Atoll Food Systems Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized technical agency of the United Nations. The FAO mission is to work toward the eradication of hunger and strive for food security for everyone as stated in the 2030 Agenda. The FAO’s Strategic Framework aspires to transform agri-food systems so that they are more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The ultimate goals of these efforts include better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better lives, while leaving no one behind.

FAO is technically and operationally supporting the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) through the GEF-funded project “Sustainable food systems and integrated land/seascape management in the Marshall Islands”, with the objective of transforming food systems and land/seascape management in the Marshall Islands to deliver integrated global environmental benefits and health benefits. This project is implemented on 6 atolls: Majuro, Kwajalein, Arrno, Wotje, Jaluit, Ailinglaplap, selected based on population sizes and density, land areas, level of urbanization. The project is expected to integrate food system management into strategy and planning in the RMI; capacity building for spatial planning and decision making to support integrate environmental and agri-food system management; provide feasible and attractive options for resource management and restoration for food production to contribute to land degradation neutrality, ecosystem services; promote value chain/market conditions for sustainably produced nutritious food and upscale/outscale the learnings/best practices in other atoll states and in other small island developing states.

The Government of the RMI, in partnership with FAO, will set up a Project Management Unit (PMU) within MNRC and recruit a Project team and international and national specialists (for long- and short-term appointments) to co-ordinate and support project implementation.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the National Project Coordinator, with guidance of the Senior Technical Advisor.

Technical Focus

Under Outcome 1.2, the project will develop and deliver a structured training program and establish a network of skilled Atoll Food System Specialist deployed across the 6 Atolls. The AFS program will support indigenous knowledge, food security and adaptation, and the need for the expansion of scientific capacity within and beyond governments. The AFSOs will work with communities to record local knowledge sets under a changing climate, as well as to identify opportunities (and establish initiatives) to develop sustainable, climate-resilient green and blue food production systems to increase local resilience to climate change, enhance local food and nutrition security, and to strengthen national food sovereignty. By ensuring accurate recording and reporting of data, this program further enhances national data sets, including for the LDN database mentioned above, and will provide a living census of food production across the RMI.

The specialists will also act as project Field Specialists to coordinate and support implementation of the annual Work Plan in their respective Atolls.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Collect and record local and traditional knowledge on food production systems and food systems datasets towards a ‘living national census’ of food production using data collection and reporting tools prepared under the project; 
•     Assist in the coordination and implementation of project activities in their respective Atolls; 
•     Facilitate farmer training and management of the demonstration sites and farmer field schools in the target localities; 
•     Provide assistance to the MNRC on nursery propagations of planting material for distributions; 
•     Conduct monitoring of project implementation and regular reporting; 
•     Liaise with all project stakeholders, in particular the Local Governments, on project information and facilitate implementation of project activities; 
•     Provide technical support to farmers and communities; 
•     Prepare and submit progress reports to the NPC; 
•     Perform any other duties deemed necessary for the successful execution of the project;

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     High School Diploma
•     3 years of relevant experience in management or coordination of projects related to the agriculture and environment
•     Working knowledge of English 
•     National of the Marshall Islands

FAO Core Competencies

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION