Nutrition and Food Systems Expert for GEF projects

Organizational Setting

The FAO Sub-Regional office for West Africa (SFW) responsible for developing, promoting and implementing FAO agreed strategies to help countries and sub-regional organizations address food security, nutrition, agriculture and rural development priorities in West Africa. The Office has a multidisciplinary team of technical experts, in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, land and water, and pastoralism, who provide technical support to the 15 member countries of ECOWAS in their fight against poverty and the promotion of food and nutritional security.

There is growing international recognition that the agricultural sectors (including crops, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture and livestock) play a central role in responding to climate change, as these sectors are among the foremost priorities in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by African countries under the UNFCCC. In this regard, SFW Strategy has as one of its priority areas “Sustainable Management of the Environment and Natural Resources (SMENR)” that intends to support countries address issues related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, the preservation of biodiversity, and the collection, management and sharing on the environment and natural resources data in the sub-region.

FAO is committed to supporting countries in strengthening their capacities to enhance food and nutrition security through sustainable agricultural and food systems. The growing international focus on climate change, food security, and nutrition requires a multi-sectoral approach, integrating agriculture, health, and environmental considerations to improve nutrition outcomes.
FAO’s engagement with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) includes supporting member countries in the design and implementation of projects aimed at enhancing resilience, reducing food insecurity, and promoting sustainable food systems

SFW is increasingly receiving requests from countries in West Africa for providing technical support in the development of concept notes and project proposals to key environmental donors (GFF and GEF and Adaptation Fund) as well as their implementation. As an accredited agency to the GEF, GCF and Adaptation Fund, FAO intends to expand its portfolio to assist countries in fulfilling their ambitions on climate action, notably, with UNFCCC, as well as the NDCs in the Paris Agreement.

In this context, FAO seeks to engage a nutrition and food systems expert to contribute to the development, implementation, and resource mobilization of GEF projects with a focus on nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems in West Africa.

The purpose of this call is to provide FAO’s Sub-Regional Office for West Africa and its country offices with a qualified nutrition and food Systems expert to be part of multidisciplinary climate team, to enhance FAO’s support to the design and implementation of climate related projects in the sub-region, with a particular focus on GEF.

The nutrition and food systems expert will be based at SFW office (Dakar, Senegal), with required travel for field missions, where relevant.

Reporting Lines

The Nutrition and Food Systems Expert will work under the overall supervision of the Senior Policy Officer at SFW and the technical supervision of the Agribusiness Officer at SFW, and in close collaboration with the projects implementation teams at country level.

Technical Focus

•    Contribute to the design and implementation of GEF projects by supporting FAO-SFW in providing technical assistance to country offices in project formulation, development, and resource mobilization.
•    Ensure integration of nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems approaches in GEF-funded projects.
•    Provide technical expertise in multi-sectoral coordination for improved nutrition outcomes at regional and national levels.

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Tasks and Responsibilities

•    Support Implementation of Nutrition Priorities

o    Provide technical support to country offices in the implementation of nutrition-sensitive projects aligned with national and global nutrition priorities.
o    Strengthen the integration of nutrition considerations into GEF project design and implementation to improve food and nutrition security.
o    Support country teams in developing nutrition-sensitive interventions within GEF-funded initiatives to enhance food system resilience and reduce malnutrition.

•    Capacity Building and Policy Support

o    Support capacity-building initiatives for government agencies, civil society, and private sector stakeholders on nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
o    Assist in the formulation and review of nutrition policies, strategies, and programs at country and regional levels, ensuring alignment with global nutrition frameworks (e.g., SDGs, WHA Nutrition Targets, UN Decade of Action on Nutrition).
o    Organize and facilitate training workshops, policy dialogues, and knowledge-sharing events on best practices in nutrition-sensitive food systems.

•    Promote Multi-Sectoral Approaches for Improved Nutrition

o    Facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration between agriculture, health, education, and social protection sectors to enhance nutrition outcomes.
o    Provide technical input to national and sub-regional nutrition action plans, ensuring a food systems approach to addressing malnutrition and diet-related health issues.
o    Strengthen coordination mechanisms among government institutions, development partners, and local communities for integrated nutrition strategies.

•    Research, Monitoring, and Knowledge Sharing

o    Conduct research and analysis on food and nutrition security trends to inform project design and policy recommendations.
o    Develop guidelines, tools, and knowledge products to promote nutrition-sensitive interventions within GEF projects.
o    Contribute to monitoring and evaluation of project activities, ensuring nutrition indicators are included and assessed.

•    Resource Mobilization and Strategic Partnerships

o    Identify funding opportunities and support FAO’s engagement with donors for nutrition-sensitive projects.
o    Develop project concept notes and funding proposals for nutrition-focused interventions within GEF and other climate finance mechanisms.
o    Engage with regional economic communities (ECOWAS, CILSS…) and other stakeholders to advocate for increased investment in nutrition-sensitive food systems.

•    Technical Backstopping for Field Implementation

o    Provide technical backstopping to field teams implementing nutrition-related projects.
o    Participate in field missions to support implementation and provide hands-on guidance to project teams and beneficiaries.
o    Ensure quality assurance in the execution of nutrition components within GEF projects.

•    Perform other relevant duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree (Master) in Nutrition, Public Health, Food Security, Agriculture, or a related field.
•    At least 5 years of relevant experience in nutrition-sensitive programming, food security, or agricultural development in developing countries.
•    Working knowledge of French or 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 in West Africa is desirable;
•    Strong understanding of food systems, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and multi-sectoral; coordination.
•    Experience in the overall global climate change processes and negotiations;
•    Experience in advising and providing technical guidance on the implementation of nutrtion and food systems related projects, particularly in West Africa;
•    Experience in formulation or implementation of projects in sub-Saharan Africa, especially for GEF, GCF and other climate finance donor agencies.
•    Knowledge of global and regional nutrition policies, frameworks, and strategies.
•    Experience in policy development, technical assistance, and stakeholder engagement for nutrition programs.
•    Familiarity with climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable food systems approaches.
•    Proven ability to develop and manage nutrition-sensitive projects within the FAO, UN System, or international development organizations.
•    Strong skills in research, analysis, and knowledge management related to nutrition and food security.

Selection Criteria

•    Relevant experience in the design, formulation or evaluation of substantial agricultural and rural development projects and programmes with a focus on climate change. Experience on GCF, GEF or other climate finance mechanisms and Investment Financing Institutions (IFI) is an advantage;