Cluster Nutrition Specialist

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 is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

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.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices\:

(i) advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate.
(ii) provide technical assistance and deliver core services.
(iii) assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation.
(iv) position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation.
(v) ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

The project Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project II will be supporting aims to enhance climate resilience and improved agricultural productivity and nutrition practices of targeted smallholder farming communities in selected areas of Nepal. The project intends to increase agricultural productivity through increased adoption of climate smart agriculture (CSA) technologies. The nutrition practices will be improved through supporting diversified diets and increased nutrition intakes and improved feeding and caring practices for pregnant and nursing women and children between 6 to 24 months. The specialist will support in mobilising the nutrition groups formed by the project for the establishment of home nutrition gardens (HNG), Nutrition Field Schools (NFS) and implementation of small grants sub-project for improving the dietary diversity and nutrition related behaviour change communication activities and capacity building of different stakeholders.

The National Specialist will work together with the Project Cluster Unit Dhanusha in implementation of various field level activities in four Rural Municipalities of Dhansusha (Bateshor and Janak Nandani) and Mahottari (Samsi and Sonama). Food preparation demonstrations, training to school children and schoolteachers on improved nutritional practices for raising awareness will also be supported by the specialist. Similarly, coordination with respective project rural municipalities and their health sections for the implementation of project activities, supervision of field level nutrition technicians working in project RMs and mobilising them for smooth implementation of project activities and timely progress reporting to Project Cluster Unit Dhanusha. Likewise, data collection, verification and data entry (nutrition related interventions) into the PMIS will be managed by the specialist.

Reporting lines

Under the overall supervision of the Team Leader and direct supervision of the PMU based Nutrition Specialist and in coordination with the Chief of PCU and FAO Technical Assistance team, the Cluster Nutrition Specialist will have the responsibility of supporting and technical backstopping the planning, implementation and management of activities related to component C, contributing to the outputs related to nutrition across all project components. The specialist will be responsible for the following tasks.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Provide technical backstopping to nutrition technicians on smooth implementation of Nutrition related activities at the cluster level,
• Undertake regular field supervision in the respective rural municipalities where activities are under implementation based upon a supervision schedule (in coordination with PCU) and submit timely reports of the field visit,
• Guide and facilitate the formation and registration of nutrition groups, nutrition exhibitions, food demonstrations and the implementation of BCC and other nutrition activities at Rural Municipality and ward levels,
• Coordinate, support and advocate for making agriculture and livestock interventions of the project nutrition sensitive for smallholders and farmer groups,
• Provide support for establishment of Nutrition Field School (NFS) in close coordination with Rural Municipality and other cluster team members,
• Assess the effectiveness of the BCC and nutrition education programme by visiting households and interacting with nutrition groups and farmer groups,
• Monitor nutrition related project activities and Small Grant sub-projects on nutrition and share information with concerned supervisors and stakeholders, document the results of small grants on nutritional outcomes/ indicators,
• Ensure that project-supported activities follow the appropriate code of practices for social and environmental safeguard, public health and food safety,
• Assist PCU in capacity development on the Environmental and Social Safeguard Measures, gender mainstreaming, occupational safety and health to project facilitators and farmers,
• Assist framers’ groups to prepare the Environment and social safeguard related documents and implementation of safeguard measures,
• Assist PCU in safeguard screening process, monitoring compliance of nutrition related regular activities and preparation and submission of the report,
• Assist PMU/PCU on implementation safeguard related workshop and survey; Environment and Social Safeguard Measures and their compliance monitoring process, periodic stockholder consultation, compliance monitoring survey, beneficiary satisfaction survey,
• Assist PCU in implementing GRM community awareness activities, GRM recording, GRM meeting and reporting,
• Assist PCUs to collect, compile and prepare safeguard related periodic progress,
• Submit a work plan and periodic progress report as per the template developed by the Project,
• Enter Nutrition related data in PMIS, technically validate those data and information and ensure timely progress reporting through PMIS system and established reporting and coordination mechanism of the FANSEP II using the prescribed forms and formats,
• Ensure technical guidance, supervision and backstopping support in terms of data recording and reporting related to Nutrition related activities for timely submission of the data and information on the field level activities,
• Prepare success stories, trimester, semi-annual and annual progress reports including project result framework indicators,
• Assist PCU in implementation of home nutrition gardens (HNGs), document the results of HNG on dietary diversity and consumption of nutritious food and income.
• Assist PCU to conduct on spot HNG training to members of nutrition groups and provide follow up support on seasonal vegetable production and backyard poultry/ duck rearing with the help of cluster and field level agriculture and livestock professionals,
• Assist PCU in formation and mobilization of nutrition groups, support to conduct midline, endline and other outcome surveys for tracking project achievements,
• Undertake nutrition and BCC related project task as assigned by PMU and PCU in close coordination with TA Team Leader
• Undertake any other tasks related to nutrition and BCC as assigned by TA Team Leader.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Human nutrition or any related field with a background in nutrition education,
• Three years of relevant experience in developing and implementing food and nutrition programmes, tools and training materials.
• Working knowledge of English, Nepali and local language (Maithali).
• National of Nepal.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Candidate should have a knowledge of computer skills (MS office package\: word, excel and PowerPoint)
• Experience with similar internationally funded projects will be an added advantage.
• The ability to drive motorbike/ scooter with valid licence will be an added advantage having experience of working with multi-disciplinary team will have an advantage.
• Experience working with terai communities and nutritional enhancement of golden 1000 days mothers and children below 2 years of age will be an asset.
• Experience or knowledge of the home nutrition gardens and nutrition field schools.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
• Proven ability to work with diverse stakeholders, including government bodies, nutrition groups.
• Proven track record of advising and collaborating with government institutions, stakeholders, and local government.

Selection Criteria

• Extent of relevant technical experience in the areas related.
• Ability to manage and work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.
• Proven experience in the areas mentioned above.
• Strong work ethic, well-organized, result-focused, good team player and dynamic personality.
• Previous experience of working with UN agencies is an asset.
• Proven writing and reporting skills.
• Ability to operate under pressure and good interpersonal skills.
• Proven track record of leading and facilitating related trainings and collaborating with government institutions and RMs.
• Strong inter-personal skills to work with a diverse and large stakeholders and excellent oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of Computer skills in MS office package (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION