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;
(i)         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; and 
(v)        ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.  

For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations, the academe and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, mechanization and modernization through improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

FAO in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MAFAR) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is implementing a Government Cooperative Programme funded by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project, Development of Sustainable Fishery Value Chains in BARMM, aims to sustain and improve productivity and resilience of aquaculture/fisheries enterprises in the Bangsamoro region o. Specifically, this project will focus on improving efficiency and sustainability of local aquatic food value chains and market linkages, increase capacity of small-scale producers to augment their income through entrepreneurship using alternative species and processing for value-addition, empower them and their organizations on improved and resilient aquaculture/fisheries technologies and appropriate postharvest processing, and enhance the knowledge and skills of MAFAR and LGU fishery personnel on monitoring and managing fish stock.

The position is home-based.

Reporting Lines

The Food Technology Specialist will report to the Project Team Leader.

Technical Focus

The Food Technology Specialist provides technical support to the design, capacity building and technical implementation of fishery and aquaculture product development, value addition, food safety, Halal compliance, and market integration initiatives across BARMM.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Conduct a thorough review and identification of fishery and aquaculture product development and value addition. Analyse existing data, reports, and literature relevant to fishery and aquaculture product development, post-harvest practices, and value chain needs in BARMM. Develop a tailored design for improving product development, value addition processes, and postharvest handling that reduce losses and meet food safety and Halal standards.
•     Assist in providing provincial and municipal level training workshops with MAFAR, LGUs, association and cooperatives on value addition processes, food safety and Good Aquaculture Manufacturing Practices (GMP, SSOP, HACCP), Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP) relevant to product quality and safety, halal requirements and compliance procedures and entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
•     Provide technical support for the raining of trainers (ToT) for post-harvest technology and enterprise management. Support cascade trainings for LGUs, associations and cooperatives to systematically transfer and institutionalize value-addition knowledge at the municipal level. 
•     Develop business and marketing plans for product lines, including branding, packaging, and labelling, aligned with Halal and food safety standards.
•     Support the participation of LGUs, associations and cooperatives in regional trade fairs, and support online visibility and digital marketing pathways. 
•     Provide technical support to the Bangsamoro Aquaculture and Fisheries Congress, including showcasing value-added products. Assist in monitoring the adoption of the recommended practices by cooperatives and associations, and support the implementation of necessary adjustments based on feedback and results.
•     Support high-level dialogue among the Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Trade, and/or other relevant ministries
•     Develop best-practices and lessons learned report in value-addition, Halal compliance, and food safety at the end of the project.
•     Work with project communications assistant to prepare gender-sensitive IEC materials on cold chain processes and facilities, aquatic biosecurity, food safety and value-added fishery products and develop content for awareness campaigns, trade events, online platforms, and marketplace visibility.
•     Prepare and submit end of assignment report including lessons learned and best practices in accordance with FAO guidelines.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     University degree in food science/technology/engineer, agriculture, chemistry or other fields relevant to food product development and value addition.
•     At least 5 years of working experience in the field of aquatic value chains development.
•     Working knowledge Level C of English 
•     National of the Philippines or resident of the country with valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Ability to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context and within multidisciplinary and different cultural background teams
•     Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Tagalog
•     General knowledge and skills in the use of standard software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)