Expert - National Food Safety (for supporting all nutrition projects & activities)

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework, promoting efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, nutrition, environment, and life, leaving no one behind. FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level. 

The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

FAO - Ethiopia Country Office implements several integrated nutrition projects. FAOET is currently implementing an EU Funded project “Strengthening Agrifood System for Safe and Healthy Diets (Safe and Diverse)”.

The project has three outcomes:

1. Food safety regulatory frameworks harmonized throughout the food system;

2: Enabling environment for availability and accessibility to improved seeds nationwide, enhanced, especially in accessible man-made and nature disaster-affected areas;

3: Key bio-fortified and nutrient-dense crops production and access enhanced, in particular for women in reproductive age and children under

5. The project will aim to support the implementation of the Ministry of Agriculture’s strategies of Nutrition sensitive agrifood system strategy and food safety and Quality of Agricultural produce strategy along with their coordination, and relevant technical capacities.

The Ministry of Agriculture has developed the several sectoral strategies, mainly, the National Nutrition Sensitive Agrifood System Strategy and National Food Safety and Quality Strategy of Primary Agricultural Produce. The Food and Nutrition Office (FNO)- MOA which includes a Food Safety and Quality Desk- is responsible for coordinating the implementation of these strategies implementation, in collaboration with other departments, including the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA). The above-mentioned project is aligned with the MOA’s strategies.

This position will be based in Addis Ababa Office with frequent travel to the regions.

Reporting Lines

The National Food Safety Expert will report directly to the Policy Officer and Better Nutrition team leader, under the overall supervision and guidance of the FAO Representation in Ethiopia.

Technical Focus

The National Food Safety Expert will be supporting all nutrition projects and activities within the section and across other sections in FAOET. The candidate will be responsible for the effective, timely and quality coordination and implementation of the Safe and Diverse project with due focus on the food safety component. The expert will support FAO country office in establishing a food safety investment profile and work in close collaboration with the Food Safety and Quality Desk of the FNO–MoA, the Nutrition Technology and Research Desks–MoA, the Ethiopian Agriculture Authority (EAA), Research Institutes, Academia, and other relevant sectors.

Tasks and responsibilities

• The projects implemented by the nutrition section are implemented in a timely and quality manner as per their respective action plans, including activities, recruitment, reporting, among others
• Operationalize the food safety component in the JPSDG- SMART Food systems
• Ensure that food safety activities and outputs in the assigned projects are achieved in a timely and quality manner (mainly the JPSDG- SMART Food Systems)
• Identify the capacity development needs within FAOET and relevant key partners, and give recommendations on the support to be given
• Identify opportunities for FAOET for partnerships and collaboration on food safety (with due focus on the conducted food control system and way forward)
• Support the FNO in the implementation of the National Food Safety and Quality Strategy for primary agricultural produce.
• Provide technical backstopping for the FNO-MOA for a timely and quality implementation of the Food Safety and Quality baseline survey through guiding and coordinating the service provider in study design, sampling techniques, data collection, report writing, and dissemination of the findings (or activities that will be implemented within the contract period)
• Strengthen the coordination around the Food safety within the MoA and with other relevant actors in other sectors (EFDA, MOH, Institute of Ethiopian Standards (IES), others)
• Ensure regular communication within FAO team and with other counterparts, mainly the FNO-MoA and government counterparts,
• Responsible for the reporting at all levels (including donor reporting) for the Safe and Diverse project and other food safety components in the assigned projects,
• Responsible for establishing a food safety investment profile for FAO country office
• Lead on the food safety components in assigned projects
• Perform other related duties as required

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in nutrition and food sciences; food safety
• Ten years of relevant technical experience in implementing nutrition sensitive agrifood system and food safety projects and programs; technically supporting development of national policies/strategies/guidelines and investment programming in nutrition and food safety in agricultural sector
• Ten years of relevant management roles of nutrition teams, preferably with UN system and/or agricultural sector; with strategic nutrition advising, and experience in operationalizing national policies and strategies, and managing implementation of nutrition sensitive agri-food system investment programming and flagship programs
• Working knowledge of English and working knowledge of Amharic and/or main local languages
• National of Ethiopia

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in operational support for national strategies and flagship Programs;
• Demonstrated understanding of the policy and implementation landscape of the nutrition-sensitive agrifood system in Ethiopia
• Proven strong skills in planning, monitoring, and managing large teams including a multispectral approach
• Proven professional and technical writing and presentation skills
• Strong analytical skills mainly analysing dietary patterns at national level studies and datasets;

Selection Criteria

• Experience in nutrition in emergencies is appreciated
• Strong analytical and reporting skills with a demonstrated ability to draft high-quality technical reports.
• Strong knowledge of and recent working experience within the Ethiopian Agriculture sector context is required

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, or processing)
• 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.

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions. 

Skills Required:

• Food / Technology / Science / Engineering