Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Duration: 5 Months
Deadline: 05 August 2025, 11:59:00 PM
Job Description
- 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.
FAO’s Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing subregional food, agriculture and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).
The FAO Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE) is a subsidiary of FAO’s Regional Office for Africa (RAF). It supports subregional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of subregional partnerships and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the subregion.
The Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE) and Representation to the African Union (AU) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) is a technical hub, which supports eight countries (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda) in the Eastern Africa subregion. The Office also plays an important liaison role to the African Union (AU) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) as well as the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and to pertinent development partners based in Ethiopia and within the subregion. FAO SFE Team supports Member States, continental and regional institutions in the development and implementation of agreed strategies for addressing subregional and national food security, nutrition, agriculture and rural development priorities. The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO’s Regional Office for Africa (RAF) to the African Union Commission and to EAC.
FAO SFE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the organization of the Africa Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU) in June 1995, and works very closely with the African Union Commission (AUC), to provide technical assistance to the nutrition, food security and food systems agenda of the AUC. To support the implementation of the agreed MoU, FAO SFE in collaboration with the AUC is recruiting an international consultant as a Technical Advisor Nutrition Policy to be seconded to the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS) of the African Union Commission (AUC), based as Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Technical Advisor-Nutrition Policy to be seconded to the African Union Commission is based at the AUC Heads Quarter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The technical advisor in Nutrition under the close supervision of the Head of Division of Health Systems Strengthening, Diseases and Nutrition, will closely work with the departments of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy Sustainable Environment (DARBE), Education, Science, Technology Innovation (ESTI), Economic Development, Trade, Industry, Mining (ETIM), and African Union Development Agency – NEPAD (AUDA NEPAD).
Reporting Lines
The Technical Advisor Nutrition Policy reports to the FAO SFE Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa and the AUC Director for Health and Humanitarian Affairs directorate. He/she will work under the direct supervision of the AUC Head of the Division of Health Systems, Diseases and Nutrition, in close collaboration with the FAO SFE Nutrition Officer.
Technical Focus
Support the AUC nutrition agenda, including policy formulation, strategy development, advocacy, coordination, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of decisions made by AU policy bodies in the realms of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development. This work will be undertaken in close collaboration with other AUC departments, Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), United Nations (UN) agencies and other development partners from public, research, civil society and private sectors to foster harmonization in the implementation of nutrition policies and strategies.
Tasks and responsibilities
• Coordinate the development and implementation of AUC strategic documents and initiatives, especially implementation of the Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy 2016-2025 and the follow-up actions from the implementation of the AU Theme of the Year 2022 on Nutrition; and development of the Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy 2026-2035.
• Contribute to the preparation of the Continental Nutrition Report featuring the results of the implementation of the Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy 2016-2025, implementation of the AU Theme of the Year 2022 on Nutrition and the Abidjan Declaration Plan of Action.
• Provide strategic and technical expertise to AUC’s nutrition initiatives of various departments, including supporting the coordination of stakeholder engagements and multi-stakeholder initiatives to promote internal synergies and coordination of food and nutrition related initiatives.
• Contribute to the development of concept papers, proposals, briefing notes and advocacy briefs, for major AU/FAO led activities on nutrition, including statutory events and initiatives, meetings, and high-level events.
• Provide support in organizing high-level events, including technical consultations, seminars, and study and field visits, to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration in relevant areas.
• Support in research and technical areas, including handling complex information requests, conducting reviews, and drafting technical documents such as concept notes, terms of reference, and preliminary technical papers; to ensure evidence-based analysis and technical advice on nutrition enhancing policies, strategies and programmes.
• Promote visibility of AUC’s nutrition agenda by participating and acting as a resource person in international, regional and national meetings
• Support resource mobilization to expand existing partnerships with nutrition donors and other development partners, both for the AUC, RECs and Member States for delivering technical assistance on food and nutrition related issues.
• Perform other related duties as required.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Food Science, Economics, Agriculture, or a related field. A Bachelor’s level degree and 2 years of relevant experience may be considered equivalent in certain circumstances.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in working with developing countries in areas such as health, nutrition, food security and agricultural policy, strategy and programme or related fields; out of which minimum of 3 years of work experience at international level.
• Working knowledge 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, particularly in field positions is desirable
• Extent and relevance of academic qualifications
• Extent and relevance of experience in integrating nutrition into agricultural policies and programmes in developing countries
• Level of knowledge of nutrition policy, strategy and programme initiatives
• Analytical skills and demonstrable ability to prepare publications, technical reports and other relevant materials
• Ability to interact and communicate with high level government.
• Experience in working with continental organisations, and broad engagement with a range of government clients and donor agencies.
• Ability to mobilize resources for nutrition related activities
• Familiarity with FAO and FAO partner institutions (UN, NGOs, donors) would be an asset
• Familiarity with and proven experience on nutrition policies and programmes, particularly in the Africa region
• Experience and track record advising or working with regional and/or international organizations and/or governments
• A high level/strategic thinker with evidence of meaningful contribution to complex development planning acquired over a long period
• Proven experience in coordinating/ facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues and workshops
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.
