a systems approach to agrifood system transformation at country-level.
Innovates initiatives, partnerships and learning labs for agrifood systems transformation to demonstrate how to turn systems approaches into practice on the ground and monitor and measure results.
Oversees the application of normative products and implementation and development of sets of practices to apply systems approaches.
Engages with entrepreneurial actors in finance and investment, academia, innovation, communications, UN agencies and NGOs to form strategic alliances and partnerships to deliver transformative changes.
Works with FAO decentralised offices and member countries and subnational institutions to integrate systems thinking into policies, governance and projects.
Supports the communication of results through a variety of information products and communications strategies.
Engages in resource mobilization activities.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
Advanced university degree (Master's degree level or equivalent) relevant to agrifood systems, including but not limited to food policy, agricultural sciences, food security, agribusiness, global development, public health, geography, systems dynamics, nutrition, sociology or economics.
Ten years of relevant experience in the area of agrifood systems, including leading and innovating initiatives at the intersection between different issues and sectors in agrifood systems with a systems approach.
Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
Competencies
Results Focus
Leading, Engaging and Empowering
Communication
Partnering and Advocating
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Strategic Thinking
Technical/Functional Skills
Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
Deep understanding of systems approaches in agrifood systems and integrative 'nexus' thinking across key agrifood systems issues and sectors (e.g. productivity, environment, livelihoods, nutrition, equity, resilience).